Maybe one of those CD lens cleaners would help.
The lens may just be dirty?
Your CD player is 20 years old.
The motors may be all dried up and seized.
It may not be broken enough?
That improvised SST should do the trick. Lol
Maybe try getting it nice and warmed up and try to put a CD in and out a bunch of times to work the motors?
It might be like walking around when you cramp in your leg. Lol
Maybe try disconnecting the power to reset it?
But if your radio works then it may be a mechanical issue.
The CD may not be fully loaded?
The lens may just be dirty?
Your CD player is 20 years old.
The motors may be all dried up and seized.
It may not be broken enough?
That improvised SST should do the trick. Lol
Maybe try getting it nice and warmed up and try to put a CD in and out a bunch of times to work the motors?
It might be like walking around when you cramp in your leg. Lol
Maybe try disconnecting the power to reset it?
But if your radio works then it may be a mechanical issue.
The CD may not be fully loaded?