Nikon FG Shutter and light meter not working

Sounds like you got dead batteries. Try putting in a fresh set.

Light meter only works with the back door shut and the film counter is at frame 1 or more !!, Also if the camera is set at M90 or bulb (B) mode, Meter will not work there ether,

Try new batteries, And make sure the frame counter is past one to get meter to work right.

A few things to try, based on my FG's operation: - The most obvious- are your batteries good? Correct type? If they are: - When all is well the red LED metering lights will appear in the viewfinder window on the right side, in the range of shutter speed numbers. - The red LED metering lights are only activated when you press the shutter release button (halfway). The lights go out after a few seconds if the shutter button is not held down. Just tap the shutter button to reactivate them. - The shutter speed setting dial must NOT be on B (Bulb) or M90 (non-electronic Manual mode) if you want to see the red LED metering lights. The lights do not operate on these two settings because metering is irrelevant here (you'd be doing the metering, not the camera). - If you're in P (Program mode) the lens aperture must be set all the way to the smallest setting (usually f22 or f16, depending on the lens). If not, you'll only see blinking lights at the top and bottom of the shutter speed range on the right in the viewfinder. That's a reminder to set the lens to the smallest (highest numeric) aperture.
Hope these help. The FG is a great little camera.

Check the batteries first. The electromagnetic shutter requires power to function. To free up the shutter and advance lever, rotate the command switch to "M90" (if I recall). That should re-set the shutter and allow you to advance the lever mechanically.

you should invest in a digital camera they have nice cameras for like 40 dollars on overstock.com

Yes, on the camera body, you have to remove the lens. The ring sits outside the metal mount for the lens.

Ah, I figured this out. It's not the battery, since the light isn't dimmed. I had the same problem with the light being stuck at 60/120, and it was just flashing. There's a certain mechanism in the camera that only allows the light meter to start working when the exposure count is at 1. So when you load your film, you have to take 2 or 3 exposures, and crank it, before the light meter kicks in.

FG's are pretty tough old cameras. You can use a cloth and a lenspen brush, but be very careful of the shutter curtain...its delicate and if you damage it you might as well get another FG ($30 or so on Ebay). My first Nikon was an FG-20...still works like new.

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.