Tape error mss ?

[charmingtrouble]

So I finally unlock my radio th other day and loved it bc it worked perfectly an then today I tried to use my cassette iPod adapter thing and put it in but then the radio goes booooop and says tape error

so now everytime I turn on the radio it says tape a play or somethig but here's no tape inside and I hear noise that sounds like it's trying to play something and then it does the boooop thing

so I try pressing eject/stop and I hear more windind noise as the radio starts to play but once the winding stops it booooops again with the same tape error message....

My car is a 98 and I'm afraid I might have broken my radio with my Belkin iPod adapter

[AceJay]

Same problem here, though I've never used a tape or adapter in my Bug. Maybe the previous owner did - this is annoying though =/

[mlt]

I have some problems inserting/removing adapter. I usually help it to get in a bit by pushing it with my pinky. And help to eject by lightly pulling the cord otherwise it doesn't want to eject and fails to play as well. So maybe your adapter also doesn't sit properly and you can try to help it get in place using your pinky while inserting it.

[charmingtrouble]

Originally Posted by AceJay

Same problem here, though I've never used a tape or adapter in my Bug. Maybe the previous owner did - this is annoying though =/

so did your radio ever work? because if it hasn't ever since you got it and you know the safety code then try unplugging all the cords and replugging them in

it'll go into safe mode and after you punch in your code it goes right back to playing the radio

and i think as long as you dont press any of the cassette player buttons, there wont be any more beeping noise!

[mlt]

From what I understand, mechanism didn't work properly during adapter removal and the radio senses its there. I'd recommend inserting adapter again (and pushing it with your pinky) and then removing it by lightly pulling the cord the same time.

[charmingtrouble]

Originally Posted by mlt

From what I understand, mechanism didn't work properly during adapter removal and the radio senses its there. I'd recommend inserting adapter again (and pushing it with your pinky) and then removing it by lightly pulling the cord the same time.

I gave that a try but the cassette player wouldn't have any of it the metal part inside that rises up to allow the tape to go in and lowers to secure the tape is stuck in the middle so that the tape wont even go half way through, I guess it's jammed or something that's why after the winding noise stops it tells me there's an error

oh well its alright with me if the cassette thing doesn't work, I'm just glad I can listen to the radio for teh first time in like almost year since I've gotten the car.

Thank you for the help though

[AceJay]

Originally Posted by charmingtrouble

so did your radio ever work? because if it hasn't ever since you got it and you know the safety code then try unplugging all the cords and replugging them in

it'll go into safe mode and after you punch in your code it goes right back to playing the radio

and i think as long as you dont press any of the cassette player buttons, there wont be any more beeping noise!

Yeah, the Radio and CD changer work (although the changer is too sensitive to bumpy roads) but at some point it will just sense a non-existent Tape and try to read it over and over, and error itself a ton.

[rnddude]

I was going to start a new thread about a similar problem, but after finding this one i'll just put my question here....I have a 99 GLS, I have long since removed the 6 disc player in the trunk, and have been using an XM radio remote head that plugs into it via a corded cassette adapter. The other day it ejected the adapter with an tape error message, and will no longer accept the adapter. Thinking it might be the adapter, I swapped it out for another adapter I had, no difference, same problem. Radio works fine. Dealer of course says...replace entire unit. I really only want/need to run the XM radio, so what are my options?
1. Somehow plug into the old CD changer plug in the trunk? how?
2. Replace the head unit with an identical one?
3. Replace the head unit with a later version that has an MP3 jack?
Will that work? I am willing to cutoff the XM adapter and wire a new plug.
4. Repair the unit? (who/where)
5. Better solutions you can suggest?

[dmbluebeetle]

Your tape belt broke which is why the adapter keeps getting ejected. There is a broken tape sensor in the deck to keep from unspooling a cassette into the deck.

3. would be a good option, the dealer can only replace the OEM radio with another like it.

5. would be to go aftermarket and get something either has SAT radio or the option to add a SAT radio.

[rnddude]

While waiting for a forum response, I went to crutchfield and did find a solution. They have a VW specific adapter that plugs into the cd harness in the back. Since I removed my cd player anyway, that is viable for me. They also have a 11.5' long RCA-to-miniplug cable to get the signal from my XM head to the adapter unit. $70 for the adapter and $35 for the cable. Not a cheap solution, but better dynamic range and cleaner at the head.

BTW, if indeed it is a broken belt in the tape drive unit, what are the parts/repair options?

[dmbluebeetle]

When my old (now out of business) company had the Delphi contract to repair VW's radios, all radio's had to go through the dealerships to be fixed. The dealers did radio repairs on exchange basis only. I don't know who has the Delphi contract now, but the belt was only $7.00 at most when we had the parts.

Crutchfield has a lot of options for aftermarket radios for VW's, I was looking at this one
JVC KD-HDR20 CD receiver at Crutchfield.com to replace my OEM radio.