I have what is to my knowledge the original radio/cassette player from my 1986 Fiero. Often (60-70% of the time) when I insert a cassette, the player will accept the tape, but then click for a few seconds and eject.
I have a video of this below. Note that the player is taken apart, but it behaves just like this when installed in the car as well. https://youtube.com/shorts/JPzIjLCErqU
I have searched through the forum and have not found a post that seems to describe the same symptoms as mine. Every so often the player does just work perfectly without issues, and I have also removed and inspected it and know the belts are not broken. Also, as seen in the video, the player does not spin any pulleys when this happens.
I know some have posted about theirs switching directions before ejecting the tape, but based off videos I have found, it seem the pulleys spin during that process. As you can see, my pulleys do not spin at all after the tape has been inserted, there is just that loud ticking noise and then it ejects. The ejection does seem to spin the pulleys for a second, but that seems different than videos I have seen of the player spinning a tape in both directions, and then ejecting.
Merely A Thought: I have a large 80's tape collection and very soon, I'm planning to send my original Delco UX1 Radio/Cassette unit to be fully serviced and refurbished to replacing the aged capacitors, the drive belt(s), etc.
I need to check to see if Joe Sciarrino {delcomaster84@gmail.com} is still offering his service; however, he is in New York and I'm in California.
Another source I saw was Wags Klassic Electronics {WagsKlassics@gmail.com} in Nebraska
Or search for vintage Delco repair / restoration in your area...
If you want to DIY, good luck!
------------------ Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles
The rubber drive belts in those old cassette players dry out and eventually break from wear. Its an easy fix as the belts are available in the aftermarket. There are You Tube video on how to replace those belts.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
The belts must have proper tension or they can cause the pulleys to slip. Slipping belts often cause drive issues. Most famous one is where you will press play, you’ll get pulley rotation, then a little sound and then the cassette play button / key will auto eject and stop. A belt can look “ok” but again, it’s all about tension. Also, it’s a good idea to ensure your belts aren’t the type with natural rubber as they often turn into “goo” and can leave rubbery, sticky streaks on the pulleys. If so, you can get that stuff off with Q tips and rubbing alcohol.
If you haven’t already done so, while you’re in there you should make sure your capstan rubber wheel is clean, dry and in good shape. Kit
P.S. If you buy new belts, (especially if it’s a variety pack generic belt kit) make sure you get SQUARE belts, not round ones.
[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 07-26-2025).]
Those cassette mechs for the high-end Delco radios were made by Blaupunkt. I'm seeing no drive motor movement in your video clip, see if it's getting voltage. You may need to source and splice a replacement motor from a donor. Or ship out to Wags and let him overhaul the whole unit.
If you go the latter route, I highly recommend having a Bluetooth receiver installed while he has it. The Blaupunkt decks sound glorious when they work but are a massive headache needing constant maintenance, I was a major tapehead and it finally broke me last year.
[This message has been edited by jonrev (edited 07-30-2025).]
I was a major tapehead and it finally broke me last year.
IMO, wanting a functional cassette deck in a car is analogous to insisting on still using bias ply tires. When there's something newer available that's vastly superior, it seems ill-advised to be wanting to retain an "old school" feature.
The rubber drive belts in those old cassette players dry out and eventually break from wear. Its an easy fix as the belts are available in the aftermarket. There are You Tube video on how to replace those belts.
As I mentioned in the original post, I inspected the belts and they are in excellent condition. The issue seems more related to some other mechanical mechanism
Those cassette mechs for the high-end Delco radios were made by Blaupunkt. I'm seeing no drive motor movement in your video clip, see if it's getting voltage. You may need to source and splice a replacement motor from a donor. Or ship out to Wags and let him overhaul the whole unit.
If you go the latter route, I highly recommend having a Bluetooth receiver installed while he has it. The Blaupunkt decks sound glorious when they work but are a massive headache needing constant maintenance, I was a major tapehead and it finally broke me last year.
I know that it is getting voltage, because if a tape is inserted slowly everything spins as it should. The issue seems to be with some sort of plastic arm that seems to sort of flick a gear on one of the belts pulleys. This arm flicking off the plastic gear is what causes the clicking noise heard in the video. I think it may be some sort of starting mechanism to help the assembly start rotating. I have found that if I just slowly insert the tape into the player, the capstans rise as they should and the tape spins before it fully seats. Then once the whole assembly is clicked into place, the gear on the pulley is already at speed, so the flicker arm thing doesn't fail to get it moving, and all works as designed. It's certainly not a perfect solution but I don't really want to rip it apart any further, so hopefully my new theory will allow me to get some more consistant use out of the player until something else breaks.
