G4 Powerbook DVD-ROM drive problem

[Griffon]

My G4 400 Powerbook's DVD-ROM drive doesn't work at times. It will inject and eject disks fine but the don't spin up properly and don't mount. At times there is a noise like the disk is rubbing on something.
I've tried many types of disks so it's definitely not the disks themselves. I've used compressed air to ensure there is no debris inside. I've tried reseting the PMU.
I have heard that this is not that uncommon of a problem and is possibly caused by pressure on the case around the DVD unit. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone know any cheap solutions?
I priced out a new DVD-ROM....$700 Canadian, what a frigin rip off!

Hope someone can help. Cheers,

Griffon

[tlarkin]

Sounds to me like the drive is going bad. You can try resetting the firmware for grins. However check out THIS (http://store.powerbook1.com/mcepowg4cdco.html) for a possible upgrade.

[yellow]

Had the same problem on 2 PBs we bought at the same time, both drives went bad in the same way approximately 3 weeks apart. Luckily, I buy extended warranty on all machines I purchase.

[Griffon]

How long did your DVD-ROM last?
Mine lasted just over 2 years of light use.
This is my first serious disappointment with an Apple product...both due to the apparent defective drives and the ridiculous replacement cost!

I did already check out the MCE technologies site and they are definitely the way to go if one must replace the drive.

Griffon

Feeling like a PC user.

[yellow]

It's been about 2.5 years. Probably of light use, I can't imagine that the end user used it much at all. I looked back in my records, just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. Of the 10 or so TiPBs we have, only 1 had to have the drive replaced. The other that had a drive 'go bad' only needed a PMU reset and a blast of compressed air and it worked again. The symptoms on the fubar drive were pretty much as you described, a grinding sound as if the CD were rubbing against something inside. If you put your hand on the top of the case you could actually effect the speed at which it spun with a little pressure. After a call to Apple that entailed a lot of "yes, I already tried that", I shipped it out for a replacement drive.

This is an instance where you could have saved yourself with an extended warranty. It's only a couple hundred bucks and 100% worth it.

[Griffon]

Well I'm off to blow a large chunk of change on a replacement DVD-ROM drive this week.
I'll post the final results and costs shortly.

Griffon