Vhs player continually tracking - Sony SLV-D271P DVD Player/VCR

There could be several reasons why your Sony VHS player is starting and then immediately stopping with a scrambled picture. Here are a few things you can try:

1. Check the VHS tape: It's possible that the VHS tape itself is damaged or dirty, causing the player to stop and the picture to become scrambled. Try cleaning the tape or using a different one to see if that solves the issue.
2. Clean the player: Over time, dust and dirt can accumulate inside the VHS player, which can cause it to malfunction. Try cleaning the player with a soft cloth and compressed air to remove any debris that may be causing the issue.
3. Check the connections: Make sure that all the cables are properly connected to the player and the TV. Sometimes loose or faulty connections can cause the player to stop working or display a scrambled picture.
4. Check the settings: Make sure that the player is set to the correct mode (VHS playback, for example) and that the tracking is set correctly. Adjusting the tracking can help to improve the picture quality and prevent it from becoming scrambled.

If none of these steps work, it's possible that the player may need to be repaired or replaced.

Most all VCR players have auto tracking. When cassette is in the machine it will do the tracking for you. Sometimes a manual adjustment may be need if the player can’t find the right track for itself. When this happens it is usually a problem with the tape. Manual tracking adjustments are made on the player itself and not on the remote control. If you can’t find anything on the player that reads ‘tracking’, find it in the user guide. Sometimes cleaning the heads will solve the problem especially if all the tapes have the same issue.

Tracking controls for VHS should have no effect on the DVD player. If a pre-recorded DVD is distorting the picture, along with the VHS, then there's either something wrong with the TV it's played on, or the connection, between the two. Or there is a fault in the electronics of the VHS/DVD combi that deals with the picture.

You most clean the head with a cleanhead tape and after you have a clean picture.

You will need more than an owner's manual, you need a service manual. This is not something the maker expects a customer to adjust. It likely involves some screws near the heads--but don't screw it up or you might as well buy a new player. In fact a new VCR may be cheaper than a manual and smaller than your model, too. -Ken

Sounds like the heads need cleanning.

The problem is dirt, dust or even mould on the VHS tape. You should look on youtube for video's about cleaning a VHS tape. However if it's really bad there is nothing you can do about it. Commercial VHS were only recorded on SP so the quality of the tape means more signal, so less of a problem keeping the video tracked, even if the tape has patches of mould, likely if kept in a basement!

Hi,
Its problem of dirty / clogged video heads and can be solve by using VHS video head cleaning cassette.
Regards,

try forwarding the tape to the end and then rewind to the start again, this can help to seat the tape correctly on the spindle . the audio track part of the tape is in a specific region on the tape so misalignment may be the issue with those cassettes.

also try to press the tracking up and down when playing the video

Dirty heads or the recording was from a different brand VCR and the Panasonic cant get the right tracking. Try manual tracking just a little in either direction to you get the right one.