K3 mode dial does not work anymore. It's always M now.

Really Cool · 12-11-2015, 08:16 AM

Problem:
My K3 suddenly stucked in M mode, no matter where the position of the mode dial is and which lens I'm using.

What I've tried:

1/ Reset the camera: not working!

2/ Take out the battery while the camera's on, then put it back: not working!

3/ Update the firmware: not able to update. I guess because my K3 already got the latest firmware.

4/ Clean the lens contact: not working!

Is there any other viable solution that you guys know? I don't want to send this to service because I'm going on vacation next week and photography is the reason of this vacation. I can shoot fine in M mode but there are User Settings that I really need in some circumstances.

**pathdoc** · 12-11-2015, 08:24 AM

Welcome to photography as it used to be.

At least you will have the comfort of instant review.

Nass · 12-11-2015, 08:24 AM

Google around on this site, I once fixed a dial on a K5/K7 (can't remember which) by just spraying something into it from a can. Should be findable on the forum somewhere. Good luck!!

**Tas** · 12-11-2015, 12:50 PM

How are you trying to turn the mode dial?

On the K3 mode dial there is a button in the centre and a lever at the base of the dial. If you rotate the lever one way you don't need to depress and hold the button to unlock the dial and rotate it. Turn the locking lever the other way and you do. Whilst this is not a feature on my K5, I'd be checking the locking lever first before spraying anything near your camera.

As you've not identified in your description this aspect of what is happening and what you've tried I don't know if this info is relevant.

However if there is a problem and it relates to the locking lever needing some attention under warranty, I don't think it would look really good to find a liquid during disassembly if they think you've done something to cause the problem.

Best of luck mate, hopefully it's as simple as accidentally moving the locking lever. If you're stuck in just M mode on your vacation maybe you could just take it as a challenge to work through solutions and make the most of it.

Tas

Adam · 12-11-2015, 12:50 PM

Have you tried more than one lens?

**PJ1** · 12-11-2015, 03:16 PM

Is the Focus Mode Switch fully in the "A" position? It is a mistake I have made.

**pres589** · 12-11-2015, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by Nass

Google around on this site, I once fixed a dial on a K5/K7 (can't remember which) by just spraying something into it from a can. Should be findable on the forum somewhere. Good luck!!

The "something in a can" was probably contact cleaner. Can get it lots of places, like automotive parts stores, Radio Shack (is that still a thing?), etc. Might follow up with compressed air to further clean the dial's electrical parts out and better flush out any contaminants.

**Larrymc** · 12-12-2015, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by pres589

The "something in a can" was probably contact cleaner. Can get it lots of places, like automotive parts stores, Radio Shack (is that still a thing?), etc. Might follow up with compressed air to further clean the dial's electrical parts out and better flush out any contaminants.

The K-3 is a sealed system and I doubt very much that you will be able to get enough contact cleaner into the area to get what ever contacts there are clean.

Can you feel the detents as you rotate the mode dial? If no detents are felt something has to have come loose so the best thing to do use the camera while on vacation and then send it in for repair. Spraying contact cleaner not knowing what sort of material the mode dial is made of can be risky, I've seen contact cleaner destroy plastic. Just my two cents.

Larry

**pres589** · 12-12-2015, 09:11 AM

Depends on the contact cleaner used. Non-chlorinated should be fairly benign to plastics.

Can you think of some other product used to clean electric components like those in the knob that comes in a can? Best way to do this would be to disassemble the knob and inspect and clean components with them in view but that is probably beyond what Really Cool is interested in doing.

**AquaDome** · 12-12-2015, 10:24 AM - **1 Like**

If you figure out how you did it, let me know. I would like to apply this fix to my K-50 (make it stay in M forever).

**Larrymc** · 12-12-2015, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by pres589

Depends on the contact cleaner used. Non-chlorinated should be fairly benign to plastics.

Can you think of some other product used to clean electric components like those in the knob that comes in a can? Best way to do this would be to disassemble the knob and inspect and clean components with them in view but that is probably beyond what Really Cool is interested in doing.

Yes there are some contact cleaners that "might be safe", but why risk it? I agree that the best way to check the mode dial is to disassemble it and inspect it but who has a repair manual for the K-3? I still say the best thing to do is send it in for repairs after his vacation is finished or possibly rent a K-3 if that's possible.

Larry

---------- Post added 12-12-15 at 11:30 AM ----------

Originally posted by AquaDome

If you figure out how you did it, let me know. I would like to apply this fix to my K-50 (make it stay in M forever).

Its called super glue

Really Cool · 12-12-2015, 10:57 PM

Sorry for not describing the problem clearly!

The mode dial can be physically turned without any problem. But the mode displayed in the camera is always M even when the dial is at Av, Tv, U1, U2, etc. It happens with any every I have (20-40, 100f2.8, 50f1.8)

I don't understand the spraying solution because this is a sealed camera. How would the liquid reach the circuit part to clean it up?

Could be firmware bug. Does anyone know how to completely reset the camera? Because when I use the reset function in the menu, some settings like U1, U2,... are still there. So it does not wipe everything.

Jonathan Mac · 12-13-2015, 01:55 AM

Sounds like a physical problem to me, something is not making the right contact within the camera. I think you'll need to send it for repairs and make do with manual mode until then.

Nass · 12-14-2015, 11:51 AM

Fyi - at your own risk. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/116-pentax-k-r/145847-k-r-e-dial-repair.html

bertwert · 12-14-2015, 11:54 AM

Someone else had this problem on their K-5 but never fixed it (IIRC) can't remember who it is.

