I have put new batteries in - correct polarity and all - but still I get no life in my FE. The shutter will work on M90 but when you use the battery test switch there is no light. Any ideas? Thanks Jaytee

Set camera to M90 or B, it will free the shutter. If if fires at these settings but not others then you have an electronic problem. If it does not fire at M90 or B then you have a mechanical problem. Clean the battery cap with a hard eraser and make sure the batteries are in correctly - does the battery check work? Also check to make sure that the battery compartment is not broken. Using a thin round tool, insert it into the battery compartment and push down slightly (not Hard!) and see if the battery compartment gives or you see a crank. Also check for impact around the rewind knob. The FRE resister plate there is made of glass and impact breaks it.

M90 is a battery independent setting - it requires no battery power to function. If it won't advance until put on M90 from other settings, then either you're not allowing for proper exposure, have the settings incorrectly set (film speed, etc), or you have shutter issues. The shutter is electronically controlled on all settings except M90. In the auto setting, your lense MUST be set to the smallest aperture (biggest number). On any other setting, you can use it however you'd like. I'd suggest unloading any film, setting the shutter speed dial to 1/125 or so, opening the back and looking thru and firing the shutter. If it's not snapping open and immediately closed, theres an issue and you need to consult a repair technician either locally, through Nikon, or through KEH Camera online.

Try a new set of batteries. The shutter is electronically operated at all speeds except the B and M90 settings. If the exposure meter works with a new set of batteries but the shutter still does not, then you'll have to take it in for service.

The battery check is by pressing a very small silver button on the top plate by the shutter release and the little red light come on right? there is only two small button batteries in the EM but without them it's a brick. So look inside the battery compartment and at the bottom you will see a spring piece of metal which the batter makes contact with. If it is corroded then you will have to clean that off to make contact again. Take a new pencil with a new unused red rubber eraser and form a piece of sand paper over the end of the pencil and tape it securely. Lightly twist the pencil back and forth between your fingers to sand off the corrosion, make it shinny. Blow out the dusty dirty stuff with a puffer make sure the batteries are installed correctly. Yes I know you said the batteries were in the right way install the batteries check wiht the battery test button. Also don't forget the EM is a totally battery dependent camera for the meter AND the meter will not work until you have the frame counter at frame # 1 and beyond. My Nikon EM has been slightly modified yours might not be the same but I can close the back and advance the lever trip the shutter and again until it reaches frame one and then the light meter works. Cheers great little camera hope you get it working

No, the only thing that the FE uses the battery for is the light meter and shutter. You can operate it completely without the battery using the M90 and BULB shutter speed settings.
Your film advance problem is a mechanical problem - check for any small objects that may be jammed into the film transport mechanism. If nothing is obviously causing a blockage, then the camera will need to be serviced.

It sounds like your cameras need a CLA (clean, lube and adjustment). Occasionally when this has happened to me, i noticed that it was the foam on the mirror bumper that had gotten all deteriorated and gummy and as such the mirror would 'stick' to it when it flipped up. Changing the foam seals might do the trick.

Switching to M90 means that the camera is in Manual mode whereby it is not relying on the electronics at all in the camera. When your battery dies in mid shoot, you switch to M90 and you shoot manually at a fixed speed of 1/90 second. Of course your light meter won't have power, but if you meter manually or go by the 'Sunny 16' rule, you can adjust the aperture and get your shots.

Yes, moving the shutter dial to M90 should release the mirror back down, if it is stuck up.I'm assuming of course that you didn't manually set the mirror up anyway... Test it out with brand new batteries!

I don't know, but it's worth a try. I took mine to the camera store, because my shutter wouldn't even work anymore, even with fresh batteries in it. He again tried new batteries, and turned the shutter speed knob from Automatic all the way over to "B" for Bulb, and back to the Auto. Guess What! I haven't used the camera in 3-5 years because I thought it was broke and going to need factory repair. Well, this tricked worked for me. I was so thrilled, because my daughter wanted some double exposures and special filters shots for her wedding. Also the weight of the camera I couldn't handle anymore with a health problem, so I went to digital, but would love a Nikon good digital.
Good Luck!

TRy firing the camera in the M90 setting. If it fires properly, use the battery test switch. If the battery LED doesn't light up, replace the batteries (2 MS76 type). The FE requires healthy batteries to operate the shutter. If the meter is calling for a slow shutter speed (low light or lens cap still on?). If the batteries are good, but the shutter still won't fire normally in sufficient light, looks like you're in for a repair shop visit.

It may be fatal as there are no parts available for the FE series. The main components that cause this problem are the FRE/ASA unit and the meter itself. The FRE is located under the rewind knob side of the top cover. It is made of glass and can be damaged by impact. The meter is under the speed dial and can also cause this type of problem. Neither is a easy repair.

Did you set the camera to M90 AFTER you installed new batteries? The camera will work without batteries in the B and M90 settings, but when you install new batteries, reset the mirror by turning the dial to M90. If this doesn't correct it, I wouldn't recommend opening the camera - take it to a repair shop.