Vivitar 3000af slide projector. The auto focus does not operate. The focus mechanism light source is on. Does the sensor go bad? Does the mounting warp, causing an alignment/positioning problem? Are replacemnt parts avail, where/website? Thanks!

1. Dirty or obstructed autofocus sensor: The autofocus sensor on your projector may be dirty or obstructed, preventing it from properly detecting when the image is in focus. You can try cleaning the sensor with a soft, dry cloth to see if that resolves the issue.
2. Faulty autofocus mechanism: The autofocus mechanism itself may be malfunctioning, which could be caused by a number of factors such as wear and tear or damage to the autofocus components. If this is the case, you may need to have the projector serviced by a qualified technician.
3. Incorrect image placement: If the slide is not placed properly in the projector, the autofocus may not be able to detect the image and may continue to move in and out of focus. Make sure the slide is placed securely and correctly in the projector.
4. Ambient light interference: If the projector is exposed to too much ambient light, the autofocus mechanism may not be able to properly detect the image and may continuously move in and out of focus. Try moving the projector to a darker environment or turning off lights to see if that resolves the issue.

make sure that the cooling fan is working and the air flow is unimpeded underneath

The auto-focus system in Kodak slide projectors is really an auto-measurement system: One set manually, the system is supposed to maintain that distance on all subsequent slides. Correct orientation of the slides is that they are all placed in the slide tray in the SAME direction (the matte side of the transparency facing toward the screen). The measurement is from the FRONT of the slide transparency to the BACK of the projection lens. REPAIR calibration of the system requires 2 special tools: a RANGE SLIDE and a TARGET SLIDE. These tool slides and the calibration procedure SHOULD be available from: www.micro-tools.com They purchased all remaining repair parts from Kodak when Kodak stopped supporting slide projectors. Good Luck !! Jim

While I am not sure of this feature on the Vivitar projectors, extensive testing has proven that running the cooling fan to accelerate cooling of a projection lamp will significantly shorten the lamp life. It is always recommended that (if possible) the projector system is cooled to room temperature without the fan running. Also, it is recommended not to move the projector until the lamp is completely cooled, as the lamp filament is extremely fragile when hot.

Check the list of available lamps at: www.bulbman.com !! If you have the 3-alpha (a 3-letter ANSI designation unique to each lamp design) lamp code it will be easier to find it.... Good Luck !!

I have a VIVITAR 5000 AF slide projector.

Occasionally, the slide gets stuck while operating the mechanical hand to change the slide. Most of the time it works when I push the slide carrier by hand. Very very infrequently, the projector actually throws out the slide.
I have ascertained that teh Kodak slides which are mounted on paper frames are much too thin for the mechanical hand pushing teh slide in and out. The solution is to remount teh slides on palstic frames or some how add to the thickness of the slide. I have not tried it yet , though.

Any more ideas?

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If the slide tray doesn't advance or reverse using the on-board or remote control buttons, chances are that: 1. You have a broken mechanism drive belt. 2. You have a jammed slide change mechanism module or 3. The mechanism trip contact is trapped behind its mating contact on the mechanism camshaft.
All of these problems require service documentation & special tools. My recommendation is to find an Authorized Repair Dealer.

try to turn autofocus feature off or reset the settings.

Sounds like your black screen shutter is not opening allowing light to pass through. Try it with the carousel and slides installed. Run a few passes.