JVC GR - DVL300

E04 Unit in safeguard mode : Remove and Reattach Battery

I have had this same problem since my warranty ran out on my JVC DV camcorder. When I turn it on to record or play, a code appears on the display screen "E04 Remove and reattach battery. Unit in safegaurd mode." I have tried to remove the battery and replace it and I have the head cleaned. Twice I have brought it in for repairs but over time the same thing comes up. Can any one tell me what causes this and how to rectify it.

Reply

• Re: JVC GR - DVL520U Willy - 16th Jun 2004 0:23
  Hey i have the same problem with my jvc camcorder too! mine is a dvl520U and everytime i turn it on, it appears a message that says error E01, battery in safeguard mode, remove and reattach battery, but i cannot do anything! cannot even eject the tape! i've tried everything there is in this forum, but it doesnt help, can i take it to a repair center? how much would it cost?
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL520U Charles Haman - 7th Dec 2004 18:31
    I recently have been unable to eject my cassett from mini-dv. Is it possible to manually eject? How?
    
    
    • Re: Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL520U Willy Chen - 8th Dec 2004 23:59
      yes, but you would have to take it to some electronics store... i took it there and they took the cassett out and told me that some sort of "wheel" inside the dv player was burned... so to fix it, it cost me about 200 dollars. You have a DVL520U too? i would never buy JVC again!
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - DVL520U Yes - 31st May 2009 16:07
      simply have the camera on "play mode" then open/eject the side of it and the tape with pop out.
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL520U roland - 23rd Jun 2005 16:35
    I have a similar problem. My cassette will not eject and the error message is E04. Any ideas on how to manually eject the cassette with out paying $200?
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - DVL520U max - 24th Mar 2008 17:29
      u ever figure out how to remove the tape manually i have no power so i really need to get my tape out asap thanks
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL520U
    ethan
    - 29th Jun 2005 8:58
    have the same problem with my camera. The tape wont eject and the error message E01 camera in safe mode etc appears. I managed to smash the cassette up inside of the camera to remove it (without damaging the camera itself) but now I cant place another tape in. I wondered if anyone else had found a cheaper resolution than $200, or knows exactly what the problem was? Ethan
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL520U Lepue1 - 21st Jul 2005 15:39
    I fixed this problem using the menu on setup. Go into the menu and located the reset title. This will reset the video. I do not remember if the title is named reset but there is a title in the menu to reset the cam.
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - DVL520U dennis gray - 25th Jun 2006 6:03
      What is the procedure for getting in to the menu?
      
      
• GR-D30U Mini DV cam Radames Rosario - 1st Jul 2004 14:39
  I power up my cam it flashes leens cap
  is on ,but my leens cap is off.
  I get no video just sound when i record. Help Me !!!!!
  
  
  • Re: GR-D30U Mini DV cam gabi - 16th Oct 2004 5:45
    you seem to have a problem whit the ccd or in the flex or in the regulator section. Try this: disassembly your camera. You will see the optical block (lenses) and a flex that goes to the main board. That is the ccd , which "captures" the image. Pay special attencion th the connection to the main ,could be bad. if it´s ok then turn on in samera mode and put your finger over the ccd . You should see a video noise. If it´s that way , the ccd is broken. if you don´t see any noise , you must have a power problem. Have fun.
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Ryan - 8th Jul 2004 19:32
  I work for a public affairs/media relations office and part of my job is documenting things my organization does. We purchased 5 of these cameras and every one of them now has the damn E04 message. I've read this forum front to back and was able to fix one of them. I opened the cassette compartment, left it empty, took off the battery, opened the view screen, beat the holy hell out of the camera, re-inserted the battery and by some miracle of God himself the thing works. I'm going to try it with the others now. I'll let you know what happens. I refuse to believe that beating the thing is the techical solutions, but hey, if it works it works. My hats off to the disgruntled consumer who figured this one out.
  
