Sony MDS-JE500, insert disk, TOC Reading, disk ejects with 'disk error'

[MarkPG]

My 19 year old Sony MDE-JS500 has suddenly started ejecting discs at the TOC reading stage. I have tried new discs, old discs and recently recorded discs. It does not seem to want to know about any of them. The symptoms are as follows:

Disk inserts and pulls into the machine as normal.

Display says 'TOC Reading'; but for longer than it used to with a quiet high pitched whirring sound coming from the machine, no clunking or other mechanical sounds at all.

Display flashes 'Eject' and the disc pops out.

Display says 'NO DISC'.

 

I have owned this from new and it is such a useful piece of kit so any advice toward getting it functioning again would be gratefully received.

 

 

[sfbp]

That generation (the 510 also but NOT the 520) are known for this. Fixing it is iffy. Better to get a cheap deck off the Bay and save this one for parts.