My SB 800 will come on but I can not get to the menu. I press and hold SEL but nothing happens. I press and hold MODE and ON/OFF to reset but nothing happens.

Did you try to reset all settings as told in the manual on page 12?

Press the (mode) and (on/off) buttons simultaneously for
approx. 2 sec. to reset all settings, including the custom
settings (except the distance unit selected in m/ft) to
their default values.
If the problem stays, please check you finnished your repais correct. (nothing lose in the unit and no cables switched, no false connections)

http://www.nikonusa.com/fileuploads/pdfs/SB800_sellsheet_060425.pdf

hers the manual on cam look under trouble shooting im still cheaking into it also

Hi John, if you keep pressing the mode button, the various settings will show on the screen. Then press SEL, (select), in the centre of the control button to lock it.

Is the flash still on the camera when you do this? If so, check your camera settings as well as the camera may be over-riding you.

If the flash is not on the camera, some of the settings for custom settings can only be changed with it on the camera via camera commands.

If you do not have the manuals, you can get them here:
http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/Speedlights/SB-800.pdf
http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/SB800_techniques.pdf

You knoq the SB-800 has a slave mode called SU-4 in the menu. It activates remote flash. When your on camera flash fires so will the slave flash. The slave flash will need to be able to "see" the light from the on-camrea flash to work.

To access the SU-4 remote mode hold the "SEL" button in for a few seconds until the menu appears. Scroll down to the SU-4 setting and turn it on.

When using this method set the flash to manual and set the power as needed.

Regards.

The SB-800 has a slave mode called SU-4 in the menu. It activates remote flash. When your on camera flash fires so will the slave flash. The slave flash will need to be able to "see" the light from the on-camrea flash to work.

To access the SU-4 remote mode hold the "SEL" button in for a few seconds until the menu appears. Scroll down to the SU-4 setting and turn it on.

When using this method set the flash to manual and set the power as needed.

Try reseting the flash itself, press and hold the "Mode" and "on/off" buttons together for 2 seconds approx...this should reset the whole flash.

If that doesn't work try unlocking it by pressing the "on/off" and "Sel" buttons together, the padlock should disappear.

With respect to the corroded contacts you just need to try and clean them as best you can...but it sounds like you have really bad contact with the battery and hence a serious voltage drop, hence the dim display and lack of the red ready light.

Thanks
Mark

Hi Frank, I use the same combination of the exact three flashguns you have. Works beautifully. I mount the sb-800 on my camera and set it to Master Mode (press and hold the center button till the menu comes up, select the master). Set the other two sb600s as slave. Please make sure the channel is set the same in all three flashes... when positioning the slave flashes, make sure that sensors on the remote will recieve the light from the main flash. For maximum coverage I use the sb-800 with a diffuser in bounce mode. You will be amazed at the quality of interior phots you can get with a 3 flash combo.

set the SB-800 as the commander and SB-600 as the slave. Press and hold the mode button to open up the menu and select the options.

I had the same problem. You locked your flash by mistake if you have a lock symbol on your LCD. Press the ON/OFF & Sel buttons simultaneously & the lock symbol will disappear. Then reset your unit by pressing Mode & ON/OFF simultaneously for 3 second & you are good to go!