Problem with EOS 50D

I'm getting an error code 01 when using my camera with EFS 17-85mm lens attached. It seems to happen when the lens is on its widest angle, but not when I zoom to 85mm. I have tried cleaning the contacts, both with a pencil eraser and professional cleaning fluid, to no avail. The camera is approx 7 years old and has taken many 1000's of photo's during this time. Only recently has this problem occurred.
Any ideas what else I can do?

Thanks
Steve.

Error 01 is a communications error between camera and lens. Does it only occur with this one lens and not with any other? If so, I would suspect that the lens is at fault.

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$1 to a doughnut the problem is the ribbon cable is bad. This seems to be the greatest downfall of this lens. Google it for the fix.

trx125 wrote in post #16884175
$1 to a doughnut the problem is the ribbon cable is bad. This seems to be the greatest downfall of this lens. Google it for the fix.

I had exactly the same symptoms with my 17-85. It got worse over time until eventually the lens didn't want to work at all.

I bought the replacement flat flex cable on eBay for $20, took the lens apart and replaced the cable. It's been rock solid ever since.

I just made sure I kept note of which screws went where, used anti-duct gloves (with a slightly tacky surface so stuff sticks to the gloves instead of being transferred to the lens) with some optical instrument cleaner spray from RS and some uvex lens wipes.

I can't find the guide I originally followed online, which had excellent pictures and instructions, but this has the same procedure