Error message on Maxxum Dynax 7 when turning on?

Hello, just purchased a Minolta Maxxum 7 from ebay and I occasionally get an error message when turning the camera on.

This happens about once every 10 start ups, most often after sitting awhile, but enough to have me worried.

A few details:

-Film roll counter states 40 rolls have been through the camera. Can't tell if it's been reset. Seems like it's in great condition.
-I've duplicated this issue with a Tamron 28-300, Minolta 50mm 1.7, 28-135 and 80-200 HS G lens.
-the person I bought the camera from said he ran two rolls of film through and had never experienced the error message, of course. :-)
-he also stated that the batteries were the same as when he bought the camera. They look O.K and there's no corrosion present in the battery compartment. Will buy new batteries tomorrow.
-there was a tiny bit of "liquid" under the control panel cover. Maybe he tried to clean the camera before selling it (it does suffer from sticky back) and there's no evidence of it since.
-no error message when I press the depth of field button, but I'm not using a D lens, not sure if that matters.

Really would like to keep the camera. Feel I got a good deal for $180 shipped, Tamron 28-300 and Vivitar flash included.

Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Thank you for the reply Kelly.

No number to go along with the error message unfortunately.

I had read about the aperture problem, but couldn't duplicate the error message pressing the d.o.f. button and it hasn't happened while I'm taking pictures, so I'm hopeful that's not the issue.

We'll see if some fresh batteries does the trick today.

Glad to hear the data number can't be reset. Makes me excited that only 40 rolls of film went through it, even if it suffers from "sticky back".

Thanks again.

According to the manual, you should take the batteries out and re-insert them when you get this error message, I guess you did that. If the problem remains, one should contact the Minolta technical services

I don't know what you could do. It seems something inside, in the electronics (?) seems to be faulty, but no idea what. The liquid you see might be the problem. The lenscap shouldn't make any difference.

Btw, the number of films can be reset.

baybora wrote: I am wondering if you have been able to find a cure to the error problem. I have the same issue, but unfortunately I get the error upon pressing the DOF view button as well..I suspect this is the famous aperture plate issue.

A faulty aperture mechanism would cause the error message to come up .
Seeing as it comes up when you press the DOF preview button , it's a safe bet that's what the issue is .