Meant also to add, that if playing back old tapes you have to ensure that they are at normal living room temperature, and so the camcorder and tapes should be left in a warm environment for a few hours before any attempt is made to play them. Also when loaded into the camcorder do not try to play them straight away, but rewind them both ways to take any tendencies for lap sticking away.

E-03 is a warning that the cassette take up drive spindle is not turning properly, and this can in many cases be caused simply by the actual tape used being faulty (internally sticking) so another tape "must" always be tried. Continual use of non JVC can cause problems with JVC devices, and TDK or Maxell tapes should never be used, as its known in service circles that there is a high incidence of drive problems where these brands have been used, always stick to JVC - Panasonic or Fuji tapes. However if another tape doesn't cure the problem then it indicates that the take up mechanism will have to be inspected, which obviously requires an element of dismantling to be carried out. A long shot measure which sometimes helps is, with the cassette holder open blow air into, and onto, the spindle area, a hairdryer on its cool setting is ideal for this, as if tape dust contamination is the cause of the problem then this "might" clear it.