Forward vision sensor error on brand new Mavic 4 Pro

[iceman77]

Hello all, so I have purchased a brand new Mavic 4 Pro from eBay from a Korean seller, drone arrived this morning, in brand new, sealed package. No damage to it. I unpacked it fired the drone up, registered it under my DJI account but when I started it I am getting this error on my RC2 controller:

Forward vision sensor error. Contact DJI Support for assistance Code: 1A0100C2)
Forward vision sensor error. Contact DJI Support for assistance Code: 1A0100C3)

I have updated the firmware to the latest version out there (I believe V01.00.0200) did multiple factory resets, restarted drone and RC multiple time, it just does not go away. Anyone seen the same? I tried to connect it to DJI Assistant 2, while it does recognize the drone, apart from firmware update it does not offer visual sensor calibration (something I read online that this tool could do). I guess not for this version.

Drone is under warranty, activated it only today, but me, being in US, I cannot request repair service with DJI directly, I am getting this "This product is not supported currently".

What are my options here? I even reached out to the Korean seller over eBay, requesting to perhaps send the drone back (I assume its not gonna be cheap to ship it back). I am in complete desperate situation here, so any help, advise here would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks in advance!
Pete

 

[GadgetGuy]

Have you contacted DJI USA to see if they have any "repair" options for this issue, outside of warranty, that will get you a replacement sourced from DJI Canada, after paying a nominal repair, for whatever they discern is causing this known issue with units under FW version.200? Explain to them that it is sourced from S. Korea so you know there is no warranty per se, but how will they handle it as a repair at your expense? Alternatively, can you rollback to FW .0100? Issue seems to be unique to .0200 FW on certain units. Might get fixed by FW version .0300 if you can wait. Lastly, use your eBay guarantee and ship it back for a refund, or work with the seller for a replacement. Lots of options.

 

[iceman77]

I did reach out to DJI support and they claim they are unable to provide after-sale services in the USA so looks like I will have to send the drone back to my Korean seller and they would have to initiate service with DJI South Korea:

 

[iceman77]

As for firmware updating/downgrading, I have already tried downgrading it to .0100 no luck

 

[iceman77]

Have you contacted DJI USA to see if they have any "repair" options for this issue, outside of warranty, that will get you a replacement sourced from DJI Canada, after paying a nominal repair, for whatever they discern is causing this known issue with units under FW version.200? Explain to them that it is sourced from S. Korea so you know there is no warranty per se, but how will they handle it as a repair at your expense? Alternatively, can you rollback to FW .0100? Issue seems to be unique to .0200 FW on certain units. Might get fixed by FW version .0300 if you can wait. Lastly, use your eBay guarantee and ship it back for a refund, or work with the seller for a replacement. Lots of options.

I see you stated "Issue seems to be unique to .0200 FW on certain units." so is this something other users reported as well after updating to .0200 version? I was searching online, did not find any reference to this issue and this model anywhere

 

[GadgetGuy]

I see you stated "Issue seems to be unique to .0200 FW on certain units." so is this something other users reported as well after updating to .0200 version? I was searching online, did not find any reference to this issue and this model anywhere

Yes. Several threads here on the topic. We haven’t been able to narrow down whether it is limited to the country of origin or the 64GB or 512GB version of the drone, but it wasn't present on .0100, and only occurred after updating to .0200.
So far, none of the Adorama sales have been affected by it. Seems more prevalent on the 64GB version of the drone though, but not exclusively, and mostly non-Canadian.

 

[iceman77]

mine is the 64GB version. But I believe I have tried downgrading the drone firmware back to .0100 using DJI Assistant 2, no help there. Same issues

 

[GadgetGuy]

I did reach out to DJI support and they claim they are unable to provide after-sale services in the USA so looks like I will have to send the drone back to my Korean seller and they would have to initiate service with DJI South Korea:

View attachment 184176

Don't rely on a chat bot. I would call them on the phone in Los Angeles, and explain your predicament to a live person. I was told by a senior manager that they would repair any Mavic 4 Pro at your expense. Ask for a Supervisor.
(818) 235-0789

 

[GadgetGuy]

mine is the 64GB version. But I believe I have tried downgrading the drone firmware back to .0100 using DJI Assistant 2, no help there. Same issues

So you are able to downgrade, but the problem still persists?
Interesting.
Appears that .0200, once installed, triggers some bug that downgrading cannot reset, that was not present on .0100 originally.
Which Korean seller did you buy from, and what do they have to say?

Please let us know, as many are in the process of, or have already bought one from S Korea like you did, and will be very interested in how this can be handled, especially since some of them are just mothballing their purchases!

 

[rgarjr]

OP said he had this problem prior to the fw update. So probably not a fw issue.

 

[YorksPhotos]

Have you tried flying it? The reason I ask is that others have reported collision avoidance issue. Of mine #1 from Japan has had no issues with a few dozen flights. #2 from Korea on the first flight I took off between hedges a car and a light pole with 360° warnings. As I cleared the hedges and pole I tried moving right, away from the pole and it halted and hovered 3 times. Going back to the left toward the pole no problems. I don't remember if it was beeping the warnings. On the 4th attempt it flew right as normal. I couldn't repeat even taking off from the same spot. Almost looked like it was calibrating it by itself. My #3 from Korea was going to stay sealed but I think I will check it out today. I am still in the 30 days and would rather pay shipping than deal with DJI and a repair bill.

