Hey! I'm new, thanks for having me.

I just bought a '99 Cherokee and shortly thereafter the drive belt on the cassette deck snapped. I took it apart and replaced the belt with the help of this guide:
https://www.allpar.com/stereo/combo-deck/index.html

Got everything back together and now the cassette loading mechanism is non-responsive. I didn't tamper with it but can only guess that something got messed up in disassembly/assembly...

I can't figure out to save my life how the cassette is supposed to drop down to play. The silver part of the loading tray looks like it should release from the copper-colored part of the tray, but I can't see how. Any helpful advice would be amazing. And please, if you cant help it, don't make fun of me for wanting to play cassettes.

Thanks in advance. Pictures below!

 

Wow, you still have cassette tapes? Interesting trivia fact - Sales this year of vinyl records is higher than CDs. Maybe cassettes are coming back in style?

 

When i tore mine apart to fix it. There should be a white plastic piece in the back that the back of the cassette that presses against and it triggered the cassette holder to drop

 

Thanks for the reply. I finally gave up today and found the exact same deck for sale on OfferUp for $5... grabbed it, installed, working perfectly. Makes me feel stupid for spending so many hours trying to fix mine!

And yea... it's weird, cassettes don't sound great, but I do have quite a few. I gave up on CDs years ago and have acquired a tape/vinyl collection instead.

 

I've been looking for another one for the same reason. That and i prefer the original stereo to the aftermarket ones.

 

Me too. I was shocked and horrified when I saw how much they seem to be going for on eBay... ugh. I feel lucky to have found one. Good luck!

 

i have on that works but the tape deck isn't in such good shape. The volume **** is broken and none of the LEDs work besides the little screen. Thinking of taking it to a radio repair shop. Also yea them prices online are ridiculous.

 

Yeah, my radio/CD/tape unit quit playing CDs and I was going to take it to United Radio near me. They have a $75 diagnostic fee, then they'll call you and tell you the cost of the repair. No thanks guys. I haven't tried my cassettes lately. The only panel lights that work are the clock/tuner and the 3 mixer LEDs.

At the local Pick&Pull near me, radios are the first things to go. That and aluminum wheels.