Video camera displaying Error code C:31:23

solved the problem very easy in 5 seconds...
by removing all batteries .. then shake the camera very hard (or alternatively hit the bottom hard with your hand -at your own risk-) ..
now the memory can't hold that there is an error and with the hitting things get better:

got it from:

Re: Re: Re: Self Diagnosis C:31:22 Jim - 16th Jan 2005 9:33
When you whack the camera (I don't advise it) you are probably loosening the debris or condensation enough to get the camera going. The reason for the battery removal is to reset the camera so old error codes are wiped and to get them again the problem must recur. If you take the batteries out and put them back in with positive results the movement involved in doing this probably serves as well as whacking it (sometimes just turning it over a few times will work). I have in fact seen with my very eyes, repair people (independent not at Sony) take a camera in, wait until the customer was out the door, take the main battery off, whack the camera VERY HARD and turn it back on. This has worked so many times I am embarrassed to mention it. They then put the camera on the shelf for a couple of days and call the customer back and charge them for a complete (and expensive) cleaning. The camera was usually fixed before they got to the car. I would offer you some simple advice (from experience and observation) that you may take or not at your own risk. Understand that anything you do in an attempt to fix your own camera may result in complete failure and irrepairable damage to your camera, including anything I mention here. Just be forewarned

displaying and error code C:31:23.
This error code isn't listed in the service manual PROBLEM

Believe it or not, giving it a bash got it to work. Not too hard, just a few sharp smacks on the side.
It's something in the cassette carrier mechanism.

Don't Shake your cam too hard - it will not fix the prob forever.

I had exactly the same problem and tried the shaky method.

The error message is related to one of the reels,
the black rubber one (atleast on my cam DCR-PC115e

When the alarm message first occured, and I opened up
the cassette compartment, and the black rubber thing
came out .... I put it back and cam was working again,
next day .... same alarm text.

I have been reading around for quite some time now, and I
finally decided to give it a shot to see if I can fix it.

The reason for the alarm is because the "s-reel" is not fit in
same location. There must be a "locker" for it, put on top of
the pin, which apparently have fallen off my cam.

What I did, I broke a BIC pen, and the ink-pipe had exactly
the same dimension as the silver pin (approx 1.5 mills)
I cut it to a good length (not sticking out), put the black reel
in place again, and the BIC-pipe as a "new" lock on the pin.

I've been running the cam for many weeks now, and the error
message is history.. Cam is working like a charm....

I am not sure if it will work on other cam's but if you have a PC115/120e , give it a try!!!

if you want a photo on what I mean, mail me at vinsa@telia.com

Good luck.

Best regards,
Fredrik

Banging it seems to work for many people, however it didn't for me. I believe the reason it works is because it is knocking this roller back into place.
When you open your camera after getting this error, very carefully shake the camera and see what comes out. If you are lucky, it will be both the roller and the white tube piece that locks it in. I found the black rubber roller loose in the camera, replaced it on the top skinny metal post (about halfway down on the right side when you are facing the camera opening on my camcorder, sony dcr-trv19). Laid it on it side so that the roller would not fall out, error message is gone.
There is a good diagram of this on camerahacker.com, where there are over 2,000 complaints about this same error message.
As stated elsewhere, you need to lock this roller in by inserting something into the exposed top of the roller to hold it and make sure it doesn't fall out again. I've tried the bic refill, but it seems too small for mine, unless it was from the wrong bic pen??
BOYCOTT SONY!!!!!!

Hey! Just a comment to my previous message on the thread.

My cam has been working like a charm after my little repair
as described above.

Your Black little reel is most likely out of position, and when
"smacking it" it goes back in position again.

Before I fixed my cam, I got the message every 5th minute or so,
now it's completely gone ,and cam is running just fine.
(Never had any error messages so far .... and I taped approx
3 hours after my fix!)

So if your locker of the wheel is still there, push it gently back
in position, if it's gone, use a BIC plastic piece as described above.

Good luck.

Best regards
//Fredrik

I also followed the banging method and it worked too. I have been dealing with this problem for 2 solid days. Restarting, unplugging, restarting, unplugging, reinstalling tape after tape but to no avail. Finally the solution. Just bang the darn thing

Mine did the same thing. I checked the battery but that was not it. I found out that it was the memory stick. I had to remove it, then, It worked fine right away. God Bless! Hope that it helps you!