 

[iceman77]

So you are able to downgrade, but the problem still persists?
Interesting.
Appears that .0200, once installed, triggers some bug that downgrading cannot reset, that was not present on .0100 originally.
Which Korean seller did you buy from, and what do they have to say?

Please let us know, as many are in the process of, or have already bought one from S Korea like you did, and will be very interested in how this can be handled, especially since some of them are just mothballing their purchases!

You made me think twice about this .0100 version, I am downgrading the drone again, using DJI Assistant 2, will do a master reset after done and see if it sort out the issue by any chance. I will even fly the drone carefully on open space, drone flies but obstacle avoidance does not work at all, I am getting those two alarms mentioned in OP also, what I found it weird, I am getting ambient light too low, when its mid-day, sunny here.

Buying drone from S Korea, at least for me was a good experience. I used this seller, goes under name with_us on eBay, shipped drone super fast, it was here in US from Korea, in 3 days! Seller is willing to help out claiming warranty on the drone, but I have to send it back to Korea, as drone is registered for that region, which sucks, but it is what it is. I am praying that this is just a FW issue, I reflash the drone and issue is gone! That would be a day for me to celebrate for sure!

 

[GadgetGuy]

OP said he had this problem prior to the fw update. So probably not a fw issue.

Not really. Brand new, unflown, and he immediately updated to .0200. Based on all the other reports, the .0200 FW triggers it for some, as they had no such issues on .0100. DJI has replaced several such drones, because once triggered, a FW downgrade does not fix the problem.

 

[GadgetGuy]

You made me think twice about this .0100 version, I am downgrading the drone again, using DJI Assistant 2, will do a master reset after done and see if it sort out the issue by any chance. I will even fly the drone carefully on open space, drone flies but obstacle avoidance does not work at all, I am getting those two alarms mentioned in OP also, what I found it weird, I am getting ambient light too low, when its mid-day, sunny here.

Buying drone from S Korea, at least for me was a good experience. I used this seller, goes under name with_us on eBay, shipped drone super fast, it was here in US from Korea, in 3 days! Seller is willing to help out claiming warranty on the drone, but I have to send it back to Korea, as drone is registered for that region, which sucks, but it is what it is. I am praying that this is just a FW issue, I reflash the drone and issue is gone! That would be a day for me to celebrate for sure!

Cool. How much is return shipping to S. Korea, should it be necessary?

 

[iceman77]

I can confirm, when I first unpacked the drone, activated it and it showed a FW update available right away, so I went ahead and upgraded it to .0200 before even flying it. Like I said earlier, drone would fly, but getting those errors on my RC and obstacle avoidance does not work at all, or behaves very strange

btw, this is the pic I see on my remote:



and today I noticed that ambient sensor warning as well, while its super sunny outside

 

[iceman77]

So, I went ahead and downgraded the drone firmware back to 0.0100, no luck. exact same behavior, I tried master reset with clear all user data, no help.

Here's a screenshot with that ambient light too low, while its fully sunny out there



And here is the sensor camera view:



Totally blacked out, indicating obstacle sensors are not working at all (drone does not see **** whats around it)

 

[bkushner]

I did reach out to DJI support and they claim they are unable to provide after-sale services in the USA so looks like I will have to send the drone back to my Korean seller and they would have to initiate service with DJI South Korea:

View attachment 184176

This is a concern. I bought from Adorama in the US but DJI will still not support the drone..They have no way of getting products back into the US. It's a real crap shoot buying one of these in the US if you need repair. Even minor damage cannot be fixed.

 

[GadgetGuy]

This is a concern. I bought from Adorama in the US but DJI will still not support the drone..They have no way of getting products back into the US. It's a real crap shoot buying one of these in the US if you need repair. Even minor damage cannot be fixed.

That's simply not true. DJI USA has stated that they will use their best efforts to facilitate the 1 year warranty from the U.S. for all Adorama sales by sourcing the necessary refurbs from DJI Canada, entirely at their expense, and any pilot caused damage repairs will be charged based upon their repair estimate. It's not a guarantee, because the Customs holds are still delaying shipments, but they are doing their level best to help! If one doesn’t make it through, they'll ship another. Just don't expect a normal 10 day turnaround. Might take 60 days.

 

[GadgetGuy]

So, I went ahead and downgraded the drone firmware back to 0.0100, no luck. exact same behavior, I tried master reset with clear all user data, no help.

Here's a screenshot with that ambient light too low, while its fully sunny out there

View attachment 184190

And here is the sensor camera view:

View attachment 184191

Totally blacked out, indicating obstacle sensors are not working at all (drone does not see **** whats around it)

So, the if you off all OA, will the drone still fly normally?
If so, in the interim, you still have a fully functional drone, just without OA.
It's not like it's bricked.
Frankly, I usually turn off all OA when flying anyway.
However, I do like peeking through the OA cameras.

 

[iceman77]

If I switch drone to Sport mode, which turns OA off, while error still on RC visible, drone seems to fly normally, so yes, its not bricked per se. But still, for the money I paid for it, I expect this to be fixed and having OA working that I would definitely need should I turn drone into "follow-me" mode. I might call DJI in Los Angeles, as you suggested earlier, explain them my situation, what I am dealing with and see what they say. My 2nd option would be sending the drone back to Korea. Seller I bought it from is willing to help me with a warranty claim with DJI South Korea, where drone is registered.. We will see!