SuperDrive won't read anything

Hi,
I have a Dual 2.5 GHz PowerMac G5 and out of nowhere the SuperDrive suddenly won't read anything. I put in a CD or DVD and it'll make a short whirring sound about every 4-5 seconds and then after the third time it automatically ejects the disc. Is my drive dead? The computer is still covered under my AppleCare protection plan. Do I need to just bring it in and have it replaced?
Any information I can get here would be great so i don't have to call up Apple support and wait half an hour for someone to tell me there's nothing they can do, and I have to bring it in.
Thanks.

Hi. If AppleCare cannot fix the drive 'by phone'... they can send you a replacement drive to install yourself under the D-I-Y clause, para. 1.c.iv here
http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/AppleCareProtect_Plan_NAen.pdf
The optical drive installation instructions are here
http://www.info.apple.com/usen/cip/pdf/g5/073-0807.pdf
Good Luck.

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