Sony Handycam model CCD-TR416

[Paul78zephyr]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone knwe if how serious a problem I have with a Sony Handycam CCD-TR416. With the unit running on external power or battery power (the unit is about 5 years old and has the orginal NP-F330 Infolithium battery) in 'player' mode if I put in a known good tape and push play the tape I can see the is turning but there is no picture on the internal monitor, just a blue screen. However, if I 'fast forward' while still in play mode I do see the picture playing at a fast speed, as it should. When I release the fast forward button to return to normal playback the screen returns to the blank blue screen. There seems to be no error code. How do I make the unit give a code? Also the large shiny drum inside is turning.

Any ideas? Im not electronically 'gifted'.

Thanks,
Paul

[Paul78zephyr]

Update,
The unit will playback SOME tapes but other tapes - which previously played back fine - will now not playback (except tin fast forward mode) per the description I gave in my original post. I got to believe its something mechanical/alignment that allows to play some tape but not others and even the ones it wont play normally show up in the monitor in fast forward mode.

Is it possible that the old (original) battery could have anything to do with this? I am running it on external power though.

Thanks again.
Paul

[Guest]

I am not sure but you could try cleaning the heads with a quality head cleaning tape. Don't use a cheap one.