Step-by-step procedure to fix lack of contact in the end-of-travel switch of a D700 pop-up flash

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW THE

INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK! FLASH TUBES
OPERATE AT HIGH VOLTAGES AND THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY EVEN IF THE
CAMERA HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF AND THE BATTERIES REMOVED. IT CAN ALSO
RESULT IN FAULTY OPERATION OF THE CAMERA BODY AND/OR DAMAGED PARTS
AND COMPONENTS THEREOF, LEADING TO FURTHER AND COSTLY REPAIRS. IT
WILL ALSO VOID THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE INFORMATION BELOW
IS THEREFORE PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED AND FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IN NO EVENT I SHALL BE
LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY ARISING FROM, OUT OF
OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE.
Now that the legal stuff is out of the way, you will need: Grounding strap, precision
Philips screwdriver, precision flat head screwdriver, tweezers, pin/small clip.
Read through all the steps first before working on the camera. Make
sure you know what to do.
Step 0: Switch off the camera body, remove any batteries, put the grounding
strap on and connect it to a grounded object or grounding mat [follow the
instructions provided with the strap]
Step 1: Open the pop-up flash and remove the two screws underneath with a
small screwdriver;
Step 2: Remove the upper cover of the pop-up flash with care. The flash tube and
the wiring are not exposed. Do not touch the flash tube contacts or any exposed
contacts, avoid touching the wiring;
Step 3: Remove the retaining screw [that is in the position indicated by C (not
visible in the picture)] that holds the spring [A] in place. Remove the spring taking
care not to bend it out of shape. Remove the screw of both stoppers [B] and
unhook them taking notice of proper mounting position for re-assembly later on.
The shaft of the position switch is indicated by [C] this is where the spring
retaining screw was.
Step 4: Carefully! disengage the arm of the lower case unit on the side of the
diopter adjustment button by pulling it outwards. If you pull too much you might
break the arm of the lower case unit and that will be the end of it!
Step 5: Notice! that the shaft of the position switch has a tiny guiding tab near
its base that matches the guide on the end of the lower case unit arm [look at the
red squares in the picture]. There is only one position where the shaft fits into the
end of the arm, if it not in the proper position for reassembly and you force it, the
tab will be damaged and you risk damaging the electronics in the SB PCB inside!
You have been warned!
Step 6: Remove the collar [D, see pict above] with the edge of a plastic card or
with an undone clip by pulling outward. The position switch is now free. Grab the
shaft [E] with tweezers and slightly move and rotate it until you see the floating
contacts on the other side [see Picture in Picture].
Step 7: Take the pin and bend the tip on a straight angle. Insert the tip
underneath the contacts and pull them slightly towards you but don't bend them
permanently. Do this to both contacts.
Step 8: Re-assemble in reverse, i.e. place the collar in place first [Step 6] and
engage the arm of the lower case unit into position making sure that the guide and
tab are properly aligned [Step 5, Step 4] .
Step 9: Important! Before putting the spring in place and the retaining screw,
check that the opposite arm of the lower case unit has not disengaged from its
collar with retaining tabs [see the red circles in the picture]. If it did you have to
pull the collar outwards and keep it there while you gently push the end of the arm
back into place [use the flat head screwdriver to keep the collar in place]. Check
that the retaining tabs protrude from the hole at the end of the arm. This is a very
important but time consuming step. It is essential if you don't want a wobbling
pop-up flash that is only secured from 1 side.
Step 10: Place the string, then the retaining screw, tighten but don't over do it.
Hook and re-attach the stoppers [remember the correct position] and place the
upper cover making sure that no wiring gets stuck between the lower and upper
cover [very important!]. Re-attach the 2 screws from step 1 and you are done.
Step 10: Test the pop-up flash . If it works, fine, success. If it still doesn't work, it's
better to take the camera to a Nikon repair facility. The steps to access the SB PCB
inside [to check the wiring at the soldering points for e.g.] requires a lot more skill
and considerable disassembly of the camera body.
Have fun!
Jorge Santos