Sony have issued a technical bulletin for this. Detials are:-
Date: 09.03.07
Ref. No: 07PV035
Model: Z Mecha MD
Subject: T and S Reel Fault Message

Symptom:
"C:31:22","C:31:23", or "C:31:42" may appear on the LCD display.

Cause:
The FWD back tension value is too high due to grease sticking out of the "Gear Assy, Gooseneck", adhering to the band of "TG2, Arm Assy" or "Table Assy, Reel".

Solution:
Whenever replacing, simultaneously change the four parts described below.
Description Part Number
Gear Assy, Gooseneck X-2718-168-1
TG2 Arm Block Assy A-7095-403-B
Table Assy, S Reel X-3952-936-2
Table Assy, T Reel X-3952-937-1

This was given to me after my DCR-HC39E developed this fault. However it would suggest a known fault with any Mini DV Camera using this mechanism.

film student grant says

Although I am a fan of giving something a good whack to get it going I do not advise this for a video camera. There are a whole but load of mechanisms that are timed and spring loaded into proper position to make the camera function. I have VX2100 and recently had this error occur and the best safest fix for this was to find the uptake reel the left white wheel when looking into the tape dect and take a small item like a tooth pick and move this wheel carfully around it will probly be slightly bound up either on itself of the other crap behind it moving the wheel one revolution around should free it up. the error code is indicating a bound wheel...so fix with confidence its easy and it will save you a couple hundred bucks

For the error code C:31:23 adapt following method to resolve.
Remove the cassette, battery,power and again perform all the functions and try.
it worked for me,thanks.
solution 7 as above helped me to solve the problem

give a good whack on the tape side.

C:31:23 is a S reel fault as per service manual..refer Page no.9 of the service manual version 1.1

Remove the cassette, battery,power and again perform all the functions and try.

If you need spares do write to me.

I finally tried the banging method and sure enough, it worked. I removed the tape, the battery and the memory stick. Gave it few bangs from the bottom and put everything back and started it and it's been working like a charm ever since which was 2 weeks ago. I used it a lot over Christmas.

I gave the thing a shake as suggested and true this also worked for me thanks.

Error code C:32:22 is probably tape problems. I found a small, loose rubber wheel just lyig inside behind the big tape reader/writer wheel. When you hit the camera it will in some cases get back into place but wil probably fall out again when the tape recorder is tilted in a certain position. The wheel seem to have lost a screw just like the whole Sony Handycam fleet of cameras. Error code C:32:22 seems to be a main problem fSony Handycam. I have not used my camera that much. Now adays i just want to convert the video tapes into DVD:s but now the camera got dead. It was ertainly my last Sony. The first one (1989) was just much **** as this one.

I had the same problem. I took out the battery for a couple of minutes and wacked the camera on its side a few times. I put the battery back in and amazingly it worked! Try and you will be suprised !

Ashvin

OMG, i smacked it on the bottom and slamed the case shut, and it worked (Y) THANKS

I had the same proplem 31:23, Look inside the cassette compartment, you should have two black rollers , one on the right and one on the left side that hold the tape.
The one on the right side of mine fell off but did not know it , I read on this site to smack the camera.
So what I did was remove the cassette leave the door open and start to smack it after a few times a black roller fell out, I looked in side, slide it on the middle right silver pin, Like MAGIC IT WORKED.

I tried everything, even the hitting. But when I finally took out the memory stick battery and tape together, put back the tape and battery leaving the memory stick out - a miracle, it worked! Leaving the stick out for good.

I had the same error code C:31:23 AND the tape would not eject AND I would get the symbol indicating I needed to eject the tape. This is what I did:

1. I wacked the tape door side of the camera a few times and I was then able to eject the tape. (see other guest comments)

2. I looked inside and found a white pin sticking out of the black roller (2nd from the right) and gently pushed it back into place. See comments posted Dec 2, 2008.

Bingo back in business!!! The problem seems to be that the roller pins come loose and might fall all of the way out (see other comments) Good Luck!

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THREADING TIMING WHEN YOU LOAD THE TAPE. THE SWITCH AND GEARS OF THREADING SYSTEM TOO DELICATE, IF IT GET DIRTY THE MICRO PROCESSOR CAN NOT RECOGNIZE THE END OF THREADING POSITION, IT WILL SHOW THE ERROR CODE. IF YOU WACK THE DECK IT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, YOU'RE LUCKY, IF NOT I SUGGESTE YOU USE THE MODE SELECTOR OR ANY 5VDC TO ACTIVE THREADING MOTOR ALL THE WAY IN AND OUT FEW TIMES THE PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED.

