Samuk,
Probably the common laser circuit fault.
A fault that leads many repairers to believe that the laser itself has died and the player left irrepairable
where the truth in most cases is that the laser simply doesn't get enough electric current to function correctly.
Not enough current = not enough light.
Not enough light = not enough reflection from the CD disc.
Not enough reflection = presumably no disc present.
No disc present = standby when play is activated.
In the vast majority of cases, depending on the amount of degrading, it can be diagnosed by watching the laser diode
after activating play with a CD loaded. Look in from f.e. the side of the deck.
If the laser diode tries to focus on the disc (moves a few mm's towards - and away from the CD disc) but nothing
else happens, the laser is probably lacking power.
A fairly easy fix for a tech guy with the right knowledge.
And usually not particularly expensive in that the repair often is just a matter of
replacing a handful of capacitors. At least one of the capacitors needs to be of the correct value, specs and even
brand and type. Ready-made capacitor kits are available for some CD deck versions but it does take basic electronic
skills and tools to do the job.
Whatever you do - DON'T adjust anything.
Panic, desperation, trial and error etc. will not cure the thing, it will only increase the repair bill because of the
hours needed to get everything right again.
It's very tempting to raise the laser current. It may bring some kind of life back to the player but not for
very long (think minutes rather than years) and there's a huge risk that it will do irreversible damage to
the laser diode.
Martin