Canon 17-85mm err 2 (flex cable replacement)

[rcastillo]

just sharing stuff i learned while doing this fix..

this was a used lens but i've used it for three years already.. it was about time for the flex cable to break..

symptoms:

• at the widest aperture (f/4), it works fine in all focal lengths.. step it up a bit and err2 occurs..
• increasing the aperture at some focal length causes it to fire err2
• a video i took of the lens not working

diagnosis:
i googled "canon 17-85 err2" and was able to find some write ups from others experiencing this..

solution:

• cleaning the lens contacts w/ an eraser
• remove battery, lens etc etc..
• open up the lens and replace the flex cable

first and second solutions didn't work for me.. it was out of warranty, so sending it in to canon for diagnosis & repairs would cost me.. so i went and bought the flex cable online @ buy.com for $5.99 (free shipping).. and decided to do it myself..

tools needed:

• #000 philips screwdriver (got mine from a dollar store)
• flex cable replacement (google it)
• soldering iron
• tweezers / long fingernails

disassembling & assembling the lens without reference was the hard part, so before i took the video, i tried disassembling & assembling it first.. some screws were really tight, i might've stripped one screw, but used the rubber band trick to properly remove it.. putting it back together took me longer because, i didn't remember how it looked before i took it apart.. the inner part was a bit greasy so make sure to wipe off the elements before you put it back together..

video links:

• canon 17-85 experiencing err2
• lens disassembly (HD)
• canon 17-85 working normally