Stock AM/FM cassette belt replacement.
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Buy / Sell
Forum Name: Interior and Car Audio
Forum Description: This is the section for Instrument Clusters, Seats, and Stereo's Please use FS: (for sale) WTD: (wanted) in the title of each post
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3146
Printed Date: 22 November 2024 at 4:50pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Stock AM/FM cassette belt replacement.
Posted By: beken
Subject: Stock AM/FM cassette belt replacement.
Date Posted: 01 March 2013 at 3:59pm
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The tape deck in my Fiero hasn't worked in years (more than 10) and I have been meaning to replace the belt, but never got around to looking until today.
I pulled the unit out, carefully removed the bottom cover and was pleased to note that the tape player part of it looked like a separate unit simply bolted on inside with three 1/4" bolt head screws. I also found the broken belt which simply fell out when I took the bottom panel off. So I am happy the problem was a mechanical wear and tear issue and not some electronic part burned out. I removed the 3 screws and all the plastic knobs and proceeded to extract the tape deck when, to my chagrin, it moved, but would not come out. Jiggling it around, I noted that it appeared to be bolted down in one more place and I could not see it. Removing the bracket that mounts the deck to the car's console, I found another screw inside holding down the tape player. There is an access hole to put a screw driver with a slightly smaller socket than the 1/4" of all the other screws. I am not sure what that size is. Maybe 3/16". That access hole was hidden under the mount bracket that was removed. Since I do not have a tool that would fit through that access hole and reach the screw, I will take it to somebody who probably does. Dr. Fiero, let me know when you are home and I will pop by. Also, where can I source a new belt locally? Is there another belt under there I don't know about? I'm confused. The Fierostore has a belt kit that contains 3 belts for those with the equalizer. I only found one broken belt inside my unit. Stay tuned.... -------------  Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Replies:
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 21 April 2013 at 8:55pm
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So I got the belts from Fiero store. The shipping is more expensive than the belts themselves, so buy something else to mitigate the cost a bit.
Thank-you, Dr. Fiero for installing the belts for me. I plugged the unit back in and viola!!! It works! I plugged in a cassette (yes, I still have cassettes...lots of them) and it plays!!! Well, mostly pretty well. I found the volume knob to also be the knob that changes the tape direction. Everytime I changed the volume, the direction would also change so I had to tap the knob a second time to switch back. But the pinch roller was still in workable condition. Secondly, I looked on eBay for a cassette adapter. Including shipping, or if you buy one from London Drugs, they range in price from $5 to almost $100. I looked on Bestbuy's website and found a Dynex one for $7 so I picked one up today. Plugged in my iPod and though it's not exactly audiophile quality sound, it's fine for tunes in a noisy Fiero interior. So I would recommend the cheap Bestbuy (Dynex brand) unit. Of course, if you are an employee of Bestbuy, your staff discount would make it around $2. ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |