Lens Cover Won't Open

Not sure if you mean the automatic lens cover, or the actual lens shutter, so here's fixes for both:
Stuck automatic lens cover
Stuck shutter

A stuck lens cover is a fairly common problem, but it is normally easy to fix. A single grain of sand jamming the cover mechanism is normally the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it: 1) Try blowing lots of compressed air around the lens cover to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Use no heat mode if possible. 2) Slide a thin strip of paper between the lens cover shutters and the outer support ring. Work it around 360 degres to clear out any debris that may be in there. 3) With the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. Repeat the above three steps several times. If repeated tries don't work (keeping in mind that it usually does), it then may be necessary to open the lens barrel to access the lens cover mechanism.

You can open the lens barrel up to fiix the covers, but only as a very last resort. The above procedures normally work if you try them enough. But for those particularly nasty stuck mechanisms, here's an example repair on a Canon Powershot A400 (do this at your own risk, and it will void your warranty).

easy fix. yo turn it on and then very lightly tap the lens cover or push it out. then you should clean the lens because the dirt or dust on the lens is stopping the lens cover.

I fixed this problem on my Fuji FinePix A303 (though it took some hard work).

The problem:
Camera Lens Cover stuck open or stuck closed.
Power on, and get !LENS COVER error.
Lens fails to extend.

The solution:
Short answer: The motor driving the lens cover is weak and eventually breaks down. I manually open the cover now. This took a manual modification to the camera (and some work).

1. Take the camera apart. See here for details, and be careful around the flash, as you'll get a nasty shock otherwise! http://www.mathematik.uni-marburg.de/~haim/focuserr.htm
2. Once you can see this, you're just about there:

3. Take off the battery cover (in the picture above).
4. Wrap a wire around the sliding pin for the lens cover, and drill 2 small holes through the black structure underneath the battery case, and then to the outside. The wire goes from the pin to the outside via the two holes. You should be able to manually open and close the camera cover COMPLETELY now with the wire.
5. Reassemble the camera (actually, you can test that it's working when it's all apart, if you're careful).
6. To operate the camera now, close the shutter first while off. Power on the camera, and very soon after open the shutter all the way by pulling on the wire (from step 4). This basically mimics the action of the little lens cover motor. If you timed it right (you have about a second margin), the lens should extend and everything functions perfectly.

It would have been nice to have been able to simply buy a new motor, but that would probably be a pain and cost some money.

Hope this helps!

Matt Van Dyken.
http://mattvd.googlepages.com

Ok found out my particular fix...
Had to recharge battery 2 times in a row, no idea why this worked.
Camera now operating as usual.

If the lens barrel isn't fully extending on power up, that will prevent the lens cover shutters from springing open. There is a stationary prong that pushes the cover closed when the barrel is retracted.

Does the camera work otherwise? Take pictures thru the half open lens?

Try blowing lots of compressed air around the open lens shutter to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Also with the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. A grain of sand in the mechanism is usually the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it.

You can open it up, but only as a very last resort. The above procedures usually work if you try them enough. But for those particularly nasty stuck mechanisms, here's an example repair on a Canon Powershot A400 (do this at your own risk):
http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html

If debris like sand or dirt get into the mechanism which closes that cover it will jam shut. Try gently placing something pointy in the gap between the two blades of the cover. Do not force them apart, if this is going to work they should free with very little pressure. Be very careful not to touch the lens especially if you are using something metal to separate the cover.

I know this is an old post, but for those who want to fix it themselves: try blowing lots of compressed air around the open lens shutter to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Also with the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. A grain of sand in the mechanism is usually the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it.

You can open it up, but only as a very last resort. The above procedures usually work if you try them enough. But for those particularly nasty stuck mechanisms, here's an example repair on a Canon Powershot A400 (do this at your own risk):

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html

Try blowing lots of compressed air around the open lens shutter to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Also with the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. A grain of sand in the mechanism is usually the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it.

You can open it up, but only as a very last resort. The above procedures usually work if you try them enough. But for those particularly nasty stuck mechanisms, here's an example repair on a Canon Powershot A400 (do this at your own risk, and it will void your warranty):

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html