SONY CCD-56 cassette door will not open? Nothing happens when push EJECT button. Cassette holder is locked in place and will not release to open to incert a cassette.???

If you remove the cover after unplugging the AC, you will see that when you push the eject button that on the back side the putton is held back by a white plastic piece. Push down the white plastic piece as you press the eject button. The door will open and the tape will release. I jsut did this today on my Sony TC WR 670 dual tape player. Both sides were blocked. I noticed that both fuses on the board were also blown. New fuses didn't solve the problem. May be that the transformer is out?

Common problem with this mechanism. In order to fix the problem you will have to replace part called CHASSIS LS. Expensive repair, probably not worth the effort.

The vlatch to spring the basket (cassette holder) is easy to access on these. Many times the eject process will take place if the holder is released. After the door is removed the holder can be released by gentley raising the latch on the right side of the holder assembly. After the tape is out further checks can be made for damp drum or tension issues.

Rotate loading gear with your finger until mechanism released and set on stop position. press eject button and take out tape.

Thats an interruption of the ejection process, either you push it, you were on low battery, the energy was interrupted or you leave the camera in a car and th heat/cold affects it. Try to cheat/reset the camera system: Remove the clock cell, remove the battery or ac/cord at the same time you push the eject button once. Wait for an hour. Place the clock battery. Connect the AC/Charger cord or the battery (it MUST be completely charged). The camera will reset, check out and complete the ejection.

I had same problem, while transferring media from TRV-16 to DVD, tape would not play, then would not eject. This after transferring several tapes to DVD. I tried several things over the last couple months that did not work before finally getting it open today. It did me no good to remove several of the outer panels that were each held by two "tiny" phillips head screws each. Went to the internet, found your post, also found a post that referred me back to SONY page which follows.......

Follow this procedure to troubleshoot if the cassette compartment will not open or the tape is stuck and will not eject.
IMPORTANT: If your camcorder model has a RESET button, first try pressing this button. If there is no RESET button, or pressing the button does not resolve the issue, continue with the troubleshooting steps below.

1. Turn off the camcorder.
2. Remove the battery from the camera.
3. Remove the AC power supply from the camera.
4. Slide the power switch on the camera to the VTR , VCR or CAMERA mode for 15 seconds.
5. Slide the power switch back to the OFF position.
6. Connect the AC power supply to the camera.
7. Attempt to open the cassette compartment.

"NOTE: If the issue is still unresolved after completing all of the troubleshooting steps, service may be required."

After I did this, I could hear a whirring sound when I hit eject, although nothing came out. While the whirring was going on, I pulled up and out with constant pressure and the cassette holder opened. The tape had jammed apparently as the little protective plastic tape guard was jammed partially open when I pulled the cassette out. Good Luck and don't be afraid to put a little pressure on the door if you can hear the door trying to open.

Now I turn to recovering the tape, but having grown up with cassette decks, don't believe it will be a problem.

yup there is sort of... you take a jewelers flathead screwdriver and push the spring back on the lens side of the cassette holder. and then on the other side there is a little hook that latches over a bump that locks it in place, you push that down and it will unlock... from there you might have to take the extremely small screw out at the top and remove the whole cassette tray...

Assuming that the model is the F500E, I need to know if you hear any motor action at all. Also, have you tried with the changer connected directly to the camera (power from AC rather than battery)? Do you have the viewfinder lighting up when in camera mode?
Thanks,
Dan

Unit may have damaged loader mechanism, have it checked

This error indicates a cassette mechanism malfunction.
It happens usually when you don't operate the camecorder for long time
leaving the cassette inside and the battery attached.
Solution:
1. Open the cassette housing and nock GENTLY with your finger tip
on the cassette cabinet (particularly on the position marked "push") until
the cassette is released.
2. Push on the right place (marked "push") to close and then close the
cassette housing
3. Operate the cassette (play, fast forward/backward).
Repeat the above steps several times until the problem is gone.
Advise: Remove the battery and cassette when leaving the camecorder
for long period without being operated, and store the camcorder in a
dust/humidity protected place.
Hope this can help.