Powerbook Kanga G3 CD drive not spinning

[FlyingToaster]

Hello! I haven't used my Kanga G3 in a while and thought I would play some starcraft on it today. Any CD I put in doesn't spin up. I see the little green LED light up, sometimes blink but no sound coming from the drive. I have a brand new CD module I put in to rule out the old one being dead, same symptoms. I tried different CDs such as 8.5 install and a few other known working Cds. Reset the PRAM, removed the main battery..not much else I can think of. The CD modules are for PB 3400 but they worked without a problem before I stored the Kanga in it's box a month ago. Is there anything else I can try doing? They both eject like normal. xx(

 

[FlyingToaster]

Ok, I was digging around and found a third 3400 CD module. I popped it in, and it READS the CD. But how is my old module and "new" module both unresponsive? Bad luck? I will do some more switching and seeing if I can get the first two going again. I am happy with at least one working. These macs make me go a little insane sometimes which is why I hoard parts!

**Edit- It seems the problem is somewhere inside where the module connects to the powerbook. I squeezed the whole right side while loading a cd and that is when it works. It seems to have been dropped before I owned it as there is a crack on the rear right corner of the powerbook. For now I will use it for light internet browsing and the space saving device is installed instead to prevent more damage.

 

[Byrd]

You might want to clean both connectors with electronic cleaning solvent. If this fails, can you try the optical drives on another 3400/Kanga, to rule out the connector on the motherboard itself.

 

[FlyingToaster]

I cleaned it out with a q-tip and found a tiny piece of sheet metal or something, the size of a match head. This could have been blocking it. Haven't used this laptop much, it came with a 3400 box that it sits inside like a vampire. The previous owner could have switched drives rather violently? Anyways it works!