I have a Sony DCR-TRV18 . . . When a DV tape is in the camera, an error message flashes with the code: C:31:23. When there is no tape, the error does not appear. I have cleaned the inside of my camera, tried different tapes, disconnected the battery, etc, etc. This message will not go away and I cannot use my camera. Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do to fix my problem?
S reel refers to the supply reel- it is not turning, or not turning fast enough. Error message appears when there is a direct problem with the mechanism (not user serviceable), the reel sensor, LS chassis assembly, OR a defective tape. On a large number of units, cold solder has been the culprit on these error codes they usually appear after shooting in moisture filled climates.
Sony recommends the following:
Turn off the camcorder.
Remove the battery or disconnect the AC power adapter for 60 seconds.
Insert the battery or reconnect the AC adapter.
Turn on the camcorder.
If the error message appears, service may be required.
If your camcorder still shows the same error code, then you'll have to send in your camcorder for service. Exepect intermediate to major labor. Parts can costs as little as $20.00, to as much as $120.00+.
Workaround hacks:
- Try a different tape.
- Try pressing the reset button on your camcorder.
- Remove the battery and power cord, and plug it in again. If this works you will hear the heads making a clicking sound and the error message gone.
- Open your camcorder's tape carriage and look inside with the tape removed. You will see a roller on the right hand side toward the lens it is a wide roller with black rubber on it. Inside this roller you will find a small white plastic tube that inserts to hold the roller steady. If this is cracked or broken this is what is causing the error.
- Take a tube from a compressed air can and cut it to the correct size and replaced the broken plastic one. You do not have to dismantel the unit to get to this you can do this from the ejection port.
When you have nothing to lose:
- Open it up. There are about a dozen of the very tiny, black, fine-thread screws used, primarily, to hold on the plastic casing surrounding the unit. Take all of those out and CAREFULLY disassemble the exterior--cassette side, opposite side, battery area and lens portion. Then, I CAREFULLY reassemble the unit.
- Hit it. Yes, hit your camcorder. Give it a good whack on the tape side.
How do I avoid this happening with my camera? ...you may be wondering.
According to my sources, tape crinkle damage is the single most cause of this error. It can be caused by two things: 1) accumulation of "gunk" on the capstan shaft, and 2) insufficient supply reel torque allowing the tape to slip off one of the tape guides (TG7, next to the capstan and pinch roller).
If the S-reel tension is too low (less than 0.69 mN*m), it can cause tape crinkle as the tape slides off the bottom edge of tape guide TG7 during rewind. Supply reel torque is fixed at a Sony service center by replacing the S reel table. It may be that residue build-up is increased by mixing tape brands, or by specific brands, or heat, humidity or other factors but I have no evidence of this myself. Just keep an eye on your capstan shaft and clean it, if necessary (see instructions for this).
Tape crinkle and tape jam happens most frequently, but not exclusively, at the last 5 minutes of a reel. The problem can occur just when rewinding, not necessarily when playing or recording. It is possible that it is not reported more frequently than it is (a handful of reports out of my 150+ respondent TRV900 reliability survey) because many users do not record to the absolute end of a tape.
More error codes and what they mean:
Self-diagnosis Code Symptom/State Correction
C 04 00 Non-standard battery is used. Use the info LITHIUM battery.
C 21 00 Condensation. Remove the cassette, and insert it again after one hour.
C 22 00 Video head is dirty. Clean with the optional cleaning cassette.
31 10 LOAD direction. Loading does not complete within specified time
Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 11 UNLOAD direction. Loading does not complete within specified time Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 20 T reel side tape slacking when unloading. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 21 Winding S reel fault when counting the rest of tape. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 22 T reel fault. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 23 S reel fault. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 24 T reel fault. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 30 FG fault when starting capstan. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 40 FG fault when starting drum. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 31 42 FG fault during normal drum operations. Load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 20 T reel side tape slacking when unloading. Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 21 Winding S reel fault when counting the rest of tape. Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 22 T reel fault. Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 23 S reel fault. Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 24 T reel fault. Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 30 FG fault when starting capstan. Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 40 FG fault when starting drum Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
C 32 42 FG fault during normal drum operations Remove the battery or power cable, connect, and perform operations from the beginning.
E 61 00 Difficult to adjust focus Inspect the lens block focus reset sensor
E 61 10 Zoom operations fault Inspect the lens block zoom reset sensor
E 62 00 Steadyshot function does not work well. Inspect pitch angular velocity sensor
E 62 01 Steadyshot function does not work well. Inspect yaw angular velocity sensor
The DV Show Podcast for May 20th addresses camcorder error messages:
