Panasonic Palmcorder PV-L679 clicking, blank screen?

[flyingduck]

Hello everyone. I just got a FREE panasonic Palmcorder as described in title. It is in great shape but it has an issue and I don't know what to do to fix it or if it can be fixed. I transfer taped movies/videos to DVD and will use the camera to play VHS-C tapes into a DVD burner.

ISSUE: When I put the tape in the tape box closes. I get a continous clicking sound, the power light goes off and on and the tape moves forward a little bit then rewinds itself. If I look into the viewfinder while in the camera/record mode I see what would be recorded for a second or two. The screen goes blank and then the picture comes back on for a second or two and this just keeps cycling on and off.

Can this be fixed or do I need to make this camera a boat anchor?????

[latreche34]

The question should be can you fix it? not can it be fixed? If you are not familiar with such high precision complicated electro-mechanical devices my suggestion to you is put it where it belongs, the trash can because it is not going to work as a boat anchor.

[flyingduck]

Well, I was hoping for at least a sympathetic answer! Maybe someone else has had the same or similar issue and could shed some light on what the problem might be. I don't mind taking the camera apart if there is something that I can do. I like tinkering with such things and have fixed camera issues before.