I am getting a flatbed mechanical error when turning on my Fujitsu scanner, model #M4097D and its making an awful screeching sound. Its still scanning fine and I don't actually use the flatbed for scanning. But I am afraid its going to stop working pretty soon.

Hi,

The error code EF displayed on your fi-5750c scanner front panel explains Background switching mechanism alarm. The probable causes are:- Background detection sensor connector disconnected.
- Defective background detection sensor
- BW motor connector disconnected, Defective BW motor
- Defective background unit F
- Defective background unit B

You are rceommended to visit nearest Fujitsu service station for rectification.

Thanks & regards,
ScanCare

Your Scanner arm is defective. If the machine still is in warrenty you can contact Fujitsu and they will replace it.

50 pin high density

Contaminates on the optical path to the front camera.strip and clean.If its still a problem , check and replace front lamp.(the one in the flatbed area)

Check this post: http://www.fixya.com/support/t493406-fujitsu_m4097d_error_about_front_side

The Rom board is the big circuit board that can be removed from the rear of the scanner. I think there are about three screws that secure the plate that surrounds the output jacks. With the screws out, the whole rom board comes out like a sliding tray. The fuses are round and brown in color. BUT warning! Don't mix them up because they are of different values. If you try swapping them around, you will put the wrong value in another slot and it will blow! If your lamps are lit, then the fuses are ok, but try pulling the circuit board tray out and reseating the tray.

If the lamps are lit, then the fuse and lamp inverter is ok. If you swapped the cameras, and the problem still says its the front lamp, make sure that the lamp is turned around to its proper position. The lamps are masked with a clear opening. If that opening is not turned to shine the light at the right position, you could be getting the alarm because of the loss of light.

If the problem shifted to the rear lamp alarm when you switched the cameras, then the camera mirrors are real dirty inside or its just a bad camera.

Sounds then like a loose camera cable , dirty glass, or white background plate.

This may help:
I don't have a Fujitsu, but a M/F is a M/F, all fairly similar.
On my SAMSUNG CLX-3170FN, I lifted the ADF cover, which is the smaller cover on top of the ADF, found a small black wedge-shape plastic arm which protrudes through the center, upwards.
As this peripheral ie, envelope / postcard / non-standard stationery cover is lowered, it pushes this arm to activate a limit switch, hidden under plastic of ADF.
If the cover is looseor not properly closed, the gearing and roller-feed mechanism can't push paper through, so causing an error.
The reason it refuses to scan is probably a cover not pushed down, or the sensor limit-switch misbehaving.
Renewing the limit should be fairly simple, if similar to mine.
1: Raise the peripheral cover.
2: Loosen 4 screws holding peripheral base-plate.
3: Switch is visible.

HI,
I work on the fujitsu scanner hotline. This message means that the optical unit needs to be replaced, there will be very little you can do to fix this problem.

please check all sensor arms in the document feeder. The sensor arm in the middle just below the separation pad is called 'paper end sensor'. If this sensor arm is blocked or broken the scanner don't stop the feeder.
Another possibility is a driver error.