I have a 97 ford expedition with the original radio. The tape player has just recently started playing too fast. I can't really gauge it, but I could tell you it's about 2/3 of the way to sounding like chipmunks. My question is, is there any way to fix this? Maybe run a tape cleaner through it a few times? Or some forced air? I don't use it very often, but I would still like it to work. Thanks

Been years, but it sounds like the rubber has build up hardened or something on its surface allowing the tape to slip through the rubber roller and capstan, they maintain a constant speed, the take up reel runs faster and is what you are likely hearing, dissembly would be best, and clean the capstan and the pinch roller with isopropyl till clean with a Qtip.
Try other methods that don't require dissembly, you may get lucky.

Thanks

I actually attempted to "clean" it by poking around inside with some q-tips soaked in rubbing alcohol. When I put a tape in, it played fast for a few seconds, and slowly returned to normal speed, but then sped right back up. Any further thoughts?

More cleaning, capstan needs to be shiney, and pinch roller back clean to the rubber?

I fixed it. I had some VHS cleaning fluid, but no cleaner tape, so I just took a blank tape and put some of the tape cleaner inside it. I played it in the tape player, switched sides, and rewound and fast forwarded and it's all back to normal. Thanks!

Good Deal, we had to dissemble. Wanted to dissemble?