Battery won't pop up

[dolph]

Hi,

When I press (pull) the battery lock, the battery used to pop up, but it won't pop up anymore. I tried to pull the battery out using a minus driver with no success. So, I can't charge the battery, which is depleted. Any help? My camera is PowerShot A3100 IS. Thank you.

[MikeSowsun]

Keep working at it, and hopefully you will get eventually get it out. 

It is probably have either a third party battery, or a counterfeit battery. They are know for swelling and getting stuck. 

When you do finally get it out, buy a genuine Canon battery so it doesn't happen again. 

[dolph]

Thank you for your reply. The battery is the original one that came with the brand-new PowerShot, so it's not a third-party battery.

[MikeSowsun]

When you get the battery out, take it to a Canon repair facility. I suspect and they will probably be able to confirm whether or not it is genuine or counterfeit. 

They may even replace it for free.

[shadowsports · Accepted solution]

Greetings,

I'm not sure taking a 12 yr old discontinued camera for inspection or repair is worth it.  Canon will not service a device this old anyway.  

Either the battery has swelled (like Mike Sowsun said) or the spring in the bottom of the compartment has permanently compressed.  

Tweezers should work.. or needle nose pliers with the tips covered in electrical tape.  Do not use a screwdriver.

If the battery has leaked in any way, consider the camera a loss, you will not be able to get it repaired for a reasonable price (anywhere).  

Given the camera's age, investing in a new Canon battery is also not a good idea.

NB-8L Amazon $49 (possibly counterfeit)

B&H doesn't sell them any longer

Canon doesn't sell them either

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After market are about $9. That is all I would spend if the battery compartment doesn't look damaged once the old battery is removed.

Take away, don't store your camera's with a battery loaded for more than a week.  If you aren't going to use it by then, the battery should be removed.

[dolph]

Thank you for your detailed suggestions and information! You have a good point. It worked with tweezers with some scratch on the battery. I was considering giving it to Best Buy for recycling, but the battery and the camera still work, so I may keep this for a while.

[wq9nsc]

Use a small amount of CA adhesive (aka "superglue") to glue an old strip of cloth or similar to the exposed top/side of the old battery and use that to pull it out after it sets.

But unless you are sentimentally attached to the camera, this would be a good time to upgrade to pretty much anything newer because technology has come a very long way and any of the lower cost point and shoot cameras will be a big improvement and will come with a new battery.

Rodger

[dolph]

Thank you for the interesting idea! The smartphone's camera usually does the job, but I thought it's still good to keep a handy camera just in case.

[Chris_N]

Possibly the battery has expanded with age making it get stuck. Slide a piece of duct tape or other tape down the side and press it on with a thin blade. Then try pulling with the battery lock released. It might come out.