  
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL300
    ADRIAN
    - 4th Jan 2008 7:48
    Wow!!! Unbelievable! I have a JVC Mini GR-DVL300U. I kept getting the same error message (E04) of remove battery and insert again...still same error message. I did as your post suggested. I opened the cassette door, removed the battery & opened the viewer. I gave a slight wack. re-inserted the battery, closed the cassette door and started it up. Works just fine!!! Amazing!!! While the procedure is sad...I am delighted to have the camera working before my son's first basketball game! Thanks Ryan
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Ryan - 8th Jul 2004 19:45
  Just a follow-up to my last post. I've now tried the beating method on another camera and it works. If you haven't tried this yet, you have nothing to loose by trying. What's the worst that happens, you break it more? You're going to have to buy a new camera anyway. I spent $300 to fix the problem at a repair center. A new camera is that much, why pay to fix it? My best reccomendation, if this doesn't work, buy a new camera that's not made by JVC. Be sure your hitting the area on the side where the speaker is.
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Jake - 24th Dec 2004 20:19
    Holy crap, I tried this and it actually worked. For my attempt, I also added a THOROUGH blasting with a can of compressed air directly into the cassette compartment and the battery contacts. Good luck all.
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - DVL300
      gp
      - 15th Mar 2006 0:31
      I can't believe this worked for me! Just one hard slam on the right side w/ cassett out and it worked! thanks for saving me $200 bucks. I love the internet!
      
