Mayumi v2.1 chip install (16F84-04/P) - PS1 SCPH-1001

Its possibly the sled on the laser assembly like here:
http://psxplanetcodes.tripod.com/repair.htm

Its easier to just replace the whole thing though and they are cheap. The spares you have should work. There are 2 different kinds of assemblies. One has a long laser cable and the other has a short. Your PS1 has one with a short cable but you can use the one with the longer cable as long as you route it so it doesn't get in the way.

Its super easy to replace. All you need is a Phillips screw driver. You may have to swap the plastic cover on the laser assembly if it is not the same. I would not think you would want to waste the money mailing it back and forth to someone to do this. If the laser doesn't fix it, then you probably would have to mail it to your guy to have the chip replaced or reinstalled. Most likely not the chip though as I think it is only active when the disc boots then shuts off.

Eidt:
I also forgot about the "turning you ps1 upside down" trick that is supposed to help the discs read better. you could try that also.

 

Turn my Playstation upside down? That's odd. I'll give it a shot.

 

If it does work better upside down, then it is your laser that is going bad and needs replaced.

 

Well, the issue that your guide is showing is what happens to the laser sled after a lot of use (as in, hours upon hours, weeks after weeks of playing video games). On my own new SCPH-1000, the sled was not worn at all, even after using my PlayStation for a few weeks. It was really just a weak lens in my case, just as in yours (probably). You can check whether the sled is worn or not by just looking at the lens without opening your SCPH-1001. It has to be parallel with the drive cover, as explained in the first picture of this guide. If your laser is not parallel like in the picture, then the sled is worn, but that would be weird since, as I said, only heavy use can really wear the sled. Also, if you replace the laser with a PSone's you won't have this issue anymore because in order to avoid this issue, Sony made those ones in metal rather than plastic, which doesn't wear down.

 

I'll be sending this to my modder/repair guy this week. I'm going to send a backup laser for him to work with as well.

Will the KSM-440DAM work with this model?