Replaced Gimbal/Camera. Still (partially) inoperable

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

MAVIC Pro

Good day everyone. I have combed the forums to no avail, desperately seeking help.

After 3 days of ownership of my Mavic Pro, I crashed (more on this later). Result of the crash was a broken front arm and a broken gimbal. I purchased OEM replacement parts and made the repairs last night (Thanks to YouTube!). The replaced arm/motor works (thankfully), but now I have a new symptom(s) with the new gimbal.

The gimbal receives power, and during start up goes through its function test (or what ever it is called when it dances about at start up). The camera then stays "locked on" a general direction, is irresponsive to tilt commands from the tx or phone, and there is no transmitted image on the phone. I receive the 'low ambient light' warning message. Attempts to calibrate the gimbal are completely irresponsive.

I have attempted to troubleshoot by uninstalling and reinstalling the gimbal, in hopes that I had a poor pin connection. I don't see any obstructions or bent connector pins.

Fingers crossed that someone can provide some diagnostics, experience, or suggestions on how to repair.

Thanks you in advance.
-Mike

 

[Rnl]

Did you replace wires to gimble, I hear that's where alot of the problems are, should be two of them.

 

[Rnl]

I'd ask thunderdrones

 

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

Did you replace wires to gimble, I hear that's where alot of the problems are, should be two of them.

Thanks for the reply!

the replacement gimbal came as one unit (camera, gimbal, vibration dampening board, etc.) it was totally plug-and-play with four connections (circled in the attached photo) plus the power supply male connector. Unless the wires you are referring to are the four ribbon cables remaining on the Mavic, they were replaced.

I'd ask thunderdrones

I'm new around these parts. assuming @Thunderdrones is the resident expert? thanks for the lead!

 

[Canuk]

Send ROB. ( thunderdrones ) a pm as he has fixed somewhere around 3000 drones I believe.
Your replacement camera could have a bad cable ?

 

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

Send ROB. ( thunderdrones ) a pm as he has fixed somewhere around 3000 drones I believe.
Your replacement camera could have a bad cable ?

Great insight. I've considered it might be a bad camera, but want to rule it out as user error first.

 

[gersumabat]

When you say OEM, y'mean from DJI or a third party? Gimbal control runs off the flat wire that runs between all 3 motors. Potentially they may have a break or bend that broke that flat conductor

 

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

When you say OEM, y'mean from DJI or a third party? Gimbal control runs off the flat wire that runs between all 3 motors. Potentially they may have a break or bend that broke that flat conductor

DJI authentic replacement sold through a third party.

Flat wire meaning the very thin silver wires? Shown in this picture (from the broken gimbal)

 

[Rnl]

I still think it's a cable. Doesn't take much to hurt them.

 

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

I still think it's a cable. Doesn't take much to hurt them.

OK I don’t want to get lost in semantics. We are using the term cable and (flat) wires... and I do not think we are defining the same thing.

There is one VIDEO cable

And one FLEX cable

both the flex cable and video cable came preinstalled on the replacement gimbal unit I purchased (which looked like below)

In either case, I think if you are referring to either of these cables, I believe I have a case for returning and replacing the gimbal assembly through the vendor.

 

[gersumabat]

The flat cable controls gimbal movement. If you're getting picture, the bundled grey wire (first pic) is fine. You're issue is the flat cable (2nd pic). You gonna use the broken gimbal? If not, I'd be willing to buy off you for parts. Let me know.

 

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

The flat cable controls gimbal movement. If you're getting picture, the bundled grey wire (first pic) is fine. You're issue is the flat cable (2nd pic). You gonna use the broken gimbal? If not, I'd be willing to buy off you for parts. Let me know.

I am getting no picture at all and no gimbal movement (except for power up sequence)

@gersumabt if I can get the issues resolved with the new camera, I'll absolutely part out the old one to you.

 

[Forty_Mike_Mike]

Update: Thanks to the fellow members of this forum, I have bowed out of the DIY repair and turned over my Mavic to @Thunderdrones. . Hopefully, I'll be able to post up the diagnosis once rob sorts everything out in the occasion that this occurs to anyone else.