Nikon FE shutter speeds off.

[Mike Kennedy]

I've just received an email from a friend of mine who just purchased an FE (my suggestion actually).Her first venture into the realm of film photography (ain't it grand!).
She's having problems with the shutter.The speeds are off and the mirror hangs when set to A.Financial constraints make a trip to the camera doctor for a CLA impossible.
Suggested she send the FE to me for a check up.I'm familiar with the model having owned 3 and shipping will only cost her about 14 bucks.
I'll put in fresh cells,check foam,work the dials in case of oxidation.Any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[jongcelebes]

Silly question, did she use fresh batteries?

 

[Gadfly_71]

Slow shutter definitely sounds like weak cells. The mirror hang on "A" sounds like she's shooting with the lenscap on or in extremely low light (if it's only doing it with the camera set to "A"). If the mirror is sticking it should do it all speeds.

 

[Chan Tran]

How does she know that the shutter speeds are off? I agree that the mirror hang on A can be the lens cap was on.

 

[John Koehrer]

The FE used a glass variable resistor for ISO. It's under the rewind knob. It could be dirty or have an open circuit. If it's got a dent in the cover of the rewind end I would suggest she return it to the seller rather than attempt repair.

 

[David William White]

I've got two FE's. If mirror stays up on A, switch to M90 and it should come back down. The battery check lamp should not light. The batteries are dead, so as above, install fresh batteries. Then test, because I had one with a leaky meter circuit that would drain batteries in a matter of days.

I bought one at a yard sale once, the guy said he couldn't see anything when he looked through it, but the mirror returned on M90 and I bought it cheap.