Fixing a Nikon D80 with err problem

[fatigue]

Interesting that you just replaced the gear. I've ordered a complete replacement aperture control unit.(ebay item 321015594605)

Whilst this is a more expensive option that just replacing the gear, hopefully it will make for an easier repair Will post here once the part arrives (probably 2 weeks from the US to Australia) and on how I go.

I have bought a new D5100, but would like to fix the D80 for mainly interests sake.

The usual root cause is oil leak. Oil on the switch will cause poor electrical contact.
Soaking the gear in degreaser works most of the time

 

[OlyFlyer]

Cool! I don't have the D80 but congratulations for doing the job and thank you for sharing this.

 

[marvelus10]

I joined to post to this thread, I have a D80 with a very low shutter count low 4000's. I get the ERR message randomly, my cure has always been to take off the lens, hold up the mirror with my finger and rapidly press the shutter button till the camera locks up and doesn't respond. Then I can access the open mirror/sensor in options and follow instructions from there. Upon shutting off camera and re installing lens turning back on the ERR message is gone and the camera works again. Well since the weather has become considerably warmer I find the ERR message is more frequent and my fix does not always work first try. This led me to this forum and above solution, after viewing all the pictures, descriptions and solutions I am curious as to how effective it would be to put a little degreaser on a tiny piece of paper and wiggle it in between the gear and contacts without taking more than just the bottom cover off the camera. You can view the slot and arrows on the gear via the tiny window and from going over the pictures it appears that this is the side the contacts are on.
Maybe someone has something to add to this or their own method of fixing the ERR message.

 

[kitaro9202]

my old d80 have this problem but i dont dare to fixed it myself as so many step and seem so complicated

 

[fatigue]

I joined to post to this thread, I have a D80 with a very low shutter count low 4000's. I get the ERR message randomly, my cure has always been to take off the lens, hold up the mirror with my finger and rapidly press the shutter button till the camera locks up and doesn't respond. Then I can access the open mirror/sensor in options and follow instructions from there. Upon shutting off camera and re installing lens turning back on the ERR message is gone and the camera works again. Well since the weather has become considerably warmer I find the ERR message is more frequent and my fix does not always work first try. This led me to this forum and above solution, after viewing all the pictures, descriptions and solutions I am curious as to how effective it would be to put a little degreaser on a tiny piece of paper and wiggle it in between the gear and contacts without taking more than just the bottom cover off the camera. You can view the slot and arrows on the gear via the tiny window and from going over the pictures it appears that this is the side the contacts are on.
Maybe someone has something to add to this or their own method of fixing the ERR message.

After fixing quite a number of this problem, I realized that the broken plastic rivet is the usual cause of the problem

Cleaning the excess grease is just an extra procedure to make sure there's good electrical contact.
I also realized that sometimes the problem is cause by a weak motor.

So I guess the degreaser idea may work but not 100% guarranteed

 

[fatigue]

The brush motor

A bit OOF:embrass:


Dirt from the motor


This is also the usual cause of "Press Shutter Release Button Again" problem on entry level Nikon DSLR
The motor's brush could also be in bad shape so little "magic" has to be done

 

[Elvis]

Maybe You know if your described solution will work for my Nikon D80?
The symptoms of my camera are:
When I switch on my Nikon D80
On the LCD "Err" is flashing.
The Flash doesn't pop up
The AF Doesn't work
But the shutter works, but no images are stored.
Sometimes the Mirror stays up, until I take the next picture.
It sometimes manages to work for 10 Pictures, but then the same happened again.

Took the camera to the service, they said that they can't fix it because they can't find where is the problem.
So I guess I need to try to fix it my self
Could you give me the link where can I buy that broken gear online or which part I need to order?

 

[fatigue]

Maybe You know if your described solution will work for my Nikon D80?
The symptoms of my camera are:
When I switch on my Nikon D80
On the LCD "Err" is flashing.
The Flash doesn't pop up
The AF Doesn't work
But the shutter works, but no images are stored.
Sometimes the Mirror stays up, until I take the next picture.
It sometimes manages to work for 10 Pictures, but then the same happened again.

Took the camera to the service, they said that they can't fix it because they can't find where is the problem.
So I guess I need to try to fix it my self
Could you give me the link where can I buy that broken gear online or which part I need to order?

