[vtech]

In the repair world, laser and optical pickup are referred to the exact same device. You can not change the laser diode or the optical mechanism without precision equipment.

[krytron]

Laser might be OK, but the optical pickup mechanism could be worn out.

I have CDROM that doesn't read discs if you incline the workstation to the left at 60 degees and back to horizontal. But when the workstation is inclined to the right and back to horizontal it operates normally.

Obviously, it has nothing to do with laser but the mechanics that has no linear motor but plastics gears.

Then of course, the laser may have become too weak, but it's more common on burners (especially DVD) which become unable to burn discs, but read them without problems.

[vtech]

Double check the lens cleaning and make sure it is not something like a finger print on the disc(s). Just about all you can do is to make sure there is no binding and laser travel is free and clear along the sled rails. Otherwise, you are looking at a laser replacement which is more likely not worth it.

[jlmclean]

I'm working on a Sony HCD-RXD6AV home stereo system. I had a previous post about belts for the tape deck (still working on that but I'm getting closer). The system quit reading the CD's so I cleaned the eye and now it reads them but it will skip real frequent, like a couple times per minute. Most of the time it skips and will pick back up close to where it quit at but occasionally it picks up quiet a ways from where it quit at, it has picked up on the next song a few times. I am thinking that something is probably sticking just a little but I wanted to hear some of your opinions before I went back in to it again. It was really dusty inside and I just blew the dust off and cleaned the eye . Let me know if you have any suggestions as what to check and look for.
Thanks
Jerry