Hi timtape
Thank you for the welcome.
AND OH MY GOSH - ha I think you are correct ! Never in a million years would I have realized that it was saying "PLAY" just with some failing light sections. I was thinking some lights were out, but was trying to figure out what error code they represented - never even thinking it might be not an error. That is brilliant - ha. Thank you.
I do think that is correct - that it's just saying "PLAY". Great.
Checking my understanding of possible next steps:
1) Knowing that is now saying "PLAY", double check cable hookup in back. Perhaps no picture is related to a cable connection issue and VCR is fine.
2) If that fails, try running a (wet?) VHS cleaning tape (never heard of these :-) but just researched them and found one at Best Buy.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-bu...?skuId=6463812 . Is something like this what you are referring to ?
3) If cleaning tape doesn't work, try opening up the VCR and removing the foam ring to clean the heads (like at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Bd1w-F8Og about 44 seconds in)
Is that correct ? Thank you.