Got myself a Saturn but it's faulty. Help

[Hateshinai]

I finally got myself a Sega Saturn (PAL) by trading some Xbox games I didn't want anymore. The console was supposed to be in good working order but it's not. I could try returning it but it's an hour's drive plus it's difficult to find one locally so I would rather fix it

The console boots up ok but fails to detect the CD (original game or music CDs) and gives me an "Empty Drive" message if I insert the CD after it's on. When I turn it on with the CD already inside it freezes during the initial logo display.

First thing I did was to change the battery but that obviously did not help. On the bright side, at least I can now use the Saturn to tell time.

I dismantled and cleaned the console and tried running it with the top off. I noticed that the laser lens seems to have difficulty moving. I dusted the cogwheel assembly and moved them by hand a bit which seemed to loosen it.
Now the console will detect and load CDs most of the time when I power on WITH a CD already inside. It will still freeze sometimes on boot up with a CD already inside. When I power on and THEN insert a CD the Saturn doesn't seem to notice that there is a CD inserted. The laser does not even try to move in this situation and the CD doesn't spin.

Any ideas?

Edit: if I reset the console with the CD inside, it will still not try to read the CD.

[BoringSupreez]

I'd try lubricating the disc drive's gears, that's fixed both a PS2 and an oXbox for me.

[Hateshinai]

I'd try lubricating the disc drive's gears, that's fixed both a PS2 and an oXbox for me.

That should help but still leaves the problem of the CD drive not reacting at all when I put a CD into an already powered up Saturn.
What do you use as a lubricant?

[SnowKitty]

I'd try lubricating the disc drive's gears, that's fixed both a PS2 and an oXbox for me.

That should help but still leaves the problem of the CD drive not reacting at all when I put a CD into an already powered up Saturn.
What do you use as a lubricant?

white lithium grease. or synthetic molybdenum grease. also, clean the lens with a cotton swab dampened in rubbing alcohol (probably called methylated spirits where you are)

[s8n]

+1 on Snowkitty's suggestion ' white lithium grease '

[SnowKitty]

+1 on Snowkitty's suggestion ' white lithium grease '

white lithium grease seems to be what most of these systems come with from the factory. i prefer molybdenum grease though.

[Hateshinai]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Now I just have to find some of those greases locally.
One more question: In order to play imports on a PAL console at the right speed, I need a 4-in-1/5-in-1 cart AND the 50/60Hz mod, right? I could do the region mod but frankly I don't want to have multiple switches on the console and the 1-switch mod seems a bit too much for my abilities.

[theclaw]

Yes. Those carts run games at the base system's video mode. Also keep in mind a 4-in-1/5-in-1 will NOT direct save. If you want to play imports with colossal memory usage, you're out of luck that way.