Contax 137 MD -- Flashing Red Light

[ColSebastianMoran]

I'm continuing to experiment with Contax bodies and Yashica ML lenses.

This is a Contax 137 MD Quartz. New to me. With fresh batteries, the battery check shows green, but when I switch it "On," the main lamp flashes red and the camera won't do anything.

Tried a couple of lenses and even loaded a roll of film. Flashing red.

Two question:
- Does anyone know about the flashing red light?
- or where to find a user manual for this camera?

p.s. Butkus has a manual for the 137 MA, but not the 137 MD.

p.p.s. That 137 MA manual has text about the flashing red light. A couple of suggestions for resolving it, but these actions don't succeed. Then a terse mention, "If it continues to flash, specialized attention is required."

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Found a hint in another document. "... when the film reaches the end, the camera's auto winder stops automatically and the lamp flashes to warn you that the film needs to be rewound."

I wonder if the camera thinks it has film that needs to be rewound.

Now, how would the camera know we are at the end of the film? Where is the sensor or switch that might be stuck??

 

[Mark Roy]

Manually wind back the film sprocket etc

Manually wind back the film sprocket etc

I realise this is an old post but I'm posting this fix here for those who, like me, came here in search of a solution.

I had the exact same problem on a Contax 137 MD. The battery terminals had a bit of corrosion, and it looks like the Japanese seller simply pulled an old film out of the chamber before it reached the end. With most electronic cameras with an automatic film advance, the film needs to complete its cycle before the camera can start again.

Armed with the clues gathered here, I pressed the film rewind button, wound the crank, and also manually wound back the cylinder with the film sprockets.

In my case, this did the trick and the camera lives!

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Well, thanks much for the tip, Mark.

Now, I'll have to look to see if I still have that hung-up body.