I have the two piece Becker 1432 in a 93 300CE. The first problem is that the tape unit is jammed. The tape goes in 4/5 th's of the way, but rather than grabbing the tape and sucking it in like a functioning tape unit is supposed to, nothing happens. There are whirring noises suggesting that the tape unit is trying to load the tape, but nothing happens. Is there any way for me to fix this?

The second problem is that the head unit does not recognize the CD player, a stock Alpine 6 disc system in the trunk. When I hit the mode control on the head unit it only sequences between radio and tape. The CD deck is filled with 6 discs, and the unit gets power. At least I am pretty sure that it gets power. When I insert the CD deck into the unit, things whir and clunk in a comforting manner. How do I troubleshoot short of swapping components from a functioning system?

Note that both pieces of the radio were recently replaced via Beckers swap program. I am a new owner of this car so I really don't know how it is supposed to function.

Eric

re: tape
if the headunit is recently refurb'd call becker at www.beckerautosound.com and find out what your options are. before you disconnect the headunit make sure you have the code.
re: cd
did the changer ever work? make sure all the connections are in place. there should be din cable connections from the changer to the tuner unit in the trunk. if i am not mistaken there is a cable that runs to the changer and another from the changer to the tuner.

The tape is broken and needs service the cd is more than likely plugged in wrong. There are two rt angle din plugs that plug into the translator and then into the 1432 tuner box. There are markings to make sure the are right gray to gray and black to black. The cd changer plugs into the translator via a din plug. I suggest you get to thes compenents and check them. The translator is usually mounted to the bottom of the cd changer. The tuner box is on the rt side of the trunk to the right of the hinge behind the carpet trim. It probaly didn't get reconnected when the parts were sent out for service.

Scott

I had the same problem with my tape deck in my 92 400e. I pulled out the radio, and took off its covers. There is a small motor with a small gear on its shaft that drives the tape feed mechanism. On my car, the motor shaft was spinning freely inside the gear (ie. the hole in the gear where the motor shaft goes was stripped). I puulled the gear out, cleaned the gear and shaft with rubbing alcohol, then super glued the gear to the shaft. This solved the problem. Just be easy when inserting the tape, don't force it or pull it.

Good Luck...Peter