Need Service Mode instructions for this mode 1998 model!

First try a cd head cleaner. It has to work well enough to ffwd to track 4 or as instructed. If that does not work you need to open the case. Unplug power as the laser can blind you. 5 screws on the back and one each side. Lift the lid from the back to about 30 degrees and pull/ wiggle it off. Use a cotton bud wetted with alcohol (Isopropyl or surgical). You need to wipe the glass lens very very gently. wipe dry with other end of cotton bud. Recover and try.
While covers are off look for bulging capacitors or signs of black overheating.

Hello, i just found one of these decks yesterday with the same problem. The deck loads a disc correctly, but cannot read the TOC (doesnt display the title or track number)
The hissing sound is actually the sound of the laser lens vibrating in a unfocussed manner
The solution: 1.Use a minidisc lens cleaner if available.2.If not, eject the minidisc and open the deck. Take a good look at the laser lens. Is it dusty or seems hazed over (cigarette fumes)? (Mine was)
If yes, clean the laser lens directly with a cotton swab to which you add a drop of isopropylene (100% alcohol) or (2nd best choice) window cleaner.
Take care to not bend of break the recording head (the white and copper arm just above the lens)
use a dry cotton swab to pick up any remaning humidity on the lens.
3. Try again to read a disc. any success? No? try, if available, a pre-recorded disc
any sucess then? Chances are it might work with a pre-recorded disc because of the better reflectivity of these discs.
No luck yet? Doest it read some discs, others not? well, it's time to re-adjust the deck. The service manual is available here: http://www.minidisc.org/manuals/sony/service/sony_MDS-JE520_service_manual.pdf for free. BTW the site www.Minidisc.org is an exellent source of all information available about minidisc.
First let the deck tell you what the problem is! Page 2 explains how to enter the self-diagnosis mode. Enter the Error DP (display) mode. Look at the error history. Most probably you will find the code E06 (as i did) which means Focus error.
The service manual explains how to enter Adjust mode.
Keep an eye on the C1 error 7350= doesnt read correctly 0-50=adjustment ok.
Do C(ontinous)-play checking: 5-6-5 MO error rate check (Page 38)
Perform focus bias adjust (page 41) (5-12) This is a manual adjustment Keep an eye on the C1 error 7350= doesnt read correctly 0-50=adjustment ok.
Keep in mind that you have to adust the setting "A" with the AMS button to obtain C1=220, and "B" turning the AMS button downwards (anti-clockwise) to obtain C1=220 the deck calculates automaticaly the adjustment "C".
Perform autogain control level output adjustment for MO discs
(page 42) (5-15-2)

If this doesn't work, reset the deck to initial settings / Initial setting of adustment settings (page 39).
Perform focus bias adjust (page 41) again (the deck displays the adress and C-1 and ADER errors)
Check if the adjustment is ok with C-play checking 5-6-5
Perform autogain control level output adjustment for MO discs
(page 42) again (5-15-2)

MO-disc= recordable MD

Hopefully you can re-adjust your deck. You don't need any extra tools for this, the deck displays the error rate. In C-play mode, a pre-recorded disc shows nearly always 0 C-1 errors, a recorded disc should not show more than 50 C-1 errors and no ADER errrors.

Of course this is at your own risk. I can only say that i needed about 1 hour to find the setting which worked with different recorded discs.
There is also the Continuous recording mode to check that the error rater during recording stay within tolerance. If you use this mode bear in mind that the disc will be (partially) erased regardless if fully or partially recorded. In test mode there is no safeguard against accidentaly erasing, so use a new disc or one with a recording you don't care to loose.
Simply unplug the deck to exit the service mode.
Check if you can record after adjusting the focus. Check if you can enter a title to the disc. Is the title there when you eject and reload the disc? If yes, you succeded!
Hope this helps!

P.S. Yes, i once was working for Sony as a repair techncian...

Try to clean your player with a lens cleaner. Insert the cleaner to the player for 3 minutes or until cleaning process is done. If you don't have lens cleaner use a cotton buds with alcohol to clean the lens. Open the cover of the player and dismantle the upper assembly that protects the player. Using the cotton buds clean it with extra care.

Take off the lens and clean the contacts on the camera body and lens where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol.

Try cleaning the contacts on the camera body and the lens where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol.

Hi try cleaning the lens.
If the lens is dirty or opaque, the player may read only few media types, for example only recorded DVD-R .
You can first try cleaning the lens with a Cleaner Disk. If that does not work clean the lens with isopropyl alcohol and cotton stubs. Disconnect power and remove top cover to clean the lens directly. Be careful because if you put too much strength and displace the lens pickup you may make things worse.

If all that does not work, the lens pickup must be replaced.

Clean the contacts on the camera body and the lens where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol.

Sounds like a lamp, but its free to open the back and clean the 3 color lenses and the big mirrior that will be directly behind your head.

Taken from the service manual:

2c) Using denatured alcohol on a cloth made of 100% cotton or a lens cleaning tissue, gently clean the Celement (fisheye) lens, coupler and the CRT faceplate..

Caution: Do not use soap or detergent type substances to clean the coupler and its related assemblies. assemblies must be completely dry prior to reassembly

ALSO: I have heard that a bacteria grows in the color fluid and coats the lenses. the fluid is VERY Poisonous, so please please dont dont clean the inside without research and reading the service manual!!! I've read posts where unknowning people opened them and it poured out.

Manual Library you should find all you need here:
http://www.techlore.com/group/2/list_downloads

GOOD luck...

dirty/dusty lens, try a lens cleaning disc... or remove the casing and gently clean the lens with a cotton bud and some alcohol (surgical spirit, window cleaner, Whiskey or Vodka also worked for me).

i hope this helps, please don't forget to vote on your answers to help keep the site free.

The first thing to do in this situation is to check that the auto focus assist light is coming on and that both the lens and body are set to auto focus mode.
Assuming the above check out, then check the electrical contacts on the camera. In a dust-free environment, remove the lens and look into the camera body towards the top of the camera. You will see several metal "fingers" which make contact with the lens. Be sure these are clean, free of grime, and not bent. A cotton swab with a small amount of alcohol will do the trick, though a foam swab with lens fluid is probably a bit better.