        See 8 more comments...
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL300
    Jerry S.
    - 19th Sep 2006 2:24
    I've used my GRD30U regularly for over 3 years with no problem then all of a sudden CONDENSATION! So I feel I've gotten good use out of it, but I can't buy a new camcorder anytime soon. Yep. Beating the holy hell out of the thing works. Next question, how many times will this do the trick before it goes titsup for good?
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL300
    Carl
    - 1st May 2007 21:37
    You are a genius whoever figured this out, i was pooping myself coz i really needed my camera for my final major project. I've got the dvl100 and only had to give it a firm tap on the speaker, it suddenly sprung back into life, i'd reccomend anybody to try it what have you got to lose?
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - D70 D - 12th Jul 2004 14:19
  I bought this camera 2/03. Used it about 20 minutes the first six months I owned it. Took it on vacation and the 2nd day (taped maybe 8 minutes the first day) I got the "E04" couldn't use it at all after that. Took it to Best Buy and they sent it to JVC. It cost me about $100 to fix. Now I get "condensation, operation paused" all the time. It works for a while and then I get that stupid error. Has anyone had success in getting JVC to fix the problems they are having with these cameras?
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - D70
    Diego
    - 4th Dec 2004 0:43
    I have the same problem. It used to work fine, but for the last two weeks I was unable to use it at all. If someone has a recomendation about this, it will help me a lot. Thnks.
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - D70 indiana jones - 12th Apr 2005 16:12
    i'm a tech and i'll tell you the secret. the moisture sensor is a little black square on the side of the drive motor. if you look directly where the tape goes in, the drive motor is in the far back left. it's partially hidden behind a silver pin hanging down from the black plastic cover that goes over the video head. take a long q-tip and dip it in glass cleaner(windex etc) and gently wipe it off. you should see a small amount of black guck on the q-tip. then remove power for about one minute and allow to dry. it's better to use air to dry it out.
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Liz
      - 14th Apr 2005 1:41
      Do you know what to do for the condensation message with the JVC GR-D30U, besides airing it out for 6 months? Thanks
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Another Fool who bought JVC
      - 14th Apr 2005 16:40
      Hmm.. That sounds it will actually work. I have this model and it decided to give me the "condensation, operation paused" message on the morning of my wedding day after I decided not to hire a videographer. What a piece of garbage. I would never recommend JVC camcorders to anyone. I wish I would have read up on them a little bit more before purchasing it. I bought it two years ago, and it worked for about a year or year and a half. It was still on warranty so I just sent it in to be fixed... we'll see if it actually is fixed and whether or not it costs me an arm and a leg. Thanks for the tip, I'm going to try that if it happens again.
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 jamesey - 8th Jun 2005 20:32
      i see a couple of black squares. Which one?
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Christian
      - 16th Jun 2005 21:38
      Thank You very much Indiana Jones, this worked for me and my JVC-Camcorder. It is accepting tapes again. i already thought it is broken and i can buy an new one. thanks again!!!! (I cleaned the sqare if you look inside the tape-box on the bottom right) THANKS! christian from germany!!!
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 Relentless - 25th Jun 2005 21:42
      I cleaned off the black square and got rid of the condensation error...FINALLY!!! However, the audio playback quality has deteriorated somewhat. Is the silver component with the black square for the audio playback? Could I have damaged that component while cleaning off the black square?
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 ron Beaver - 28th Aug 2005 23:14
      How about the GR-D30U? Thanks
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      titi
      - 29th Sep 2005 2:59
      jesus, where is the little black square anyway, i saw the silver pin(who knows whether it's silver or not), but didn't see any little black square behind... could anyone post some pics, show me the actual position? thanks
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      logan
      - 4th Oct 2005 5:11
      does this work with the gr-d90. because I have the same problem.
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 john - 6th Oct 2005 17:38
      I have a JVC GR70u with the condensation error. Cleaning the sensor didn't work. Repair shop quoted me $405 for a new main mechanism to fix it so I am cashing in on my warranty.
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 Watts - 28th Oct 2005 20:47
      I tried cleaning my JVC camera and it works just long enough for me to get a tape in, record about 30 seconds or so and then it gives me that same condensation error. I'm going to try and beat the snot out of it but I'm probably going to end up getting another camcorder.
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 Martin Kooyman - 24th Dec 2005 0:46
      Your trick did not help me, so is there maybe a way to disconnect this sensor, or jump it with a piece of wire or something, cause it's driving me nuts this condensation alarm. Thanks in advance Martin Kooyman The Netherlands
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 forman - 25th Dec 2005 18:11
      hy, thanks for your tips, I doesn't see the moisture sensor, could you give me more information to help me to find it .. Do you have a near picture of the moisture place ?
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      mushimushi
      - 10th May 2006 22:19
      This is incredible, the perfect answer to my question. I have had the camcorder on for about 48 hours trying to dry it –CONDENSATION, PLEASE WAIT— the error would go away after a couple of hours then when I put the tape in the error would come back instantly. Then I read this. I cleaned the sensor with some alcohol (98%) on a long q-tip taking care not to touch the head. This is when all of the sudden the tape door would not close, no error message, just would not close even with the power off. I gave it a couple of good taps by the speaker as described in other posts and that problem resolved itself. Good. I dried it a little with a hair drier set on low but had the same error come back i.e. condensation. OK what the heck, I left it on with the condensation error blinking, the door open and a fan blowing in, but to my surprise in just a little while the blinking error message disappeared and I was able to insert an old tape and download it to the computer via DV. Thank you. It is a miracle. I just hope it lasts.
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Emily
      - 5th Jun 2006 19:02
      WHERE IS THE BALCK LITTLE Square????????can some one post tha pic of it plz???
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 Roger - 17th Sep 2006 21:06
      had the same problem on my JVC GR-22US and even though I wasn't sure which one was the sensor (had an idea but cleaned anything that looked like a sensor anyway) and even though got no black gunk it did the trick. Thanks to people like you at least I still have a functioning product. This camera also had the 'lens cap' problem, as well not great video or audio quality. Only reason I don't use my old Sony is I needed something I could use with my computer and I thought this would be the trick but when as soon as I get a chance I will buy a Sony and use this one for batting practice. Roger
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      tonis
      - 26th Dec 2006 21:49
      thanks indiana jones, your instructions worked perfectly. i was surprised to see how much soot ended up on the q-tip. to anyone still having difficulty finding the moisture sensor, perhaps you are looking at the camera at the wrong angle. hold the camera at eye level in a fashion such that that the LCD screen is underneath the camera, the tape door is on the top side, and the lens is on the right side. then, looking straight into where the tape goes in, look all the way back and to the left. you might need a flashlight. you will see a cylinder with about the diameter of a pencil; that is the drive motor that he was talking about. on the right hand side of that cylinder, there is a little square window. it is not a separate black box, just a tiny window on the surface of the cylinder. you may have trouble seeing it at first because your line of vision is obstructed by the silver pin he was talking about. it's way in there and tough to reach--i found that a regular q-tip wasn't long enough to reach all the way--but it can be done. make sure to give it a couple wipes too; soot kept coming loose after i cleaned it several times. hope this helps
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Gurch
      - 2nd Jul 2007 1:05
      You r a genius. I couldn't use the camera from last two months as of this message. Works perfectly OK...
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Russell
      - 12th Dec 2007 1:21
      Indiana Jones - if you are still around, I've just fixed my condensation error using your method. Was just about to chuck out the camera and decided to look up the Internet first for any tips. Your method worked a treat (had to clean it quite thoroughly - took a couple of gos), and the camera is working fine now! Thanks again.
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 Robert Gerard Mainville - 17th Sep 2008 18:24
      Thanks INDY I am going to Flordia to get married in 29 days and with limited funds to buy a new camera I was going to be forced to use this one and try to get a few minutes of video from it, now that is no longer a issue.
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - D70
    arnold zoiffel
    - 6th Jan 2006 5:10
    To anybody still following this thread, slide the Video/DSC switch to DSC. Put the camcorder in Manual. Hit the menu button and find the System Menu. Now do a Cam Reset. This got rid of the Condesation error for me (so far) on the GR-D70.
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 Sam Wilson - 4th May 2006 23:25
      I will try this tonight. I have tried all the other "solutions" to no avail. Can you tell me what you mean by "put the camera on maunal"? Wish me luck, Bro!
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70 ts - 15th Jun 2006 13:29
      thanks so much this worked for me so far
      
