Kodak C743 battery door won't remain closed?

I discovered both the problem and the solution. The front cover has a small extrusion as part of the battery compartment locking mechanism. I believe someone (maybe me) tried to force the compartment door open without first sliding the door forward. If forced, the extrusion on the front cover will break VERY easily, and the door will no longer remain closed and locked. To repair this problem, find a new or used C743 front cover assembly and replace the old one. Before taking the old part off, note the fit between the front and back cover assemblies. You'll need to be certain that the fit is exacly the same when you replace the old front cover. OK. There are 5 very small screws to remove. Be VERY cautious during the removal - the flash unit has a battery that will give you a nasty, nasty shock if removing the old cover is not very cautiously and carefully done. The flash battery is a long black cylindrical item, and you should try to avoid handling it. Also, when removing the old cover assembly, DO NOT force it open - just gently and slowly jiggle it until it comes apart, especially in the area of the side that contains the shutter button. There are two long plastic extrusions on the front cover that can be damaged easily. They fit into the main part of the camera. Forcing the front cover open there can potentially break those fragile parts inside the camera body, making an additional problem for you. Put the new cover on carefully making sure the parts fit properly, (remember how they looked before you opened the camera) replace the screws and it should now work after replacing the batteries and closing the battery compartment door - (unless, of course, there is some other problem previously undiscovered). When you buy the new part, be sure it contains the shutter button mechanism. If it does not, you'll need to remove the old one from the old part and reassemble it in the new part before you install it on the camera. Also, the little clear plastic viewfinder window lens falls out very easily. Make sure it's cleaned and installed properly before closing up the camera. It will only fit one way. This whole process sounds complicated, but it's really not. This is a pretty simple fix for someone with good manual dexterity who can work with very small parts and has steady hands. Patience is the key. Good luck!

Bill Pratt
August 2010