Screaming Dreamcast!

[Felipe]

Hi guys.

I've got a Dreamcast a couple of months ago and lately it became MUCH louder and would stop the game (for instance, in Crazy Taxi 2, the music would stop and it wouldn't load nothing further of the game when the level ended).
One of my guesses would be the optical unit. Another was that the optical unit simply can't run correctly.
Do any of you guys think that lubbing the gears and those two metal sticks of the small motor that makes the lens move with mineral oil will help a bit? Any other guesses as to why this may be happening?


Thanks!

[EviLEd76]

Hi guys.

I've got a Dreamcast a couple of months ago and lately it became MUCH louder and would stop the game (for instance, in Crazy Taxi 2, the music would stop and it wouldn't load nothing further of the game when the level ended).
One of my guesses would be the optical unit. Another was that the optical unit simply can't run correctly.
Do any of you guys think that lubbing the gears and those two metal sticks of the small motor that makes the lens move with mineral oil will help a bit? Any other guesses as to why this may be happening?


Thanks!

I had a similar problem where the laser assembly would just stop reading games, legit and mods. I looked all around online and nothing worked to fix it. Had to get another one. Sorry :-(

[Felipe]

I had a similar problem where the laser assembly would just stop reading games, legit and mods. I looked all around online and nothing worked to fix it. Had to get another one. Sorry :-(

The thing is, it didn't stop... If it hangs, all I have to do is restart the console and I'll be able to start the game again. I never got any reading errors of any sort, so that's why I think the problem isn't the optical unit. It just makes a horrible loud noise and, at first, I even thought it was scratching my disk, but it wasn't (what I noticed is that the middle of the CD is scratched, but everywhere else is just fine).

[MachineGex]

Try cleaning the lens with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Those lens sometimes collect dust and grim, making it difficult for the system to read the discs.

[Felipe]

Try cleaning the lens with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Those lens sometimes collect dust and grim, making it difficult for the system to read the discs.

Should I wipe the excess off with the other side of the q-tip, with something else or just let the alcohol dry?

[MrSparkle]

you can use the other end to absorb the extra. When you do this be very gently you don't want to put any force on the lense because that could mis-align it. Also give it a quick visual inspection afterwards to make sure you didnt leave any large pieces of lint or anything on the lense as que tips sometimes do that. That sound could be the laser trying to read a sector over and over which results it the laser pickup being rapidly moved back and forth as it trys to read the same sector and fails over and over. Have you noticed that it always happens in the same spot in each game?

[Felipe]

you can use the other end to absorb the extra. When you do this be very gently you don't want to put any force on the lense because that could mis-align it. Also give it a quick visual inspection afterwards to make sure you didnt leave any large pieces of lint or anything on the lense as que tips sometimes do that. That sound could be the laser trying to read a sector over and over which results it the laser pickup being rapidly moved back and forth as it trys to read the same sector and fails over and over. Have you noticed that it always happens in the same spot in each game?

I'll try cleaning it a little bit later and post the results.
As far as the noise, it's more of a time thing than part... it usually happen like 5-10 minutes after I've entered the game. The simptoms, apart from the screeching sound, are that the music will "choke" and it will vanish. The gamy will continue playing, but If I have to load anything else, it won't. But I can turn off and then turn on again and it will work for a couple more minutes again.

[Felipe]

you can use the other end to absorb the extra. When you do this be very gently you don't want to put any force on the lense because that could mis-align it. Also give it a quick visual inspection afterwards to make sure you didnt leave any large pieces of lint or anything on the lense as que tips sometimes do that. That sound could be the laser trying to read a sector over and over which results it the laser pickup being rapidly moved back and forth as it trys to read the same sector and fails over and over. Have you noticed that it always happens in the same spot in each game?

Yeah, that didn't work... same thing as before, about 5 minutes after I turned the console on it happened again... this time even the textures went away!

[skaar]

Generally the screaming is that part that moves the laser back and forth being jammed, no?

[Felipe]

Generally the screaming is that part that moves the laser back and forth being jammed, no?

That's what I thought of... can I simply use mineral oil on the small plastic gears? Or should I use a different kind of lube?

[ooXxXoo]

That's what I thought of... can I simply use mineral oil on the small plastic gears? Or should I use a different kind of lube?

You should use synthetic grease (type used in bicycle chains among other electronic mechanisms), instead of the oil...
Make sure the gears and other moving parts are aligned and in the case of the gears, if they worn out and missing any teeth...If you think the problem relies within the laser, there is a lens mirror located inside the actual laser enclosure..Its a bit tricky getting at it...But this usually become dirty overtime , preventing for the laser to work properly...Although, look into it as a last resort...
...
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[ToddofDoom]

I think you should claim it is haunted and charge people 25 cents to look at it.

[Felipe]

I think you should claim it is haunted and charge people 25 cents to look at it.

It's kinda funny to listen when the Crazy Taxi 2 songs start to skip :P And then the textures vanish and you're riding the flying cab!

[MrSparkle]

I'd suggest using a white lithium grease on those rails.

[ToddofDoom]

It's kinda funny to listen when the Crazy Taxi 2 songs start to skip :P And then the textures vanish and you're riding the flying cab!

Hahaha.

"Step right up! Play as the amazing Ghost Taxi! It slowly rumbles from town to town, looking for the beach that never was."

[Felipe]

Hahaha.

"Step right up! Play as the amazing Ghost Taxi! It slowly rumbles from town to town, looking for the beach that never was."

When you have those four afro dudes, you could even say that you're kinda stoned

I'd suggest using a white lithium grease on those rails.

I couldn't find this white grease around here. Do you think vaseline would work? Maybe if I bought the DC a drink first? :P

[megasdkirby]

I think you should claim it is haunted and charge people 25 cents to look at it.

It's poltergeist activity!!!

Well you could replace the lens if you wish, but it's hard to find.

[Felipe]

It's poltergeist activity!!!

Well you could replace the lens if you wish, but it's hard to find.

That's exacly the problem... If it were easy to find, I'd have already bought one and exchanged. But I couldn't find any... so I'll give it a shot before saying the lens is dead.

[MASTERWEEDO]

my dreamcast is rather loud too. i thought that were all this way, but im told that is not the case. i dont really wanna buy another one.

[Felipe]

my dreamcast is rather loud too. i thought that were all this way, but im told that is not the case. i dont really wanna buy another one.

I have no idea, I thought they were all loud as well.
When I get a chance to test it out, I'll post here the results...