Pentax ME trouble shooting

Hi all,

Has anyone got eny experience with an ME. or are aware of any common known faults?

I picked up a disposable project one yesterday for $10 which was attached to an ME winder. The mechanical side of it *seems* to work fine winds on, shutter fires etc but the metering wont come on when I half press the shutter release?

I've got a service manual from the web and I will be tinkering. but I just wondered if this was a know fault.

Also any pointers of things NOT TO TOUCH when I get in side?

Thanks in advance all

Regards
PaulM

First of all, fit new batteries. Two G13 silver oxide cells will last longest, but alkaline will do. You should not use Lithium batteries.

The operate all the controls, expecially the ASA dial and exposure compensation, to make sure everything is working smoothly.

If the batteries have failed the camera may operate at 1/1000 sec on AUTO and the flash setting will also fire.

The batteries will likely do the trick, which will save you experimenting with the innards!

Just to add, before you dismantle anything, if the new batteries don't fix it immediately then make sure you have them the right way up and that the contacts are clean.

Open the battery door with a coin, not a screwdriver! I've seen some horribly damaged battery doors caused by people attacking them with screwdrivers and carving the slot up when the blade slips.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the suggestions

Tried a different set of batteries (removed with a 5 cent coin )and although not new I had taken them from my Program A and tested them in both the Program A and an ME Super and they worked in both before testing in the ME.

I am hoping its just corroded contacts that activate the metering system which is what I will be looking for when I dismantle it. There is some signs of corrosion on the contacts on the bottom plate that leads me to think this might be the issue.

I was just wondering if there were any known failiure points to check like the MX has with its battery drain problem

Regards
PaulM



Regards
PaulM

The only common issue I know of with the ME range is dirt getting into the ISO adjustment potentiometer. Typically gives very underexposed images, and wiggling the ISO/Ev dial will change the exposure.

I replaced the ISO pot on two ME Supers and one MEF (in the days when Pentax had a service department and would supply parts to end users).

...but that probably isn't your issue.
Matt

Check for corrosion on the inside of the battery cover, that seems to be a common problem. Presumably because most cameras are stored upright, so when old batteries leak the acid runs down onto the cover.

Hi all,

Thanks for the suggestions, So far I only managed to get the bottom plate off and have a nose around inside. There is quite a bit of corrosion around where the 3 little pin recepters are from the winder.

Also the ME Winder looks like it works ok but there are a couple of broken wires inside and the battery end cap has broken at the lock point.

I am about to go looking for a service manual or an exploded diagram for them, so I can see what goes where and work out how to get the top plate off !!

Regards
PaulM

The corrosion around the winder contacts is pretty common - I've found that a cotton bud dipped in lens cleaning fluid will usually sort them out.

whats the reasoning behind this advice John? I've used Lithium double height batteries in M and A series bodies and always found them to be fantastic?

Or are you referring to Lithium batteries which might be the same size as the originals but twice the voltage?

The reasoning is that later issues of the M series instruction booklets specifically state do not use Lithium batteries. The A series do not have the same prohibition.

It could be voltage, heat generation or gas build up that's the problem, or at least a potential hazard, but unfortunately Pentax do not elaborate.

I would say that as it's no problem to use the correct batteries then it's good advice to follow.

This might help?

K.

It depends on its date of issue, because when the M series started there were no Lithium batteries in common use.

I meant for the service rather than the battery issue.

Best wishes, Kris.

Thanks Chris

I also found this using google, there are a couple of others there too (MX, ME Super and Program A)
The google search also turned up this this Which I found to be very helpfull. Its written around the ME super, but most of the stuff is very similar. Worth a read if you plan to dismatle one of these types of camera.

So armed with all this knowledge and a lot of confidence, I had a go at removing the top plate yesterday, everything went very smoothly up unitll the penultimate screw when I realised my small screwdriver set where a little (a lot) cheaper than I thought resulting in the tip shearing of in the screw head of the L/H screw by the viewfinder.

So I now need to buy a new (decent) set of watch screwdrivers and find away of getting the screwdriver tip out of the screw head without resorting to drilling it out. Its almost like its friction welded itself in.

Regards
PaulM

I have two left hands and nothing would entice me to take a camera or lens apart (assuming I want it to go back together again). As far as I am willing to go is changing the light seals and that brings me out in a cold sweat. That is why there are people like Robin at Harrow Technical in the world. I break things, Robin fixes them.

Good luck with your screw driver!

K.