The first step after the pickup assembly reaches the inner home position is the laser diode is turned on and a focus search is activated to determine whether a disc is present. You can see the red light if the LD is working (don't look straight into it). No red light = dead laser diode. There is an LD on command from the control electronics, fed to the PU assembly via a Flat Flex Cable. The FFC from the PU assembly to the PCB is often the culprit as it is continually subjected to movement and can fracture. Pioneer players were particularly subject to flex cable failure (I used to keep them in stock).
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