Manual for 159 MM

Manual for 159 MM

Brand: Contax

Category: Camera

Document Type:

Language: EN

Uploaded: Aug. 9, 2025, 11:34 p.m.

Basic Operation

This manual provides detailed instructions for disassembling and reassembling the Contax 159 MM camera, focusing on various components like the top cover, bottom cover, mirror box, shutter, and winding mechanism. It includes specific steps for removing and reattaching parts, along with important notes and precautions to ensure proper function and avoid damage during repair.

Key sections cover:

  • Disassembling exterior parts.
  • Mirror box assembly removal and adjustment.
  • Shutter disassembly and adjustment.
  • Winding mechanism procedures.
  • Wiring diagrams and troubleshooting common malfunctions.

The guide emphasizes careful handling of delicate parts and correct reassembly to maintain the camera's functionality.

Troubleshooting and error codes

Malfunction Possible Causes
Shutter does not operate, but D-LED lights momentarily
  • Bad soldering of Red and Blue lead wires (from R-Mg)
  • Defective of R-Mg
  • Bad soldering of R2, defective of R2
  • Bad soldering of Tr3, defective of Tr3
  • Bad soldering of C2, defective of C2
Shutter does not operate, S-LED light but D-LED does not light
  • Malcontact of W.Obstruction Lever contact
  • W. Obstruction Lever malfunctions
  • Malcontact of Trigger Switch
  • Failure of ISO Elastic Connector
  • Bad soldering of IC2 terminal #32
  • Defective of R6
  • Bad soldering of Tr4, defective Tr4
  • Defective of AC Base Plate Ass'y
  • Defective of Winding, Shutter and Mirror Box mechanism
Shutter does not operate and S-LED, D-LED do not light
  • Bad soldering of Red lead wire (from the Battery Case)
  • Bad soldering of FPC-2 and Battery Contact
  • Rivet on contact plate of Battery Case is loose
  • Bad soldering of AMP Ass'y and FPC-2
  • Dirty P.S Switch or ISO resistor Base
  • Bad soldering of X'tal, defective of X'tal
  • Bad soldering of C6 and C7, defective of C6 and C7
  • Bad soldering of Tr6, defective of Tr6
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #2, #3, #14, #21 and #24
Shutter does not operate and short circuit
  • Short circuit of Top Cover and Time Switch
  • Short circuit of camera body and Red lead wire (from Battery case)
  • Short circuit of camera body and Pink and Blue (from AC Mg)
  • Short circuit of contact (+) of Battery Case and Lead Wire Fixer
  • Short circuit of Shielded wire (from Shutter) and SPD Guard (L)
  • Short circuit of camera body and Shielded wire (from SPD-2 Base)
Shutter does not operate with the W7 Winder
  • Malcontact of W. Obstruction Lever contact
  • Malcontact of Terminal Pin (159196) of W-7 and Connector Pin
  • Dirty pattern of FPC2
  • Bad soldering of AMP Ass'y and FPC-2
Shutter trips itself after winding
  • Jumper wire of Release Socket is grounded to the camera body
  • MCL-8 does not move smoothly
Mirror remains flipped up when winding
  • Improper adjustment of R Mg hook and MCL-2
  • Foreign object lodged in R Mg
  • R Mg hook spring has slipped out of the position
  • R Mg Movable Plate Lever Spring has slipped out of the position
  • Improper fitting of R Mg hook and MCL-2
  • R Mg Set Screws (66001050x2) is loose
  • ACL-1 Spring (2) (159819) has broken
FCT (Blank Exposure) does not operate
  • FCT Switch Spring (159854) has slipped out of the position
  • Bad soldering of FCT Switch Spring
  • Malcontact of FCT Switch and FCT Switch Plate
  • Rivet on FCT Switch is loose
  • Failure of the ISO Elastic Connector
  • Short circuit of FD Mirror Holder Ass'y and Base of LED Ass'y
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #15
Incorrect Shutter Speed
  • Bad soldering of Black lead wire (form Shutter Mg)
  • Bad soldering of wire of Shutter Mg
  • Defective of Shutter Mg
  • Failure of ISO Elastic Connector
  • Bad soldering of Tr5 (collector), defective of Tr5
  • Bad soldering of R14, defective of R14
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #22
Shutter remains open
  • Trigger Switch is kept " ON "
  • Defective of Tr5 (short circuit between Tr5 emitter and base)
Shutter speed is incorrect
  • Time Switch is kept " ON "
  • Improper adjustment of Trigger Switch
Shutter speed is incorrect and the S-LED in wrong position
  • Improper contact of S.Click Plate Ass'y
  • Bad soldering of IC-3 terminal #37 ~#41
Shutter speed is not stable
  • Rivet on Trigger Switch is loose
  • Defective of Shutter
Incorrect Auto exposure
  • Malcontact of ISO Contact Base Ass'y
  • Malcontact of Aperture Code Contact
  • Bad soldering of White, Grey, Purple, Blue and Green lead wires
  • Short circuit of S. Click Plate contact
  • Bad soldering of Ra3-1
  • Bad soldering of C8, defective of C8
  • Bad soldering of R11, defective of R11
Extremely over-exposed, and "B" LED remains lit
  • Malcontact of Ral
  • Bad soldering of ISO Resistor Base and FPC-2
  • Bad soldering of White, Grey, Purple, Blue and Green lead wires
  • Short circuit of Top Cover and Vr1
