Just fixed mine. EL1 Is connected with the external link. I pushed the external link button on the remote and the video came back to A1.

hi steve morgan yes i had same EL1 display problem on display of panasonic video after only 3 weeks of use and the vcr doing nothing at all. as you say just insert hand in video give tape a VERY CAREFUL and VERY SLIGHT prise up off the cogs and A1 came back on display and it was able to eject tape cheers steve