Nikon F4s Issues

[Kav]

I have a new to me F4s that after running a few rolls through and working like a champ now is having issues.

Basically the shutter is not cocking/working right and it gives me a blinking red rewind light. I put new batteries in, no luck. The shutter seems to be half cocked. It also does not seem to fire on "T". If I try it on any other shutter setting it waits about 1/2 a sec then fires (but not at the speed chosen), and gives me the blinking LED.

Any ideas or info would be helpful. I'd like to fix it on my own if it's something simple. If not off to the repair shop it goes.

 

[dehk]

Well, just on top my head, might be dumb but worth a look.
- *both rewind levers are at "off" position i assume.
- clean contacts of the prism and body, and its locked in correctly.
- if its in P - S, you need to change your aperture to the smallest (AF lens for sure, not sure how AIS works)
- if using AF lens, AF contacts clean? AF gotta be locked before it will fire on AF--S.
- One time it happened to me, blinking LED without film, will only fire at its own wish, if not it will be blinking, but solved itself after i loaded the film.

 

[Kav]

Well, just on top my head, might be dumb but worth a look.
- *both rewind levers are at "off" position i assume.
- clean contacts of the prism and body, and its locked in correctly.
- if its in P - S, you need to change your aperture to the smallest (AF lens for sure, not sure how AIS works)
- if using AF lens, AF contacts clean? AF gotta be locked before it will fire on AF--S.
- One time it happened to me, blinking LED without film, will only fire at its own wish, if not it will be blinking, but solved itself after i loaded the film.

Thanks for the reply, and the ideas. Here's what I got:
- I double checked and both levers are off.
- Cleaned all prism and body contacts, and nothing changed.
- The camera does respond like it should to A/F, non- A/F, and "G" lenses. A/F also works like it should.
- I tried to load some film, and the film loading, film advance, and auto rewind all work like they should. Still no love from the shutter.

Any more ideas?

 

[chuck94022]

I had some issues with my F4s battery contacts - minor corrosion, which affected the camera's ability to draw power from even fresh batteries. I would check all exposed electrical paths to make sure you don't have a resistance caused by corrosion as a first step, because it is relatively easy to do (in addition to the contacts mentioned above).

Second, check that your shutter curtain is straight and hasn't been bent/abused by improper touching. You can inspect it from the back with the film out and back open. Check to see if you have bent blades (but don't touch it).

I think if you lock up the mirror you should be able to check it from the front too.

If the shutter is visually, physically healthy, I think my next step would be a Nikon CLA and mechanical checkup.

 

[dehk]

+1 on what Chuck said, gotta be something to do with the power.

 

[Kav]

I had some issues with my F4s battery contacts - minor corrosion, which affected the camera's ability to draw power from even fresh batteries. I would check all exposed electrical paths to make sure you don't have a resistance caused by corrosion as a first step, because it is relatively easy to do (in addition to the contacts mentioned above).

Second, check that your shutter curtain is straight and hasn't been bent/abused by improper touching. You can inspect it from the back with the film out and back open. Check to see if you have bent blades (but don't touch it).

I think if you lock up the mirror you should be able to check it from the front too.

If the shutter is visually, physically healthy, I think my next step would be a Nikon CLA and mechanical checkup.

Thanks for the info, I pulled the camera apart again and re-cleaned all the contacts. Still no luck. The shutter blades are straight, but not lined up like they should according to the service manual. I'm thinking she's going to have to be sent off. Now I have to see if I can get it done fast or if I should get a new camera. I'm heading on vacation in a few weeks and was planning on taking it. So it may be faster to buy a new one from KEH and get this one repaired when I get back to have a back up body when I get back.