The trick is to isolate the cause of the problem. You need a good adjustable power supply and a multimeter to check the motor. If you need the gear, you need to buy the whole aperture control assembly. Just search for "Nikon D80 aperture control" there are still some sellers around
Just search

 

[gerry d80]

hi Fatigue, if i am looking at the correct spot, there are 3 arrows by the slot/window. which arrow do i line up with the arrow on gear

 

[fatigue]

hi Fatigue, if i am looking at the correct spot, there are 3 arrows by the slot/window. which arrow do i line up with the arrow on gear

The middle arrow is the target but as long as the gear index is within the 2 outer arrows, you're good to go.

 

[Elvis]

Thank you fatigue for your answer. When I will get my camera from the service, will try to check the motor my self.
As it is my first time I'll fix such fragile device, probably I will have a lot of questions, so I will be back here really soon
Cheers

 

[gerry d80]

The middle arrow is the target but as long as the gear index is within the 2 outer arrows, you're good to go.

great thanks.
so i built up the courage to tackle this but i took a different approach because i have 2 d80's with the same problem so i can use one as a experimental unit. if this works out i will show you what i did because you wont believe it unless you see pics, this was nerve racking.

ok so i have it apart and of coarse you were correct, the pin is missing the head.
i have 2 problems. first one is when i slowly lifted the gear out, there was a black rubber grommet stuck to the bottom of it because of the lubricant i guess and i do not know where it should be.
second problem is where on earth were you able to find such small screws to replace the pins, would you have the dimensions of the ones you used ???
thanks for any help you can give me.
gerry d80

 

[fatigue]

ok so i have it apart and of coarse you were correct, the pin is missing the head.
i have 2 problems. first one is when i slowly lifted the gear out, there was a black rubber grommet stuck to the bottom of it because of the lubricant i guess and i do not know where it should be.
second problem is where on earth were you able to find such small screws to replace the pins, would you have the dimensions of the ones you used ???

Are you referring to this black rollers?


Doesn't have to be small screw. A thin wire can be used to attach the contact pin to the plastic gear
Heat up the wire with soldering iron as you slowly insert the wire to the plastic gear

 

[Paul Nyholm]

Just finished pulling the sucker apart and found the gear with one broken rivet. Is there anything else you would recommend doing before I start putting it back to together with a new gear? Some people mention using small screws in place of the plastic rivet, is it worth it? Just want to make sure I'm not mission a good opportunity to do some preventative maintenance before I put her back together.

Thanks for the post by the way, couldn't have gotten this far without you. I hope the reverse process goes as smoothly!

 

[fatigue]

Just finished pulling the sucker apart and found the gear with one broken rivet. Is there anything else you would recommend doing before I start putting it back to together with a new gear? Some people mention using small screws in place of the plastic rivet, is it worth it? Just want to make sure I'm not mission a good opportunity to do some preventative maintenance before I put her back together.

Thanks for the post by the way, couldn't have gotten this far without you. I hope the reverse process goes as smoothly!

As long as the metal part is secured on the plastice gear, you're good to go. Still, my personal favourite is to reinforce with wire

 

[fatigue]

The gear and window have an arrows for indication.
The gear arrow has to be in between the arrows of the window

Not clearly seen in this photo but quite obvious in actual condition

[/QUOTE]

 

[Paul Nyholm]

Still, my personal favourite is to reinforce with wire

I definitely understand how a screw would work, and I saw your post to gerryd80, but I can't visualize what you're saying about heating up the wire. Do you happen to have a photo to explain a little better?

 

[fatigue]

I definitely understand how a screw would work, and I saw your post to gerryd80, but I can't visualize what you're saying about heating up the wire. Do you happen to have a photo to explain a little better?

Bend a small wire into a U shape. Then use it like a U nail

 

[Paul Nyholm]

The gear has two arrows, which one is the correct one to line up? Or does it not matter? I tried putting it together with an arrow lining up, but I still get the error message. This time however I hear what sounds like 3 shutter/mirror cycles. After cycling, the arrow no longer lines up (which I can see just by removing the bottom plate). Is that expected? I can also visually see the aperture stuck at random stops after cycling.

Thanks for your help again!

 

[Paul Nyholm]

Also, after taking it apart again- I am spinning the gear manually using the exposed gear on the gearbox. The mirror raises and lowers as expected (maybe the answer to my previous question is whichever arrows leaves the mirror up?), but the shutter doesn't open a close. Two leaves on the shutter raise and lower, but as a whole the shutter never opens. Is there some other mechanism that is responsible for opening the shutter or did I somehow reassemble the control unit wrong?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just excited to get this thing working again! Thanks again!