Dirty recording heads! Have it cleaned in a service center. always happened to me but i did the cleaning myself. all you need is a cotton buds (actually a no-no but i found it very convenient) and an alcohol (another no-no) as the cleaning solution. Locate the recording heads (the tiny things that revolve around the drum) then dip the cotton swab in the alcohol (i use rubbing alcohol-expert says never!) and touch the recording heads with its tip. Do not rub, just a light touch and voila!

My video camera is displaying and error code C:31:23 upon start up.
This error code isn't listed in the service manual.
It won't let me play tapes or record them. Please help as soon as possible.

Had the same problem with a TRV 480. The unplug - turn on - turn off - turn on bit worked for a short time after many tries, but this routine no longer seamed to help. So I whacked it up the side. It seems to be working now. We'll see how long it lasts.

shutting the cassette cradle hard fixed the problem for this error.
i tried , memory stick removal,mosture troubleshooting

ANY BODY DONT BUY SONY HANDYCAM
IT HAVE PARMANENT PROBLAM C31:22
AND DID'T SOLVE IN INDIA
PLEASE
BYE ANATHER COMPANY LIKE PANASONIK AND ELSE
THANKS
I ALSO USE IT MORE THAN 6 YEAR AND PROBLAM IS SAME
BYE....

I had the same problems as you all did and went here for the solution. I had the camera all ready to send a authorized repair center but decided to slap the camera like one of the other posters said. It worked and now I punish my camera every so often when it starts acting up. I hope I dont get accused of machine abuse.

I got victimized toooo!!!!!!!! Damn it. I've always trusted sony in the past for all my A/V equip. But this is what made me change my beliefs.5 years ago I have had "2" DCR-TRV310's (Japanese version) die this way after 1 year each. The first one went in to repair and came back with a  list of parts and labor for 20,000Japanese yen. I charged it overnight, popped a new Sony 120min tape in it the next morning,pulled it out about noon that day to shoot and it worked  fine for about 5 min. then the picture suddenly went all "chopped up" into little squares and "smeared" across the screen. Playback verified the image was the same on the tape. So I took it back again, described the problem,showed them the tape, demonstrated it for them, and asked them to please try again.So it comes back with a list of parts and labor completely different from the first for 10,000Japanese Yen. (with the tape still in it) So I charge, cue the tape (to the end of the previous garbage), Start shooting, About 50 min later it kicks the tape out with  the "ding-ding of doom" and the C code again!!!!! So I'm kinda "not happy" about this. After venting my frustrations on some poor guy,his Supervisor, and his Supervisor's Manager, I send it back again and the shiny new replacement arrives 2 days later. It worked wonderfully for almost a year and suddenly, one day, guess what............."ding-ding".  I don't remember exactly what happened immediately after. But the camera is back in it's box on a shelf. (in many pieces) I got a call from a close friend a couple of weeks later. He has the same camera. He asked me what to do when the camera goes "ding-ding" and kicks the tape out. I told him where and in what condition  mine was. His managed to make it back into the box in one piece. Now, 3 years later he sends me an email with a link to this page. That's about all I have to say.

FredSweden's solution of locking the black rubber roller in place with a pen's ink tube did the trick for my DCR-TRV27! Many thanks, Fredrik!

One addition: if the pen ink tube's inner diameter is a bit too big (mine was), just flatten the tube a bit with tweezers/pliers to get a snug fit.

Best regards-
- Chris

C:31:22 error code SOLVED:

http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/DisplayComments.php?file=Video%20Camera/Sony/Sony_DCR-TRV18_-_Error_Code..html

check this site
this has saved loads of money to me
katalin

This was an instant fix! I opened my DCR-TRV320 and cleaned the small clear purple sensor towards the middle of the tape deck and it worked perfect! Just try a little canned air and some alcohol.

Thanks for the wack suggestion. It really worked! My Sony camcorder, DSC TRV27 showed the message just as I was leaving for vacation. I gave it the suggested wack and the problem was solved. Now if I could only get my Sony Cybershot to work I'd be all set.