Bronica SQ-Ai Motor drive

Hi all,
I've just purchased a SQ-Ai with AE finder and motor drive.
With no film, fresh AA batteries loaded in motor drive and in multiple exposure mode all I get is the battery check light when pressing either the shutter release button on the motor drive or on the camera body.
The motor drive does turn the film crank when pressing the small button behind the shutter release button.
With motor drive removed and coin batteries loaded in body I get the exposure reading in finder and shutter functions as expected.
I haven't been able to locate a motor drive manual yet so was hoping someone could tell me if the camera has to have film loaded before the motor drive will work correctly. I have film on order but was hoping for learn something before it arrives.
Thanks in advance!

I can't help you with a motor drive manual. Maybe someone else can.

Later Bronica models have a dark slide safety interlock. The dark slide must be pulled to fire the shutter. Do you have the dark slide out?

Yes I forgot to mention I did have the dark slide out, thanks!

OK, I have 3 setups like this. I love these cameras. (I love Hasselblad as well but these are 1/3 the price)

You can get the camera to fire with the motor by switching the multiple exposure lever, forward, to multiple exposure setting. (It took me a few minutes to figure this out)

I like using the waist level finder, but I have the latest AE finder on one and it works great, average/spot metering is very nice. Getting harder to find low mileage versions of this. I have RZ system too, but I really love this camera, the motor grip makes it super easy to handle.
Best Regards, Mike

mshchem said:

OK, I have 3 setups like this. I love these cameras. (I love Hasselblad as well but these are 1/3 the price)

You can get the camera to fire with the motor by switching the multiple exposure lever, forward, to multiple exposure setting. (It took me a few minutes to figure this out)

I like using the waist level finder, but I have the latest AE finder on one and it works great, average/spot metering is very nice. Getting harder to find low mileage versions of this. I have RZ system too, but I really love this camera, the motor grip makes it super easy to handle.
Best Regards, Mike

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Hi Mike,
Thanks for the reply! I did have the multiple exposure lever set forward but no joy. I've contacted the seller requesting a return as I've found two other issues with the camera, the shutter speeds are intermittent ( on slow speed settings it sometimes fires at 1/500 ) and the mirror lock up sticks. It's really too bad because I liked everything about the camera except for the part where it didn't work right.