How to Get a Cassette Tape Out of a Car Radio (4 Effective Methods)

Pry off the cassette with a long, slender flat-tip screwdriver or similar tool and hold the eject button. Try using a metal wire or paper clip to pull the cassette while lifting the deck. You might have to remove the entire player if the cassette is hard-stuck into the tape player.

How Do You Get a Cassette Tape Out of a Car Radio

Cassettes are hardly used instead of a CD player these days, but if you’re into vintage cars with retro vibes, chances are you do have a cassette deck inside. However, as most of those decks are pretty old, your tape is likely to get stuck. Fortunately, there are some good-old methods to get your stuck cassette tape out of the car radio.

Method 1: Use a Screwdriver to Pry it Off

One of the many reasons for getting a stuck cassette might be the old and stretched belts that run the eject mechanism. In this case, your tape needs a little bit of help to get itself up and out. 

You can use a long, slender flat-tip screwdriver, or anything of a similar shape. Gently hold down the eject button, and wait for the tape to rise. Slide your prying tool underneath it and lift gently, and the cassette should come off quickly.

Method 2: Pull it With a Wire

Chances are that the tape is well-stuck in the tape deck and won’t come off with a gentle pry-off. Get a long paper clip and straighten it to form a shallow hook at one end. Lift the deck as before with a screwdriver or similar tool. You’ll have to reach in with the paper clip and try to catch the open edge of the tape case with it. 

Next, try to pull the cassette with the wire. The cassette is most likely to slide out. You can also use a small tweezer to do the job if you can reach the cassette with it.

Method 3: Remove the Tape Player

If nothing seems to work at this point, the only option you got is to remove the tape player from the car. To remove the entire tape player, you’ll need to check the car’s manual for your particular vehicle and deck. You can also search online to find out how to do that. 

After you remove the deck, you have to unscrew and disassemble the player to get the cassette out of it. Make sure to remember each step so you know how to put it back. It’s better to take pictures of the steps so you can assemble the parts back easily. 

Method 4: Cassette Ejector Tool

Use a cassette ejector tool, a convenient way to remove cassettes from car stereos. A Cassette ejector tool is a small, handheld device that helps remove cassettes from car stereos.

How Do I Convert Cassette to AUX?

Converting your cassette tapes to aux audio can be a convenient option. There are adapters available that plug into the headphone jack on your device and converts the cassette tape’s audio signal into an aux input. You can also use a standalone cassette player with an aux input. This will allow you to connect to your device using a cable and play anything with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my car ejecting my cassette?

If your cassette player is ejecting the cassette automatically, you need to replace the cassette deck belt.

Can cassettes be left in the car?

You can, but you shouldn’t. extreme heat during summer can damage the cassette. This will result in data loss.

To Conclude

To keep the eject mechanism working without any hassle, you should also clean the rubber rollers and metal capstans once in a while. Also, clean the tape heads with a head cleaner or pure rubbing alcohol. For the mechanical parts, apply lubricating oil but make sure to be very careful not to get any on the tape heads or rollers.