12-11-2015, 08:16 AM	#1
Really Cool New Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 9	K3 mode dial does not work anymore. It's always M now. Problem: My K3 suddenly stucked in M mode, no matter where the position of the mode dial is and which lens I'm using. What I've tried: 1/ Reset the camera: not working! 2/ Take out the battery while the camera's on, then put it back: not working! 3/ Update the firmware: not able to update. I guess because my K3 already got the latest firmware. 4/ Clean the lens contact: not working! Is there any other viable solution that you guys know? I don't want to send this to service because I'm going on vacation next week and photography is the reason of this vacation. I can shoot fine in M mode but there are User Settings that I really need in some circumstances.

12-11-2015, 12:50 PM	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 49,170	Have you tried more than one lens? Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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12-11-2015, 08:24 AM	#2
pathdoc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,348	Welcome to photography as it used to be. At least you will have the comfort of instant review.

12-11-2015, 08:24 AM	#3
Nass Moderator Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,400	Google around on this site, I once fixed a dial on a K5/K7 (can't remember which) by just spraying something into it from a can. Should be findable on the forum somewhere. Good luck!!

12-11-2015, 12:50 PM	#4
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,900	How are you trying to turn the mode dial? On the K3 mode dial there is a button in the centre and a lever at the base of the dial. If you rotate the lever one way you don't need to depress and hold the button to unlock the dial and rotate it. Turn the locking lever the other way and you do. Whilst this is not a feature on my K5, I'd be checking the locking lever first before spraying anything near your camera. As you've not identified in your description this aspect of what is happening and what you've tried I don't know if this info is relevant. However if there is a problem and it relates to the locking lever needing some attention under warranty, I don't think it would look really good to find a liquid during disassembly if they think you've done something to cause the problem. Best of luck mate, hopefully it's as simple as accidentally moving the locking lever. If you're stuck in just M mode on your vacation maybe you could just take it as a challenge to work through solutions and make the most of it. Tas

12-11-2015, 03:16 PM	#6
PJ1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mosquito Creek, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,770	Is the Focus Mode Switch fully in the "A" position? It is a mistake I have made.

12-11-2015, 04:49 PM	#7
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Baltimore, MD Photos: Albums Posts: 2,632	Originally posted by Nass Google around on this site, I once fixed a dial on a K5/K7 (can't remember which) by just spraying something into it from a can. Should be findable on the forum somewhere. Good luck!! The "something in a can" was probably contact cleaner. Can get it lots of places, like automotive parts stores, Radio Shack (is that still a thing?), etc. Might follow up with compressed air to further clean the dial's electrical parts out and better flush out any contaminants.

12-12-2015, 06:10 AM	#8
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 3,015	Originally posted by pres589 The "something in a can" was probably contact cleaner. Can get it lots of places, like automotive parts stores, Radio Shack (is that still a thing?), etc. Might follow up with compressed air to further clean the dial's electrical parts out and better flush out any contaminants. The K-3 is a sealed system and I doubt very much that you will be able to get enough contact cleaner into the area to get what ever contacts there are clean. Can you feel the detents as you rotate the mode dial? If no detents are felt something has to have come loose so the best thing to do use the camera while on vacation and then send it in for repair. Spraying contact cleaner not knowing what sort of material the mode dial is made of can be risky, I've seen contact cleaner destroy plastic. Just my two cents. Larry

12-12-2015, 09:11 AM	#9
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Baltimore, MD Photos: Albums Posts: 2,632	Depends on the contact cleaner used. Non-chlorinated should be fairly benign to plastics. Can you think of some other product used to clean electric components like those in the knob that comes in a can? Best way to do this would be to disassemble the knob and inspect and clean components with them in view but that is probably beyond what Really Cool is interested in doing.

12-12-2015, 10:24 AM - 1 Like	#10
AquaDome Dark Underlord Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	If you figure out how you did it, let me know. I would like to apply this fix to my K-50 (make it stay in M forever).

12-12-2015, 10:28 AM	#11
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 3,015	Originally posted by pres589 Depends on the contact cleaner used. Non-chlorinated should be fairly benign to plastics. Can you think of some other product used to clean electric components like those in the knob that comes in a can? Best way to do this would be to disassemble the knob and inspect and clean components with them in view but that is probably beyond what Really Cool is interested in doing. Yes there are some contact cleaners that "might be safe", but why risk it? I agree that the best way to check the mode dial is to disassemble it and inspect it but who has a repair manual for the K-3? I still say the best thing to do is send it in for repairs after his vacation is finished or possibly rent a K-3 if that's possible. Larry ---------- Post added 12-12-15 at 11:30 AM ---------- Originally posted by AquaDome If you figure out how you did it, let me know. I would like to apply this fix to my K-50 (make it stay in M forever). Its called super glue

12-12-2015, 10:57 PM	#12
Really Cool New Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 9 Original Poster	Sorry for not describing the problem clearly! The mode dial can be physically turned without any problem. But the mode displayed in the camera is always M even when the dial is at Av, Tv, U1, U2, etc. It happens with any every I have (20-40, 100f2.8, 50f1.8) I don't understand the spraying solution because this is a sealed camera. How would the liquid reach the circuit part to clean it up? Could be firmware bug. Does anyone know how to completely reset the camera? Because when I use the reset function in the menu, some settings like U1, U2,... are still there. So it does not wipe everything.

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12-13-2015, 01:55 AM	#13
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 6,125	Sounds like a physical problem to me, something is not making the right contact within the camera. I think you'll need to send it for repairs and make do with manual mode until then.

12-14-2015, 11:51 AM	#14
Nass Moderator Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,400	Fyi - at your own risk. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/116-pentax-k-r/145847-k-r-e-dial-repair.html

12-14-2015, 11:54 AM	#15
bertwert Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 11,558	Someone else had this problem on their K-5 but never fixed it (IIRC) can't remember who it is.