I am quite interested in the bluetooth receiver installation you mentioned. Does Wags put these in the original players? or is it a different unit? I am a bit of a tapehead as well and more than anything I love the look of the orignal radio inside the car, so I would never want to replace it with a modern looking aftermarket unit.
IMO, wanting a functional cassette deck in a car is analogous to insisting on still using bias ply tires. When there's something newer available that's vastly superior, it seems ill-advised to be wanting to retain an "old school" feature.
That analogy could go a whole lot further than just that, modern cars are "vastly superior" to the Fiero in many ways, why drive a Fiero then? The reasons are different for everyone of course, some like the "old school" charm, some like the total manual control, some like the story, some like what the Fiero can become with work, money and time, etc. but just because Bluetooth, CDs, and aux cable are vastly superior, doesn't mean that people can't still want to retain an original or old school feature.
I am quite interested in the bluetooth receiver installation you mentioned. Does Wags put these in the original players?
Kevin Wagner of Wags Klassic Electronics will add bluetooth in your Delco radio.... BTW: He has a Delco UX1 {AM/FM Radio with Cassette and 5-Band Equalizer} with Bluethooth installed for sale and asking $350, but if not sold it will go on Ebay for $425. https://www.facebook.com/groups/613613486896043/
WagsKlassics@gmail.com 402) 677-5182
Wags Klassic Electronics 14520 Bailie St Waverly, Nebraska 68462
------------------ Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles
[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 07-31-2025).]
Kevin Wagner of Wags Klassic Electronics will add bluetooth in your Delco radio.... BTW: He has a Delco UX1 {AM/FM Radio with Cassette and 5-Band Equalizer} with Bluethooth installed for sale and asking $350, but if not sold it will go on Ebay for $425. https://www.facebook.com/groups/613613486896043/
I used a place in Saginaw Michigan to do mine, although I didn't spring for the Bluetooth. I should look them up to be sure they're still in business.
I'm glad these places are still around. Sure, they're expensive, but the OCD in me won't let me install an aftermarket head unit. That would be like putting ketchup on a hot dog!
Originally posted by Kitopher: I am quite interested in the bluetooth receiver installation you mentioned. Does Wags put these in the original players? or is it a different unit?
He uses the original unit, it looks 100% factory stock from the outside. When you pair a device it overrides the analog signal from the radio (or cassette if one is playing), unpair and it returns to normal.
Another fail point in these Blaupunkt units worth mentioning is the IR light which senses direction. If this gets dirty or dims it will cause an ejection cycle.
This video shows where and how to check and replace this IR.
IMO, wanting a functional cassette deck in a car is analogous to insisting on still using bias ply tires. When there's something newer available that's vastly superior, it seems ill-advised to be wanting to retain an "old school" feature.
FWIW cassette quality did come to match CD's with high-bias tapes and Dolby-S hitting the consumer market just as tapes became obsolete. In the end some just find satisfaction keeping mechanical and analog tech functioning, see also: vinyl records and film photography.
Frankly I'm yet to see a newer head unit blend seamlessly with the Fiero's interior aesthetic -- the Delco CD units from the bubbly design language of the 90s look terrible in these cars with their oversized buttons.
Being an old fart, I'm pretty familiar with many tape formats. As a kid, I was enjoying using reel to reel tape recorders in the early 60's. I used 4-track cassette recorders with Dolby-S to record home music tracks in the 90's. You'll never convince me that any crummy OEM cassette deck that came in a Pontiac (Fiero or otherwise) could hold a candle to a Nakamichi Dragon. They're not even from the same planet.
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Originally posted by jonrev:
...the Delco CD units from the bubbly design language of the 90s look terrible in these cars with their oversized buttons.
In the end some just find satisfaction keeping mechanical and analog tech functioning, see also: vinyl records and film photography.
Vinyl records and film at least have the ability/potential to (re)produce high quality audio and/or images. Car cassette decks? Not so much.
The first tape deck I ever installed in a car, was an 8-track back in the 70's. I've still got it here somewhere. I love old technology, but IMO there are better formats to use for music reproduction in a car.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-31-2025).]
I love old technology, but IMO there are better formats to use for music reproduction in a car.
