3DO CD not spinning

[Ashramkun]

Hello.

I was playing my 3DO, and all of a sudden it stopped working. The video game itself is turning on, but it presents me with the "insert a cd" screen.

I already opened the device, and lubricated the CD mechanism. I confirmed that the reader is working and moving, but the CD is not spinning. Looks like the drive motor is dead.

Is it common for just the drive motor to stop working? Is there an easy way to test it out before buying another one?

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Some optical drives do not even try to spin up when not detecting any reflection (no disc inserted).
If the laser diode suddenly died (or doesn't get powered for whatever reason) the effect is the same: No light, no reflection even with a CD.

When turning on without disc (lid closed button pushed) the laser should light up and focus servo will try to find something (lens up/down). Problem is: CD laser is (near) infrared and invisible for most humans. Sometimes a faint glowing can be seen looking from the side on the lens. Do NOT stare into the lens from very near! The reading laser is unlikely to cause permanent damage, but focused laser light and eyes don't go together well.

Normally digital cameras (or smartphones) can see infrared light. Works perfectly for the Wii sensor bar.
I've never tried making a CD laser visible. Much easier for DVD.

 

[Ashramkun]

Thanks for the answer.
I try to use my cell phone.


As you can see, at least its try to read and move.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Took a while. Capturing infrared with a camera from a CD drive lens isn't as easy as from the Wii Sensor Bar → learned something…
Not sure if the method would be viable for troubleshooting. Needed a pretty dark room and the tripod for holding the phone steady (and a lot of tries to get the best angle).

Video below shows a working PSOne (the small PS1) console. Infrared can be seen in video file as little white dot inside the lens when the laser turns on and focus servo tries to focus on (missing) CD.
PSOne tries to spin even without reflection (spindle moves briefly), while an older SCPH-1002 made no attempt to to turn on the spindle motor without a CD.

You should try to find a way of verifying the laser turns on. I've no idea how to do it correctly.

 

[SylverReZ]

Took a while. Capturing infrared with a camera from a CD drive lens isn't as easy as from the Wii Sensor Bar → learned something…

Unrelated but, I totally remember snagging a set of tea light candles because I couldn't find my Wii sensor bar.

 

[FAST6191]

Just to check I don't know the 3do mechanism (and I doubt many around here would either) but I do have to ask if there are any rubber belts transferring torque around the place -- they caused no end of hassle on the xbox and 360, and tape players as well, with the 3do is more than old enough to both use one and see it perish.

 

[Ashramkun]

I made another video, and looks like the CD is working. At least i can see a red light from the reader.