C13 Read error

My son has a JE 480 Minidisc deck which suddenly refuses to read any disk. 
It 
accepts the disk, there's a long delay, then the unit displays a C13 Read 
Error and ejects the disks.  I Googled the error message and it sounds
like 
his unit is toast.  (it's only 2 and 1/2 years old, BTW.)

Does anyone have any experience with Minidisc head cleaners?  For $20 it
could 
be worth a shot, unless those things are a total sham.

FWIW, four members of my family have various minidisc equipment and this
is 
the first failure we've seen.  I would've guessed the first failure would
be a 
portable unit, and not a deck, but whatever....

I'm curious to know whether anyone's had any success with those head
cleaners. 
 Thanks in advance.   -- rich