Got E18 error on my new S2 IS twice

[wmd1942]

Bought my Powershot S2 IS just over two months (through Amazon) and took 1700+ pictures. I love this camera. However, during the past week, E18 error occured twice right after battery ran out while I was taking pictures. S2 didn't give any low battery warning before shutting off itself. After put new batteries in and turned it on, S2 was having trouble to have its lens extended and making some grinding noise. After tried about 10 seconds, it gave it up and LCD was displaying "E18" at the lower-left corner. I turned it off and on two or three times and it finally got back to working state. It seems picture quality is still the same but zooming of lens (especially during fast zooming) is having much louder noise than before. I also noticed that when S2 powered on and off. I'm not sure what I should do. Obviously I can't return it back to Amazon any more. Can I send it back Canon for repair? Any advice or suggestion is appreciated.

[JTL]

Can I send it back Canon for repair? Any advice or suggestion is appreciated.Why wouldn't you be able to send it in for repair? Mine had a problem with the mode dial, I sent it back, they fixed it under warranty in ten days and now it's fine. It's really not that difficult. Here is the process I followed after sending an email to the support department:

Thank you for contacting Canon product support. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you.
We are sorry to hear of any issues with the PowerShot S2 IS.

For factory service, please forward your digital camera to the Factory Service Center shown below. When shipping your camera, please be sure to remove the memory card and batteries. You are not required to send any accessories or manuals when shipping the camera. Be sure to include your name, street address (no P.O. boxes, please), telephone number, and a letter describing the issue with the product. Since it has been less than one year since the camera was purchased, we ask that you also include proof of warranty in the form of a copy of your sales receipt.

As we do not provide RMA numbers for service, we suggest using a trackable and insurable service (i.e. UPS, Federal Express, Priority
Mail) to ship your camera. Please package the camera very securely in a sturdy shipping box to prevent damage during shipment.

Please send your camera to the following address:

Canon Factory Service
1440 Chase Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Telephone: (630) 250-6500
Business hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Central) Monday-Friday

Upon arrival at the Factory Service Center, your camera will be logged in to our repair database and assigned a repair number. Next, the camera will be examined and you will be advised of the findings. If the required repairs are covered by the warranty, the repairs will begin immediately, and you will not be contacted. When the repairs are complete, the camera will be shipped back to you via Federal Express.
The length of time for the repair will be dependent upon the nature of the repair and availability of parts, if needed. Usually, warranted repairs are completed within approximately ten to fourteen business days of the camera's arrival at the Factory Service Center.

All decisions regarding warranty coverage are made by the Factory Service Center at the time of repair. If the repair entails something that is not covered in warranty, a written estimate will be sent to you at the address that you have provided. The repairs to your camera will not begin until you approve this estimate and make payment arrangements.

If, after receiving the estimate, you do not wish to have the camera repaired, please inform the Factory Service Center of your decision as soon as possible. If you decline the estimate, the camera will be shipped back to you unrepaired.

Once you have confirmed with your shipper that the camera has been delivered, you are more than welcome to contact us for repair updates.
Please include your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the serial number of the camera, in all repair status inquiries. If you prefer to check the repair status by phone, please call the Canon Customer Care Center at 1(800)828-4040. Agents are available Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to Midnight ET, and on Saturdays from 10 AM to
8 PM ET. Again, please have the serial number of the camera available when you call.

Please note that our U.S. Factory Service Centers are unable to accept packages from or return equipment to addresses outside the United States.

We hope this information is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.

Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

Todd
Technical Support Representative

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