I have a portable DVD Player in the car and when putting DVD's in (any region), the Player just sits there for a while doing nothing - as if it can't recognise it, then on the display appears a message - C13. Music CD's pickup okay on it.

 

I've tried Sony's site for help but to no avail. Does anyone know of any other decent sites which could advise me what this means.

 

Cheers

Chris

Chris, I have been doing some searching for you on the Sony webpages but can't get too specific as you don't mention a model of your DVD player.

 

However, there is this form

http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/scripts/web_access.cgi?FUNC=ENTRY&START_PAGE=DISP_HOMEPAGE

 

that you can fill in to mail Sony and ask about the problem.

Cheers for that, I'll give it a bash! The actual model number is DVP V30.

Chris,

 

Do any DVDs work in your player and do the ones that do not work, function OK in another player?

Every DVD I have tried (about 4 - some region 1, some region 2) doesn't work, but they all work indoors. I put a music CD and it was fine.

 

I know there are two lasers which move up and down inside the cafe. Perhaps only one is used for music CD's. I think I'll try and give them a clean and see what happens.

some dvd players have 2 sets of optics - one for cd's and one for dvd's.

 

others have only 1 that does both (a technology often used by sony)

 

doesn't help i know. just saying.

Is it this one?

http://www.sony-europe.com/cons/dvd/pl_pdb-v30.html

No doubt you've done this as your music CDs play ok :

 

The discs must be pushed down gently to snap onto the spindle (they don't just lie on it) and if this is not done right, the disc will wobble when started and stop to give error message, but this is not a problem when you get used to inserting the discs.

 

Spot on mate, exactly the same!!

 

The only thing I can think of is the laser may be dirty, or the fact its cold out at the moment and perhaps condensation is playing a part in it??

Yeah they do clip in okay Ajay, they start to spin up, then it sounds like the laser is reseting itself and the process happens again. Does it about 5 times then it stops with this C13 error message. I tried contacting Sony Customer Services but got fedup after being on hold for half hour!!

Just spoken to Customer Services for you on 08705 511 1999 and they said that this is a problem with the internal workings of the player and should be taken back to wherever you got it. I asked if it could be related to condensation and the cold and he said no, it's a problem with the internal workings.

 

He did also say that the error codes have no specific meaning, just that C13 is "Internal".

 

So a trip back to wherever you got it is on the cards I think. Hopefully you bought it in this country and not the US or anything.

 

Sorry I couldn't find anything more helpful.

Before I read it I just got through to them. Straight away aswell. The chap tells me that the laser needs cleaning with a cloth?? Shame I did'nt read this before hand. I'm on hold to them at the mo to get a third opinion!!

 

Cheers for your help.

Chris

Ajay, just got through to them again to somebody different. She tells me it maybe a dirty laser or internal fault, so we're both right!!!! She gave me a number to call to seek repair advice etc. I called it (a place she said called In Car Vision), and it turns out they don't repair Sony, they were in fact competitors against Sony!!!! In Car Vision are apparently a stereo company called Centurion???? I'll try cleaning it tonight. If no joy, then I'll take it down to the good old Sony centre!!!!

Covering all bases there, then!

 

Whereabouts are you located, Chris?

I'm down in Essex.

 

Since we last spoke, I tried cleaning etc but no luck. I then tried a Video CD (VCD), and it worked??????????

 

Bloody confusing now!!

 

Chris

Sounds very much like the lens for the DVD side of things is buggered..

 

AFAIK VCD/CD use one lens, DVD the other (different wavelenghts, I believe).. According to the specs your unit has (this is how I read it) two seperate laser units within one lens (Duplex lens I think it was termed). Sounds like the DVD laser has died a death...

 

Az

Oh bugger, I was thinking that now as well. Does anyone know how much I'm roughly looking at if the lasr is buggered. I just don't want to go down to the Sony centre and get knocked!!