Sony Cdp 101 Skipping, Grinding Sounds, Random Pause/play Help !!!!

I applied with a Q-tip gun oil (that says it has silicone in it) to the single laser guide rail. Amazing that something that simple solved the skipping problem. I observed that the CDs always started skipping between 4.18 and 4:54 minutes. That was a clear indicator of a "location problem".

I had previously done some disassembly and cleaned the black "split drive rack"(gear), then re-lubed it with white lithium grease. [The pinion gear (not seen) and rack move the laser on the guide rail as I understand it.] This lubrication did not solve the skipping problem, tho I got a good view of the laser guide rail on the laser assembly that I removed to lube the rack.

To lube the guide rail, I removed the cover, then reached into the access to the guide rail with a Q-tip moderately full of the oil, and wiped the accessible guide rail surface; the "backside" of the rail opposite the access area could not be reached for lubrication. The access point is located at the rear left of the player when looking from the front, and in between the black plastic. Look for the shiny shaft.