1992 300SE Tape Deck Problem
 

Having a problem with the cassette tape deck in our 1992 300SE. The stereo (radio) sounds fine and the cassette tape deck when on side 1 sounds fine. The problem is only with side 2 of any cassette. The sound is muffled and with lower volume. I purchased a tape cleaning cassette but the Mercedes tape deck rejects it and will not allow it to be inserted. The tape cleaning cassette does go fine into other tape decks we own. The other tape decks don't "pull" the cassette in. Any suggestions?

If you need to replace it, I see a ton of these radios in EBAY regularly. Check it out.

Tape Problem
 

Hi wjm,

What may be needed to be done is opening the radio to access the tape section and manually clean the head and capstans (metal posts) and rollers (since you are there). Two type of chemicals can be used to clean them. This all depends on what got on the parts. If coke or coffee is on it then use Windex or the like since alcohol will just wipe on and wipe off with no effect. If you have carbon or other type of build up then an alcohol solution should work. Try both of these if you are not sure. No harm if it doesn't need one or the other.

Cleeve Morrison
La Jolla Audio Repair

www.lajollaaudiorepair.com