Sony CCD-TR83 Handycam
(160-8408)                 Troubleshooting            Faxback Doc. # 31276

TROUBLE CHECK

If you run into any problem using the camcorder, use the following table to
troubleshoot the problem.  Should the difficulty persist, disconnect the
power source and contact your Sony dealer or local authorized Sony service
facility.

POWER TROUBLESHOOTING

SYMPTOM             CAUSE                    CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

The power is not    The battery pack is      Attach the battery pack.
on.                 not attached.            

                    The battery is dead.     Use a charged battery
                                             pack.

                    The AC power adaptor     Connect the AC power 
                    is not connected to      adaptor to a wall
                    a wall outlet.           outlet.

The power goes      While being operated     Turn STANDBY down once
off.                in CAMERA mode, the      and turn it up again.
                    camcorder has been in   
                    Standby mode for more
                    than 5 minutes.

                    The battery is dead.     Use a charged battery
                                             pack.

The battery pack    The ambient temperature             ----
is quickly          is too low.
discharged.
                    The battery pack has     Charge the battery pack
                    not been charged fully.  again.

                    The battery pack is      Use another battery
                    completely dead, and     pack.
                    cannot be recharged.

The beep sounds     The battery is           Charge the battery
when the battery    discharged during a      again.
is attached.        long period of storage.


OPERATIONS TROUBLESHOOTING

SYMPTOM             CAUSE                    CORRECTIVE ACTION

START/STOP does     The tape is stuck to     Eject the tape.
not operate.        the drum.

                    The tape has run out.    Rewind the tape or use
                                             a new one.

                    The POWER switch is      Set it to CAMERA.
                    is set to PLAYER.

                    The tab on the           Use a new tape or slide 
                    cassette is out (red).   the tab.

The cassette        The battery is dead.     Use a charged battery 
cannot be removed                            pack or the AC power
from the holder.                             adaptor.

No function except  Moisture condensation    Remove the cassette and 
for cassette        has occurred.            leave the camcorder for
ejection works.                              at least an hour.

The date or time    You pressed DATE and     The camcorder is not
indicator is        and TIME together for    malfunctioning.  You may
flashing.           more than 2 seconds.     start recording. 
                                             Flashing will stop soon.

The tape does not   The POWER switch is      Set it to PLAYER.
move when a tape    set to CAMERA or OFF.    
transport button
is pressed.         The tape has run out.    Rewind the tape or use a
                                             new one.

The STEADY SHOT     STEAD SHOT is set to     Set STEADY SHOT to ON.
function does not   OFF.
activate.
(CCD-TR83/TR93 ONLY)

No sound or only a  The stereo tape is       Set to "STEREO" in the
low sound is heard  played back with HiFi    menu system.
when playing back   SND set to "1" or "2"    
a tape.             in the menu system.

Excessive high-     The picture has been     When there is no wind,
pitched sound is    recorded with WIND       set the selector to OFF.
heard.              set to ON in the menu
                    system.

Recording stops     REC TIME switch is set   Set it to NORMAL.
in a few seconds.   to 5 SEC.

The date or time          ----               Reset the date and time.
indicator disappears.

PICTURE TROUBLESHOOTING

SYMPTOM             CAUSE                    CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

The image on the    The viewfinder lens is   Adjust the viewfinder
viewfinder screen   not adjusted.            lens.
is not clear.
A vertical band     The contrast between     The camcorder is not 
appears when a      the subject and          malfunctioning.  Change
subject such as     background is too        locations.
lights or candle    high.
flame is shot 
against a dark background.

The menu is not     DISPLAY on the Remote    Press DISPLAY on the 
displayed on the    Commander has not been   Remote Commander.
TV.                 pressed.

The playback        EDIT is set to ON in     Set it to OFF.
picture is          the menu system.         
not clear.

The picture is      The video heads may be   Clean the heads using
"noisy."            dirty.                   the Sony V8-25CLH 
                                             cleaning cassette.

An unknown picture  The camcorder operates   Exit the demo mode.
is displayed.       in Demo mode.

The supplied        COMMANDER is set to      Set it to ON.
Remote Commander    OFF in the menu system.  
does not work.
                    Something is blocking    Remove the obstacle.
                    the infrared rays.

                    The battery is not       Insert the battery with
                    inserted with the        the correct polarity.
                    correct polarity.

                    The batteries are dead.  Insert new ones.

There is dust in           ----               Remove the viewfinder
the viewfinder.                               barrel and clean the
                                              viewfinder screen or
                                              viewfinder lens.
                                              (CCD-TR36/TR83 ONLY)

AC POWER ADAPTOR

SYMPTOM             CAUSE                    CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

The POWER lamp             ----              Set the selector to the
does not light.                              center position (AC-25A/
                                             V25B/V25C only) and
                                             disconnect the power
                                             cord.  After about one
                                             minute, reconnect the
                                             power cord and set the
                                             selector to CHARGE
                                             again.

The CHARGE lamp     See the following chart.
flashes.


(YO/SP-03/20/96)

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