What's wrong with my Speedlite 430EX?

It worked perfectly fine for few days (I just got it).

Yesterday suddenly the ETTL zoom started not to work, meaning the display of 'Zoom 35mm' no longer shows the number and it just blinks as Zoom --mm.

Also none of the buttons respond either (C Fn, Mode, Curtain flash, Zoom). Only the pilot flash button works. Flash compensation buttons don't work either.

This morning now when I turn on flash, the unit actually beeps. Like a low 'error' buzz sound: beep beep beep. This goes away after few seconds though with the above problem persisting.

The flash still works if I shoot. But none of the control works, therefore the flash has no idea what it's doing.

The manual says blinking means to use 'wide panel', but something is clearly wrong in this case.

I use four disposable brand new Energizer batteries. I changed them all to fresh ones and problem still exists.

What's wrong?

Try it with a Canon lens and see if it still has the problem.

poloman wrote in post #5542331
Try it with a Canon lens and see if it still has the problem.

I just did with 85mm f1.8. Same thing. What's wrong?????

Push the wide angle diffuser the whole way in.

Turn the flash off. Take it off the camera. Turn it on. Do the buttons work now? When you reinstall it, make sure you have the unit all the way forward on the camera hot shoe.
Here is the Canon support page if all else fails...
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …id=11923#Suppor​tDetailAct

tim wrote in post #5542378
Push the wide angle diffuser the whole way in.

I don't think it has to do with diffuser. The severe symptoms I describe above (none of the buttons working) shows that something may be seriously wrong.

:sigh;

poloman wrote in post #5542393
Turn the flash off. Take it off the camera. Turn it on. Do the buttons work now? When you reinstall it, make sure you have the unit all the way forward on the camera hot shoe.
Here is the Canon support page if all else fails...
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …id=11923#Suppor​tDetailAct

1. I took it off the camera
2. Turned it on.
3. Now it beeps. beep beep beep. Oh man. The flash is barely a week old.

Open the battery compartment and make sure the batteries are oriented correctly. If this doesn't work, call Canon. If electronic things fail, they usually fail right away.....

poloman wrote in post #5542416
Open the battery compartment and make sure the batteries are oriented correctly. If this doesn't work, call Canon. If electronic things fail, they usually fail right away.....

On the phone with the support now... Thanks guys. Still provide input if the problem sounds familiar to you though.

Flash is buggered. Get a new one.

ACF3Passion wrote in post #5542404
1. I took it off the camera
2. Turned it on.
3. Now it beeps. beep beep beep. Oh man. The flash is barely a week old.

best advice then is to return it

I have two 430's and they were both acting up on me yesterday in the same way described in this post. Please let us know what you find out from Canon.

just take it back if it doesnt work

I just tried both my 430's a minute ago and they worked just fine. Yesterday when I was having the problems I was shooting outside and it was pretty hot. Any chance that heat affects the flash units?

Could you possibly have put the switch to slave by mistake?