retro stereo has a malfunctioning tape player

[vortalexfan]

Hello everyone, I'm working on a retro stereo from 2005 that is branded as "Detrola" (which I am well aware that's not actually who made it because that company has been out of business since 1960s) and the tape player on it is doing a weird thing where when you insert a tape the tape plays at "Alvin and the Chipmunks" speed for some reason, and I took the mechanism out and the belt is fine and the mechanism itself doesn't appear to be missing any gears or anything.

Has anyone on here had any issues like this before with one of these retro style radios and the tape players on them?
If so what did you do to remedy the problem?
Or should I just tell the person I'm working on this for that its a lost cause and that they'd be better off buying an old boombox at a thriftstore?
Because they have tapes that they still listen to which is why I was asked to try and fix it for them.

Thanks for your help.

[damen]

If the pinch roller isn't fully engaging, or if it's defective, it will cause the tape speed to be off.

[Alex KL-1]

Also can be: Motor with malfuncion on it's regulator or, if are these double-deck with "high speed dubbing", the high speed permanently engaged.

[vortalexfan]

I ended up just selling the person one of my old retro units that I had (I had two of them) because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to repair the unit if it had a worn out capstan roller.

[zeno]

I hate decks but......
1) may be in CUE mode. Pinch roller will be un- engaged.
2) motor has speed control built in. The little hole is the control. move it
a hair, may be a bad spot.
3) it ate a tape & a small piece is wrapped around the roller etc.

Zeno