Disc drive door won't shut when cd/dvd drive retracts

Question

Disc drive door won't shut when cd/dvd drive retracts

Has anyone had this problem. Due to another mac issue I'm having (a incredibly frustrating one many on here I'm sure can relate to: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=365979&tstart=0) I have been ejecting and retracting my disc drive quite a bit in the past few days. And now to add insult to injury my door just hangs open. I can push it to, and it will stay put unless I shut down my computer and it just hangs open, so I'm assuming there is some sort of electromagnetic thing or the vacuum from a fan that keeps it in place.

Any idea on how to make it close on it's own again? And if you read my other thread and have a solution to that as well then you are my new best friend. But to solve just one of these issues would be great.

Thanks,

Michael

powermac 64 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

powermac 64, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Aug 10, 2006 8:38 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 10, 2006 11:32 PM in response to Don Archibald

Don,
Thanks for the info.

Any idea on where I could locate it inside the computer? Would it be on the floor in front of it? And if I can't find it where would I find a replacement?

Thanks,
Michael

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 10, 2006 9:43 PM in response to Michael Taylor8

Hi, Michael -

...so I'm assuming there is some sort of electromagnetic thing or the vacuum from a fan that keeps it in place.

No. It's much simpler than either of those.

There is a small lightweight spring that keeps it closed. The CD tray pushes it open as it comes out, holding it against spring pressure; when the drawer retracts, the spring closes the outer door.

It may be that the spring came loose, or broke. The spring itself is a standard coil type; one end hooks onto a small extension (pointing inward when closed) of the door on the left, right at the pivot point for the door; the spring goes straight down behind the front facia and the other end hooks to the frame.

Reply

Answer 3

AJ

Level 5

7,075 points

Aug 11, 2006 12:43 PM in response to Michael Taylor8

Any idea on where I could locate it inside the
computer? Would it be on the floor in front of it?
And if I can't find it where would I find a
replacement?

Where and how may depend on which G4 you have. If it's an MDD, or a BW, you may be able to remove the drive doors without too much effort.

Open the side of the case, look just inside the edge for a couple of plastic arms. Lightly push them toward the drives, then forward. The panel that holds the doors should pop right out.

If there is nothing in the lower bay, then you may find the spring in the lower bay itself. I would bet, though, if it is broken, one end is still attached to it's original mounting point.

For the QS stlye G4 case (single 700, 867, 900, and dual 867s) the doors are not on a removable panel - you will likely need to remove the CD/Zip drive cage to access the spring mount points.

Reply

Answer 4

Aug 11, 2006 12:54 PM in response to Michael Taylor8

Look at these links.

Operation of CD-ROM Drives
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Etomscomputertips/tc3.html

CD-ROM Troubleshooting/Repair
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Etomscomputertips/tc2.html

The troubleshooting link lists some other things that may cause your problem.

Cheers, Tom

Reply

Answer 5

Aug 12, 2006 4:07 PM in response to AJ

Any idea on where I could locate it inside the
computer? Would it be on the floor in front of it?
And if I can't find it where would I find a
replacement?

Where and how may depend on which G4 you have. If
it's an MDD, or a BW, you may be able to remove the
drive doors without too much effort.

Open the side of the case, look just inside the edge
for a couple of plastic arms. Lightly push them
toward the drives, then forward. The panel that
holds the doors should pop right out.

If there is nothing in the lower bay, then you may
find the spring in the lower bay itself. I would
bet, though, if it is broken, one end is still
attached to it's original mounting point.

For the QS stlye G4 case (single 700, 867, 900, and
dual 867s) the doors are not on a removable panel -
you will likely need to remove the CD/Zip drive cage
to access the spring mount points.

The type of G4 I have is Machine Model:Power Mac G4
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.0) which I bought in 2002.

Thing is where do I get a replacement spring if it's broken? I'm so bad with this type of stuff it is embarrassing. Thanks for the response.

Reply

Answer 6

Aug 12, 2006 4:08 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

Look at these links.

Operation of CD-ROM Drives
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Etomscomputertips/tc3.html

CD-ROM Troubleshooting/Repair
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Etomscomputertips/tc2.html

The troubleshooting link lists some other things that
may cause your problem.

Cheers, Tom

Thanks for the links Tom, but I don't see anything that fits my issue. The cd drive works fine (with the exception of it occasionaly not burning a cd) but it's the drive door that won't shut after the tray retracts.

Reply

Answer 7

AJ

Level 5

7,075 points

Aug 13, 2006 9:08 AM in response to Michael Taylor8

Thing is where do I get a replacement spring if it's broken?
I'm so bad with this type of stuff it is embarrassing. Thanks
for the response.

Once you locate the existing (whole or broken) spring, then remove it and go to the hardware store of your choice.

I would venture to guess somewhere on or near the isle that contains screws, nails, and other similar items.

Reply

Answer 8

Aug 13, 2006 2:51 PM in response to AJ

Thing is where do I get a replacement spring if it's

broken?

I'm so bad with this type of stuff it is

embarrassing. Thanks

for the response.

Once you locate the existing (whole or broken)
spring, then remove it and go to the hardware store
of your choice.

I would venture to guess somewhere on or near the
isle that contains screws, nails, and other similar
items.

Does it pull out with out causing any extra damage? Do you know the measurements of the spring?

It's hard for me to find the rest because of the secondary drive below it. Since (even though it is empty since I don't have a 2nd drive installed but there is still a housing for it) I can't locate the spring. I guess I could unscrew everything but that would be probably do more harm than good.

Thanks for all your help.

Reply

Answer 9

AJ

Level 5

7,075 points

Aug 14, 2006 1:30 PM in response to Michael Taylor8

Does it pull out with out causing any extra damage?

Refer back to my first post. How you get to the spring is going to depend on which mac you have.

Do you know the measurements of the spring?

Beyond, small, no, I don't.

I guess I could unscrew everything but that
would be probably do more harm than good.

Not really. Just dont force anything. It's mostly snap-together.

If you have an MDD, (1st generation) graphite G4, or a G3, the drive door covers will come off the machine without the need to remove the drive cage. For those models, There will be 2 long plastic tabs near the side of the CPU. You should be able to see them when you open the case and look near the front/vertical edge of the drive cage. Push them in towards the drive cage, then forward. One side of the doors cover will stick out from the machine. The other edge is held in place by 2 short flat stubs, (like on a remote control battery cover.)

If you have a Quicksilver (G4 700, 867, 900), you will probaby have to remove the drive cage to access the door springs.

The drive cage in the QS machines is connected to the frame by 2 screws. With the computer case open with the drives to your left, one screw is on the bottom rear of the drive cage near the power supply, the other just inside of the frame in the left front corner of the drive cage.

Reply