# How can I get a stuck tape out of my car stereo? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215 "2009-10-26T20:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/21 "2010-08-12T13:18:51Z")
The only thing I’ve found that works is to use a butter knife under the bottom edge while pressing down on the eject button – it may take a few presses, but if you are “elevating” the tape maybe a quarter-inch, it’ll usually pop out. This is the type of casette deck where the tape goes in sideways, with the head, pinch roller, etc. to the right. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/22 "2010-08-12T14:44:02Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > > [@thirdname](#): > > > > I can’t really spare money to buy a new stereo now. I already have a CD player, and the tape deck lets me plug my Ipod in with a tape adapter. > > I dream of having a tape deck for just that reason. I bought the Toyota Matrix in exactly the wrong epoch for built-in stereos. I have a 6 CD changer that I never use (Wow, 6 CDs are so attractive since mp3 players came out!!), but the Matrix was marketed to a younger market, and so the tape deck was skipped. I have to use a radio transmitter for the iPod, and switch around when I leave the area. A relatively inexpensive unit will connect to the input for the CD changer and give you a dedicated iPod hookup. You can get this for far cheaper than a new stereo. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/23 "2010-08-12T15:14:30Z")
One thing you can do is keep an eye out at Value Village and those types of stores for a new unit. Usually one can even find factory versions for less than $10. Or, check at a junkyard, although I couldn’t swear as to the integrity of any rubber pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/24 "2010-08-12T15:17:21Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This is the Universe’s way of telling you to give up on tapes. When I read the OP the first thing I thought was "First start by going back in time 10-20 years. ---
**Author:** ![solkeys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@solkeys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkeys)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/25 "2010-08-12T20:53:32Z")
Thank You for your reply. The problem is that I can not get to the bottom of the tape because when you insert the tape it moves down. > [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > The only thing I’ve found that works is to use a butter knife under the bottom edge while pressing down on the eject button – it may take a few presses, but if you are “elevating” the tape maybe a quarter-inch, it’ll usually pop out. > > This is the type of casette deck where the tape goes in sideways, with the head, pinch roller, etc. to the right. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/26 "2010-08-13T01:10:30Z")
> [@solkeys](#): > > Thank You for your reply. The problem is that I can not get to the bottom of the tape because when you insert the tape it moves down. Okay, then pressing on the eject button will cause the tape to move up just a little. When it does, put the butter knife in to prevent it moving back down. With it now raised, repeatedly pressing on the eject button while moving the knife in a little bit more will bring you to a point where the tape will likely eject on it’s own, with the knife holding it up. ---
**Author:** ![Brettzel71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Brettzel71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brettzel71)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/27 "2016-05-26T16:11:24Z")
I just did it! What you need: Butter knife Long flathead screwdriver Needle nose pliers Hammer Head mounted flashlight will be a huge help. You will not be able to just pull the tape out because the stantions (I believe is what they are called, you know the pegs that turn the tape…) have heads with cogs in them. These are mounted on springs, so that however high up you pry the tape, they just stretch to remain in place. Okay so here is what you do. 1. Pry the tape up with the butter knife 2. Using your light, spot the front stantion 3. Push the screwdriver against it and knock it off by hitting the base of the screwdriver with your hammer 4. Pry the cassette as high as you can to allow room for your needle nose pliers so you cag grab the pieces of the stantion to remove them. Repeat this process for the rear stantion. The tape came out of mine as if there was no resistance at all. The deck is obviously ruined but it doesn’t keep trying to eject the tape, which over time killed a battery. If you need to…screw a small wood screw into the tape so you have something to grab on to to pull it out (if it is still giving you trouble) I hope that helped. Regards Brettzel71 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/28 "2016-05-26T16:28:42Z")
Was it [this tape](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjvjM62lPjMAhUPLVIKHYzOCjEQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hellomerch.com%2Fproducts%2Fthe-zombie-dinosaur-lp-cassette-tape&psig=AFQjCNEKNGWcuK3zr69hR8vtv852hw3qnQ&ust=1464366491551801)? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/29 "2016-05-26T17:08:35Z")
> [@Brettzel71](#): > > I just did it! > > What you need: > Butter knife > Long flathead screwdriver > Needle nose pliers > Hammer > Head mounted flashlight will be a huge help. > > You will not be able to just pull the tape out because the stantions (I believe is what they are called, you know the pegs that turn the tape…) have heads with cogs in them. These are mounted on springs, so that however high up you pry the tape, they just stretch to remain in place. > > Okay so here is what you do. > > 1. Pry the tape up with the butter knife > 2. Using your light, spot the front stantion > 3. Push the screwdriver against it and knock it off by hitting the base of the screwdriver with your hammer > 4. Pry the cassette as high as you can to allow room for your needle nose pliers so you cag grab the pieces of the stantion to remove them. > Repeat this process for the rear stantion. > > The tape came out of mine as if there was no resistance at all. The deck is obviously ruined but it doesn’t keep trying to eject the tape, which over time killed a battery. > > If you need to…screw a small wood screw into the tape so you have something to grab on to to pull it out (if it is still giving you trouble) > > I hope that helped. > > Regards > Brettzel71 You forgot step 0.1 0.1 - go back in time and find a car with a stereo that has a tape deck in it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/30 "2016-05-26T17:41:58Z")
I wonder if **thirdname** is still driving around with a tape stuck in his deck… ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/31 "2016-05-26T18:28:47Z")
> [@Brettzel71](#): > > I just did it! > > What you need: > Butter knife > Long flathead screwdriver > Needle nose pliers > Hammer > Head mounted flashlight will be a huge help. > > You will not be able to just pull the tape out because the stantions (I believe is what they are called, you know the pegs that turn the tape…) have heads with cogs in them. These are mounted on springs, so that however high up you pry the tape, they just stretch to remain in place. > > Okay so here is what you do. > > 1. Pry the tape up with the butter knife > 2. Using your light, spot the front stantion > 3. Push the screwdriver against it and knock it off by hitting the base of the screwdriver with your hammer > 4. Pry the cassette as high as you can to allow room for your needle nose pliers so you cag grab the pieces of the stantion to remove them. > Repeat this process for the rear stantion. > > The tape came out of mine as if there was no resistance at all. The deck is obviously ruined but it doesn’t keep trying to eject the tape, which over time killed a battery. > > If you need to…screw a small wood screw into the tape so you have something to grab on to to pull it out (if it is still giving you trouble) > > I hope that helped. > > Regards > Brettzel71 Fantastic, about twenty years after tapes were surpassed by CD’s in total sales we finally have a concise and conclusive documented method for getting a tape unstuck! And only 7 years after the OP. Who would have thought that a wood screw would hold the key? Progress marches on . . . 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215/32 "2016-05-26T21:53:49Z")
I was hoping it was the OP posting the update. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-stuck-tape-out-of-my-car-stereo/515215.md?page=1)