Help with stuck memory card door on Z9

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jhallettbc

jhallettbc

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I was just in Costa Rica where it was hot, humid and sometimes raining. When I got home this morning and tried to take out my memory card, it is like the door is fused shut. The little release slide moves but the door won't open. Any ideas what to do? I thought running hot water just on that part of the camera but wants some other members to chimed in first. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. It also occurs to me we flew home from San Jose via Mexico city where the altitude is around 5000 ft. Could it be a problem with the difference in air pressure?
John
 
I would not put any water on it. I guess I would send it in. Or if you are sure the slide is actually moving perhaps gently pry it with something very thin like a credit card edge or a feeler gauge. But I think I'd send it in.
 
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I have found that the locking switch can be hard to move at times. I would try to gentle "force" it, not a lot of pressure but a bit more than use to see if that will unlock it.

If that does not work, then send it to Nikon.

Let us know what works.
 
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jhallettbc said:
I was just in Costa Rica where it was hot, humid and sometimes raining. When I got home this morning and tried to take out my memory card, it is like the door is fused shut. The little release slide moves but the door won't open. Any ideas what to do? I thought running hot water just on that part of the camera but wants some other members to chimed in first. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. It also occurs to me we flew home from San Jose via Mexico city where the altitude is around 5000 ft. Could it be a problem with the difference in air pressure?
John
Click to expand...
Do not put water on it! If your looking for a heat source than a hair dryer is preferred.
 
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There's been a couple of suggestions of using heat, but that will expand anything metal (pins or springs) which might be stuck. I'm going to make a different suggestion. Remove the lens from the camera and screw on the the body cap. Put the camera in a ziplock bag, squeeze out as much air as you can, and seal the bag. Place the bagged camera in a refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Remove the bagged camera from the refrigerator but do not remove the camera from the ziplock bag. Try to open the memory card door through the bag. Don't remove the camera from the bag until it has reached room temperature. That should take a minimum of 90 minutes.

If that doesn't work, get your camera to a reputable repair facility.
 
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This is a great suggestion... As the body/door contracts, should be easier to flip the switch and open. But yes be careful to not open the zip lock bag until camera reaches room temp or you risk condensation. Good luck!!

JAJohnson said:
There's been a couple of suggestions of using heat, but that will expand anything metal (pins or springs) which might be stuck. I'm going to make a different suggestion. Remove the lens from the camera and screw on the the body cap. Put the camera in a ziplock bag, squeeze out as much air as you can, and seal the bag. Place the bagged camera in a refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Remove the bagged camera from the refrigerator but do not remove the camera from the ziplock bag. Try to open the memory card door through the bag. Don't remove the camera from the bag until it has reached room temperature. That should take a minimum of 90 minutes.

If that doesn't work, get your camera to a reputable repair facility.
Click to expand...
 
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As for an authorized Nikon repair person, there are none in Vancouver. It involves sending the camera to Toronto which adds up in shipping chanrges there and back. I am going to now try the suggestion of JAJohnson.
I did call Nikon tech support in Toronto and they suggestion it could be corrosion. Given the beating this camera gets from professionals, I find it hard to believe that the equivalent of 7 hours over 2 days in light rain would cause corrosion.
 
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jhallettbc said:
As for an authorized Nikon repair person, there are none in Vancouver. It involves sending the camera to Toronto which adds up in shipping chanrges there and back. I am going to now try the suggestion of JAJohnson.
I did call Nikon tech support in Toronto and they suggestion it could be corrosion. Given the beating this camera gets from professionals, I find it hard to believe that the equivalent of 7 hours over 2 days in light rain would cause corrosion.
Click to expand...
Under the best of circumstances that door can be notoriously difficult to open. The latch is spring loaded so it might be corroded. But I can’t imagine that would occur over two days, even in humid salty air. It could also be that the spring is broken or bent.

If the cold soak treatment doesn’t work, I think it’d be best to send the camera to Nikon.
 
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JA your idea was brilliant. The memory card door openly easily after 45 minutes in the fridge. What a relief because I am eager to see my photos of birds in Costa Rica. Unfortunately when we were in the Monteverde cloud forest it rained for 3 days and it was so dark in the jungle forest I could not imagine more trying conditions, to see birds and then to photograph them.
 
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jhallettbc said:
JA your idea was brilliant. The memory card door openly easily after 45 minutes in the fridge. What a relief because I am eager to see my photos of birds in Costa Rica. Unfortunately when we were in the Monteverde cloud forest it rained for 3 days and it was so dark in the jungle forest I could not imagine more trying conditions, to see birds and then to photograph them.
Click to expand...
I’m glad it worked!!! Please post a few of your favorites when you get a chance.
 
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jhallettbc said:
JA your idea was brilliant. The memory card door openly easily after 45 minutes in the fridge. What a relief because I am eager to see my photos of birds in Costa Rica. Unfortunately when we were in the Monteverde cloud forest it rained for 3 days and it was so dark in the jungle forest I could not imagine more trying conditions, to see birds and then to photograph them.
Click to expand...
Good to know that JA's trick worked. I'll be in India for two months, starting in January and will have my two Z9s with me. Though it is not a rainy season, one never knows, and this know-how may come handy.
 
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jhallettbc said:
JA your idea was brilliant. The memory card door openly easily after 45 minutes in the fridge. What a relief because I am eager to see my photos of birds in Costa Rica. Unfortunately when we were in the Monteverde cloud forest it rained for 3 days and it was so dark in the jungle forest I could not imagine more trying conditions, to see birds and then to photograph them.
Click to expand...
That is great news that it worked.

Good to remember that you could offload images via wireless or USB connection to get your shots from the camera if you couldn't get the door open.
 
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