I had the same problem with my Xbox, as did my roomie.  We threw a new CD-ROM drive into our Xbox’s and all was fine.  I picked them up on eBay.  I don’t know how easy the PS2 is on replacing CD-ROM, but the Xbox was incredibly easy.

I did surgery on both an xbox and an original PS2 in my time, and I can say that the xbox is pretty much put together like a PC, while the PS2 is assembled by sadistic gnomes from inside the moon that use their telekinetic screwdrivers to make sure you won’t be getting the damn thing apart easily.

Mine has been recently doing the same thing. I have the same model as you from the sounds of it. I gave Sony a call and they said if I ship it to them and pay them $45 they’ll fix it and send it back. Not sure if I want to do that or try to fix it myself. Maybe I’ll be able to afford a PS3 before I get the time to, with any luck at least.

My PS2 did the same thing in winter 2005 and I found a simple fix that’s held it through in (apparently) perfect working order so far. All I did was remove the top casing and give a good Q-tip and rubbing alcohol cleaning to the laser emitter. All it reqires is a soft touch and a willingness to void a warranty that’s been expired for years.

Just make sure to let it dry thoroughly before you put the casing back together. Hopefully it’ll work as well for you as it did for me.

I bet you could find a cheap refurbished PS2 at any local used games store.

How about one of those classic CD cleaning discs? You know, the ones that have the little brushes on the data side and play classical music while it cleans?

Akusai, that’s worth a shot. I’ll see if I can’t manage to do that.

As for the CD cleaning discs, I’ve always been skeptical about if they work, but I’ll do some research on ‘em and see.

Inside the PS2, the cover that is located over the disc drive bay has a small gap on the side located by one of the screws that lets a fine amount of dust through via the cooling system when unit is on, ironically over the “home position” of the laser eye, very easy fix.  Also another contributing factor is that the white lithium grease thats applied to the guide rails for the laser eye assembly is dusty and broken down, this should be tended to anyway, because in time if not tended to, will cause the part on the laser drive assembly to “strip”. If you happen to hear “clicking” when a disc is trying to be read that is the problem.

Emulators?

Okay, so this may be random to the whole PS2 broken but, what game was it may I ask? =P

It was ATV Offroad Fury 4, which is an older title I know.

I know this is a little late in the responce department (I have been out of town for a bit) but I have detailed instructions, with pictures, on how to clean the len and how to lub the guide rods if you would like them. My husbands PS2 was clacking, couldn’t the read disk, studdering, and the audio/video on a movie would be out of sink, a couple of years ago and these instructions put it all right. Drop me an email if you are interested.