I tested the machine a few minutes ago and it sounded Ok. Then I restarted it and that was it, just a repeating whir, nothing more, no text on the lcd-screen, a single promt at best. If there is a belt problem the belt is probably slacked. I tested an analogue casette, no difference. I removed the bottom plate with three screws, no belt in sight, just electronics and two flat cable connectors, removing and reconnecting them didn't solve the problem. Finding a belt, if there is one, seems tricky. Anyway, it sounded great with its 18 bit technology. I was just to test the digital optical output against modern standard, it is said to be different but might work. I have a bunch of casettes that I was to try to save.   

Thanks for the information. Lots of screws in there... hopefully it's a belt problem, but that's a common issue for a product of this age. The rubber stands at the bottom plate have even melted down... I'll try to find a ceramic screwdriver to let the parts stay unmagnetized.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you guys, i have managed to repair the other 2 DCC units, by using belts for Sony wm-ex808 walkmans. Can't upload any pics at the mo family have taken possesion of my camera, but to get to the belt you need to remove 2 boards and remove many different sized screws( take step by step pics if pos), then remove the rotating disc on top of the motor(this is a magnet so be careful), i should have measured the belt but i forgot sorry. Once you done the belt you should also check for leaking capacitors, as i have encountered this problem as well, .   

A lot of work to be done... but I'll make an attempt.

As for CD technology however, with its unclear bit error handling causing all kinds of missound (due to bad laser tracking/focusing etc), this machine also seems to have a tracking problem that occurs after a few minutes of play, which results in a typical CD-sound lacking depth and resolution (maybe it's dust), but just opening and closing the tape holder always fixes the problem (for the next few minutes). The sound is then as clear as for a vinyl recording.

Gents

how did the belt changes go? Has it solved problems?

i just received a brand new unopened dcc170. After firing up well a couple of times, Exactly the same problem now - no info on LCD, and repeated wurring sound from motor.

any top tips?

All the screws to keep track of seems a little bit scary, but I´ll make an attempt in the coming weeks, hopefully, and report it. Similar symptoms, a common cause presumably.

I followed the service manual's procedures 1 and 2 only and could spot the belt inside but it seemed ok and it moved the wheels perfectly fine so I doubt there is a belt problem. Removing 12 solderings etc according to procedure 10 to replace the belt.. I'll take a break before digging deeper. Disconnecting/reconnecting a few sockets didn't help, but oxidation of switches and connectors is a common cause of malfunction in aged electronics and should not be ruled out, wheels may need some fresh oil and so on. I doubt there is an electronic component error of this frequent nature, lots of tantal electrolytes however.

The AC adaptor's output voltage and power checked and ok.

Updated: There was obviously a severe belt problem, it was slacked a few centimeters, but replacing it is not a job for ordinary people and I'm not finished with it yet. It will probably take a few days to put this thing together... with all screws and damage done... I'll probably trash it if it doesn't work. After all this is outdated technology.

A few photos:

http://dcc170.atspace.com

Updated: It works the same faulty way as before after belt change, but seem to have got more power. It switches off after a while so there is probably another problem, but that's beyond my skill to solve. I'll probably get a dcc730 instead to play my tapes. But maybe there is a mechanical issue caused by a slacked belt, talks about a yoke and came gear positions at page 10, very complicated. 

Update 14 Jan 2014: It will probably take some time until I disamble the player again and try to figure out what may have caused the malfunction, which seems to begin when people try to start the player with a slacked belt. I hadn´t used it for a year and at switch on it then struggled a lot, the tape moving a bit, the display still giving messages but then suddenly it all stopped, a behaviour more likely related to a mechanical than an electrical issue, so it might be worth disambling it again and try to figure out the mechanics related to the yoke and came gear positions. The manual says something about a start position, which presumably was altered by the faulty belt, but that means a lot of work and maybe a tedious trial and error process to restore. I've now ordered a dcc730 on the net, haven't heard of any problems related to that machine. It's hip to be a neard, but maybe I should contact Philips for advice before removing the screws again. (Sorry that my post about how to convert crippled cd-sound to vinyl class quality was removed, the only known thesis on that subject, a bit out of subject maybe.)

Interesting to read about your dcc player fixing. I really want one for myself since I bought a philips DCC 730 with 50 cassettes a week ago. 

So I am just trying to learn all about fixing them.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

The dcc170 certainly still today is an attractive piece of equipment but I wouldn´t recommend it to anyone for some apparent reasons.

1. The rubber belt problem, a ticking aging process.

2. Dismantling this complex unit... not an easy job where much can go wrong. After a tedious belt change it still didnt´t work.

3. Although recording worked perfectly fine the playback sound from this unit became crippled after a few minutes play, the sound simiilar to that of a cheap CD-player and a restart needed, reason unknown. On the dcc730 however, my old tapes sounds great or maybe even better.

Thank you for the feedback. 

It probably is an impossible feat to be able to listen to the dcc on the move. 

Tack :-)

It´s much heavier than its predecessor the Walkman, the control not as straight forward, much back and forth as on dcc730 but slower, still attractive.