Hi,

Every time I put a cassette into the tape player in my truck, I get
a message on the led saying "TP CLEAN".

'What does it mean ? Does it mean it wants me to clean something, like
the tape, or perhaps the tape head ???

Or is it telling me that the tape I am playing, or the tape head, is
"clean", and that all is well????

Verb or adjective ?????



Thanks

Hi!

Every time I put a cassette into the tape player in my
truck, I get a message on the led saying "TP CLEAN".

'What does it mean?

It means that you need to clean the tape head in the player.

How this is sensed depends upon the quality of the tape deck. Many of
them have a very simple timer circuit that turns on the "cleaning"
message after a specified number of hours have passed. It should be
possible to reset this by pressing a button, disconnecting power, or
running an appropriate cleaning tape on the deck. If you have the
manual for the deck, it should tell you what to do to reset the
warning.

Some higher end decks might have a way to sense that the tape head is
dirty, but this would be somewhat unlikely in a simple vehicle-based
player like yours.

If you do not have a cleaning tape, you might be able to use a cotton
swab dampened with isopropyl alcohol (90% or better would be good) to
clean the tape head and transport components (rubber pinch roller,
capstan, guides, etc).

It isn't likely that failing to heed the warning will cause any
lasting damage to the player or your tapes. However, tapes you play
may not sound as good. Build up of "tape crud" on the parts that come
into contact with the tape could cause a tangle or snarl down the
road.

William

"Vacillator" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Every time I put a cassette into the tape player in my truck, I get
a message on the led saying "TP CLEAN".

'What does it mean ? Does it mean it wants me to clean something, like
the tape, or perhaps the tape head ???

Or is it telling me that the tape I am playing, or the tape head, is
"clean", and that all is well????

Verb or adjective ?????



Thanks



"TP" = Tape Path maybe ? In my long experience of servicing consumer
electronics, I've never known manufacturers to waste time and space putting
up messages to tell you that things are ok. Any 'cryptic' message that
appears on a display, is usually an error message, so I'm thinking verb. Is
this something that has recently appeared ? Does the tape sound ok ie
balanced sound from both left and right channels, clean, clearly audible
snare drums and cymbals, and no warble to the sound ? Does the user guide
not say anything about the message ? If the player is a factory fit, you
could try asking your nearest main dealer if they have come across it.

Arfa

This is a joke from a troll.

I've never seen a consumer tape deck with such a display. A professional DAT
machine might have such a display, but the OP is clearly not a professional
recording engineer.

Hey thanks for the quick replies. This is a tape player in a Volvo
truck (tractor). The tapes played fine until yesterday when one
started to "warble" and slow down. I put a different tape in and it
was OK for a while, then started to warble, and ate the tape ! I had
to cut the tape to get it out. Now whenever I put a tape in, any tape,
it doesn't play at all, and the screen message toggles rapidly from A
to B, as though it is trying to play side A, gets resistance, tries to
play side B, ad infinitum.

Would a cleaning tape even play in there at his point? I looked
inside the flip door with a flashlight. I think I have all the broken
tape out of there. I can't locate the tape head at this point. Looks
like maybe it pops up out of hiding after you put the cassette in.

Hi!

This is a joke from a troll.

I can't tell you what the original poster's intent was, but...there
definitely are some cassette decks out there with cleaning indicators.
I've seen a radio from a Honda automobile that has a lighted cleaning
indicator for its cassette deck. After some amount of time passes, the
light in the indicator goes on, at which point you're supposed to
clean the playback head and associated transport parts.

After doing the cleaning, the indicator is pressed to reset it.

(another) William

Hi!

The tapes played fine until yesterday when one
started to "warble" and slow down.

Uh-oh. How old is this tape deck? Since it ran into trouble with more
than one tape, it sounds like a bad drive belt is to blame. A bad belt
would also cause the constant "toggling" behavior you're seeing from
side A to B and back again.

Would a cleaning tape even play in there at his point?

A cleaning tape probably won't help now. You'll probably have to take
the deck apart and find all the bits of snarled tape. You'd be amazed
at all the places it can hide. Then, if you have any interest in
fixing the deck, you'll have to see how hard it will be to get at and
inspect the mechanism, especially the belts. Things like the rubber
pinch roller also need to be inspected.

This is much easier with some decks than it is with others. I don't
know exactly what unit you have, but something should be revealed when
you take both the top and bottom (if possible) covers off.

If and when you elect to do this, you should be careful. You will need
a good set of hand tools, including screwdrivers with small heads. A
needle-nose pliers could also be handy. Newer car tape decks have
motorized loading mechanisms and most of this stuff appears to be
driven by the main motor. As such, there will be timing relationships
between mechanisms that will have to be kept in mind. You should mark
all moving parts with something that won't come off so if they get
disturbed you can put them back.

I can't locate the tape head at this point. Looks like maybe
it pops up out of hiding after you put the cassette in.

That is how most car decks work...you put the tape in and the heads
are released. Sometimes simple spring pressure causes the heads to
contact the tape, and sometimes something more elaborate is used.

William

I can't tell you what the original poster's intent was, but...there
definitely are some cassette decks out there with cleaning indicators.
I've seen a radio from a Honda automobile that has a lighted cleaning
indicator for its cassette deck. After some amount of time passes, the
light in the indicator goes on, at which point you're supposed to
clean the playback head and associated transport parts.

I stand corrected. I suppose car (and tractor) stereos would be the very
items to have such a display.

In article
,
wrote:

could cause a tangle or snarl down the
road.

So to speak.

On Jan 2, 2:03*pm, "William Sommerwerck"
wrote:
This is a joke from a troll.

I've never seen a consumer tape deck with such a display. A professional DAT
machine might have such a display, but the OP is clearly not a professional
recording engineer.

I've seen a few automobile casette players which have a little light
that comes on after however many hours, to tell you it's time to clean
the heads. I have no idea why the manufacturers think you need to know
this, only if you listen in your car, unless they figure you're so
used to idiot lights anyway, might as well join the crowd.