430ex ii works intermittently.

The last few shoots my 430ex ii has been doing something wierd. It would fire fine for the first little while. Then wont fire at all but the pilot light is on. After hitting the pilot light button a few times it will fire. But seems like it takes about 5-10 pushes of the test button.

Now ive been using them with my radio poppers jrx studios. But it still wont fire even if i push the test button. Eventually it will fire, but it will quit again after a few pops. Ive owned the flash since new for about 2.5 years and have shot a lot of weddings with it. Is it just slowly dying?

anyone have any idea?

Contact problem?

Myself, I would take a CLEAN pencil erasure and rub the contacts on the flash and the hot shoe.

windpig wrote in post #14367401
Contact problem?

Myself, I would take a CLEAN pencil erasure and rub the contacts on the flash and the hot shoe.

it does it when i hit the pilot button too

Battery issue?

windpig wrote in post #14367480
Battery issue?

but wouldnt the pilot light go out aswell?

9 out of 10 times it is the batteries. How hard is it to put some fresh batteries in the flash and test it. And I am not talking about your 4 year old, freshly charged rechargables either. I mean known, good batteries.

Perhaps not. It indicates that somehow, the capacitor has charged despite a problem with battery contacts or batteries.

Use swabs to clean out contacts in battery case. Buy a fresh set of Alkaline AA's - they are cheaper than a new flash, or Canon Service.

dedsen wrote in post #14367626
9 out of 10 times it is the batteries. How hard is it to put some fresh batteries in the flash and test it. And I am not talking about your 4 year old, freshly charged rechargables either. I mean known, good batteries.

Your post comes off a tad harsh. excuse me for posting in a forum looking for help.

CliveyBoy wrote in post #14367650
Perhaps not. It indicates that somehow, the capacitor has charged despite a problem with battery contacts or batteries.

Use swabs to clean out contacts in battery case. Buy a fresh set of Alkaline AA's - they are cheaper than a new flash, or Canon Service.

Ill give that a try tonight, im hoping this will help. Thanks!

redfire2002 wrote in post #14368015
Your post comes off a tad harsh. excuse me for posting in a forum looking for help.

I wouldn't take it that way.

It is not meant that way. It is just a daily question/problem that new, fresh batteries fix. The problem is people want to debate the possible solution stating that they have freshly charged batteries and come to find out the batteries are well past their useful life.
It is a pretty simple solution to try. Electronics run on power. The LCD and LED on the back of a flash take way less power than actually charging up the capacitor and firing the tube.
If you do not want to try it don't.

You arent shooting fast enough to trigger the thermal protection circuit are you?

not really as it was just for some studio type shots. Nothing fast paced. I have brand new enloops as my batteries.