  • Short circuit of camera body and Orange lead wire
  • Bad soldering of C12, defective of C12
  • Bad soldering of SPD-1
Incorrect Auto exposure
  • Standard voltage is incorrect
  • Offset voltage is incorrect
  • Defective of ISO Resistor Base
  • Time Switch is kept "ON"
  • Leak of SPD-1
Program Exposure is incorrect
  • Bad soldering of Green, Yellow, Orange lead wires and Black, White lead wires
  • Short circuit of camera body and Red, Blue lead wires
  • Bad soldering of Red, Blue lead wires
  • Defective of AC-Mg
  • Lack of AC-Mg adjust screw grease
  • ACL-3 does not move smoothly
  • Theta Base Set Screws are loose
  • Defective of Photo Coupler Ass'y
  • Bad soldering of Tr1, Tr2, Tr7, R3, R4, C1, IC-1, IC-2
  • Defective of AC Base Plate Ass'y
Incorrect Program exposure for Auto exposure
  • Bad soldering of Jumper wire of AJ2, GND, AJ1
  • Improper soldering of Black and White lead wires
  • AC Claw does not move smoothly
  • AC Ratchet Wheel is moving when slowly set ACL-1 Ass'y and QRL-5 Ass'y
  • Defective of AC Base Plate Ass'y
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #5
Always Program mode when using an older type lens without the program coupling pin
  • Short circuit of Black, and white lead wires
Defective flash photography (With TLA flash unit)
  • Shutter speed does not change to the sync. speed after flash is charged
  • Shoe spring on Synchro Base does not connect properly to the Top Cover
  • Bad soldering of R9, defective of R9
Does not regulate the Flash output
  • Bad soldering Shielded wire (from SPD2 Base)
  • Bad soldering Shielded wire (from Shutter)
  • Defective of Shoe Contact Plate and shoe Contact Ass'y of Top Cover
  • Shoe Spring on Synchro Base does not connect properly to the Top Cover
  • Bad soldering of Ra2
  • Bad soldering Sky Blue to Synchro Base
  • Bad soldering of SPD-2
  • Ra2 is re adjusted
  • Bad soldering of C11, defective of C11
  • Bad soldering of R17, defective of R17
  • Bad soldering of R18, defective of R18
  • Leak of SPD 2
Shutter dial and Shutter LED do not interlock
  • Malcontact of S.Click Base Contact
  • Bad soldering of IC-3 terminal #10~#15 and #37~#41
Shutter LED does not light
  • Defective of LED Ass'y
  • Failure of Elastic Connector
  • Short circuit of FD Mirror Holder Ass'y and Base of LED Ass'y
  • Bad soldering of R13, defective of R13
Shutter LED remains lit, more than two LEDs light at the same time, or wrong indication of Shutter LED
  • Defective of LED Ass'y
  • Short circuit of FD Mirror Holder Ass'y and Base of LED Ass'y
  • Misassemly Release Switch Washer
  • Malcontact of S.Click Base Contact
  • S. Base Set Screw is loose
  • FPC Cover part missing
  • Acetate Cloth Tape part missing
  • Short circuit of Top Cover and Vr1
  • Failure of Elastic Connector
  • Leak of SPD-1
  • Bad soldering of R11, defective of R11
  • Bad soldering of R16, defective of R16
Wrong indication of Aperture display
  • Defective of LED Ass'y
  • Short circuit of FD Mirror Holder Ass'y and Base of LED Ass'y
  • Failure of Elastic Connector
  • Malcontact of Aperture Code Contact
  • Bad soldering of Green, Blue, White, Purpul and Grey lead wires
  • Aperture Code Base Set Screw (GND) is loose
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 and IC-3 terminal
Wrong indication of Program AE mode display
  • Defective of LED Ass'y
  • Theta Base Set Screws are loose
  • Bad soldering of White lead wire
  • Failure of Elastic Connector
  • Short circuit of IC-2 terminal #13 and #14
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 and IC-3 terminal
Wrong indication of Exposure compensation display
  • Defective of LED Ass'y
  • Short circuit of FD Mirror Holder Ass'y and Base of LED Ass'y
  • Failure of Elastic Connector
  • Bad soldering of FPC-2 and ISO Resistor Base EJ1, EJ2
  • Bad soldering of IC-3 terminal #18
  • Short circuit of IC-3 terminal #7 and #8
AE-Lock does not work
  • Malcontact of AE Lock Contact
  • Failure of ISO Elastic Connector
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #18
Self-timer does not work properly
  • Malcontact of Self contact
  • Defective of Self-timer Base Ass'y
  • Failure of ISO Elastic Connector
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #19
Self-timer LED does not light
  • Malcontact of Self contact
  • Bad soldering of Self LED, defective of Self LED
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #20
VA-VS (180mV) Voltage can not be adjusted
  • Malcontact of ISO Contact Base Ass'y
  • Short circuit of soldering points of FPC-2 and ISO Resistor Base Ass'y
  • Defective of ISO Resistor Base Ass'y
Battery check LED does not light
  • Bad soldering of Battery check LED, defective of Battery check LED
  • Bad soldering of R8, defective of R8
  • Bad soldering of soldering point of FPC-2 and ISO Resistor Base Ass'y
  • Malcontact of Main Switch Plate Assy
  • Bad soldering of IC-2 terminal #33, #34
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