Tape player not working - where to go?

olewy

Looking for recommendations for cheap/reasonably priced, reliable, competent audio shops (may be the incorrect term) in the Dublin or Wicklow area.

I'm looking for someone to take a look at the tape mechanism in the audio system my car (Micra K11 S). Old skool, I know. It's the factory-fitted Blaupunkt head unit (again my terminology may be wrong) that came with the car from new.

It's no longer playing tapes. The tray inside appears to be physically misaligned or pushed down. A cassette tape inserts fully but no sound is heard (same on multiple working tapes). The radio & speakers works fine.

If its not worth repairing I'll get a new or 2nd hand unit on eBay & fit it myself.

Tallon

For the love of jesus, buy a CD player

urajoke

Back to the 80's ?

seamus

Unless you have a specific reason for wanting a tape player, it will almost definitely be cheaper to fit a new head unit. The cheapest units nowadays come with CD player and aux (for MP3s) as standard.

The K11 is a standard DIN, but you will need a harness adapter to convert the power/audio connectors to standard ISO.

Atlantic Dawn

Antiques Roadshow would be best place to start.

olewy

seamus wrote: »

Unless you have a specific reason for wanting a tape player, it will almost definitely be cheaper to fit a new head unit. The cheapest units nowadays come with CD player and aux (for MP3s) as standard.

The K11 is a standard DIN, but you will need a harness adapter to convert the power/audio connectors to standard ISO.

Thanks Seamus, I may end up going down that route but I'd like to get it looked at first all the same before that, get a quote for what's needed & see if its worth upgrading. For all I know it may be a quick fix. Also I may be replacing the car in the near future so again another reason to not put money into it for the sake of it.

Any suggestions of any places that may be willing to look at it for me? If not, no probs, Google & Yellow Pages are my friend etc. I'd just like to save myself the legwork.

piston

The most cost effective option imo would be to have a look on ebay for a similar period radio cassette player if you want to keep the thing period original.

goz83

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Antiques Roadshow would be best place to start.

LOL.

Sorry mate, but you'd have difficulty finding a replacement tape deck in a scrap yard I think. Any audio repair place should be able to help, but the staff might be too....young to help. It's a great way to stop people from breaking into the car though. Most of us spend €30 on fake cassette player covers, but you have the real thing

A cd player will cost around €20 online and the adaptor will be a €5. Or you could spend €50 in halfords to get it quick and they will even fit it (for a fee)

L1011

You would need to go to an audio repair shop, and the base charge for looking at it will be more than a cheap CD player. Complete and utter false economy to even try.

colm_mcm

I'm pretty sure I have an OE Philips tape deck for a k11 micra if you want it.

Im on the other side of the country though

TestTransmission

Sold my old tape deck headunit and cd changer for a nice bit of cash today, not bad for something that is 12 years old.

wonski

olewy wrote: »

Thanks Seamus, I may end up going down that route but I'd like to get it looked at first all the same before that, get a quote for what's needed & see if its worth upgrading. For all I know it may be a quick fix. Also I may be replacing the car in the near future so again another reason to not put money into it for the sake of it.

Any suggestions of any places that may be willing to look at it for me? If not, no probs, Google & Yellow Pages are my friend etc. I'd just like to save myself the legwork.

If you are about to sell the car, you cantake new radio with you.
Having casette player installed won't help to sell/increase the selling price of the car.
The best option: Buy cheap, second hand CD player, and leave it in the car as a selling point(not saying it will make it much better deal, but better than no radio/tape player).

carbon nanotube

olewy wrote: »

Looking for recommendations for cheap/reasonably priced, reliable, competent audio shops (may be the incorrect term) in the Dublin or Wicklow area.

I'm looking for someone to take a look at the tape mechanism in the audio system my car (Micra K11 S). Old skool, I know. It's the factory-fitted Blaupunkt head unit (again my terminology may be wrong) that came with the car from new.

It's no longer playing tapes. The tray inside appears to be physically misaligned or pushed down. A cassette tape inserts fully but no sound is heard (same on multiple working tapes). The radio & speakers works fine.

If its not worth repairing I'll get a new or 2nd hand unit on eBay & fit it myself.

this is the last thing i heard on cassette... remember it well

iamthemanwork

Upload a pic of your radio. I have dozens of old tape mechanisms in my workshop so I can possibly help you

<snip>

carbon nanotube

Tallon wrote: »

For the love of jesus, buy a CD player

no one uses them even, i have a 6 cd changer in the dash and don't use it.

cd players will be obsolete in cars by 5 years at least, if not sooner.

monkeysnapper

In aldi they sell a converter for turning your tapes into mp3s ' you can make the big leap my friend, were here for you brother......... Or sister

bazz26

Is that you James May?