Welcome.
Note: caps = capacitors.
It's now gotten to the point where a non-recapped Panasonic S-VHS isn't worth troubleshooting until re-capped. So many issues are caps related, especially anything weird/odd.
Only a very specific issues tend to be non-caps related, most of those mechanical in nature. It's rarely the heads either.
Panasonic decks are some of the best decks ever made, in terms of addressing certain playback issues. But in general, they're some of the most frustrating miserable money-pit tools you'll ever own. So if you can avoid owning one, do. The JVC decks are vastly better for 90%+ of tapes. It's only that 1% to 10% that truly improves. Those Panasonics inject as many issues as they resolve, it's never "just better" than a comparable JVC, especially with luma values.
Panasonic S-VHS owners always get my nod of sympathy. I know your aggravation well. Good luck.
But it starts with a re-cap, you're mostly just goofing off until that done.