      
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - D70
      Barry
      - 29th Jan 2008 12:06
      How simple was that, of cause the old reset button works 99% of the time. Thanks.
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - D70
    Noreen
    - 27th Jun 2007 4:40
    I tried both solutions, and happy to report that the camera works!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300
  - 12th Jul 2004 23:43
  whenever you get the EO4 error simply tap the camera a couple of times till it goes away without the need to turn it off and back on. Trust me, it ain't gonna get any worse than it already is.
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300
  layne conn
  - 13th Jul 2004 0:21
  I've been watching these "posts" for some time, after I bought one of these units off of E-BaY. I also, am used to fixing electronics.tried everything in every forum to fix thr unit, to no Avail.I cleared up the Condensation Error Message,E01, but i could never get the Door to close. Finally sent it out for repair.JVc, does have some fix-it answers if U e-mail them.But,if those don't work, it's got to go in for Service.i'll keep U posted.
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300 rb jones - 22nd Aug 2004 2:08
    i read your post and i am trying to clear the condensation operation error. your post said you could help? help? why is it doing this?
    
    
    • Re: Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Kaizad Bajina - 27th Aug 2004 19:55
      i have a jvc camera and i get the option condensation operaion paused. there are no repair centres near myt house so i would really appreciate it if you could help me out here Thanks
      
        See 3 more comments...
      
      
  • JVC D30U
    Eli J Toro
    - 3rd Jan 2005 8:40
    Yeap, I've got the same problem and it still blinking with the words,condensation operation paused, please wait. I will keep it running to see if it will correct itself.
    
    
    • Re: JVC D30U wang - 14th Feb 2006 7:10
      do you have the driver of this model digital camera?would you please give me from E-mail ,i'm very worry about!thank you!
      
      
    • Re: JVC D30U
      Emily
      - 5th Jun 2006 17:56
      ME TOO!!it keeps telling me the CONDENSATION OPERATIONPAUSED,PLEASE WAIT i tried everything someone help me PLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      
      
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300 rick cunningham - 19th Jan 2005 7:42
    I did the same thing a Jim below and it worked so far. No condensation messages anymore, but now the battery will not charge. The indictor will not blink. The camcorder all operates while the power supply is plugged in but no charging. Any suggestions?
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL300 bowgeorge - 20th Sep 2005 2:51
    how do you get rid of the error EO1 HELP!!!!!
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 yousuf - 15th Jul 2004 11:10
  Is this camera for broad casting.
  i want to make documentaries and tele plays so can i make doc. on JVC GR-dvl300u, it lost resolutions and picture quality , i want it PAL system. what can i do , i need fire wire and SOFTWARE as well
  yousuf
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 yousuf - 15th Jul 2004 11:31
  is this camera for broad casting level or to make for documentaries. i need software and firewire for this Dvcam as well.
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300
  Tyrone
  - 15th Jul 2004 22:32
  What is the fix for the safeguard mode problem????? please help