Canon Powershot S3 iS Lens Motor Error - Dismantle and Reassembly (Photographs)

It seems to be an inherent software problem with the S3 that when zooming the camera shuts down. Mine started doing this within a year of purchase. The lens error on start up is due to a small electric motor that resides within the lens unit. The motor turns the plastic geared wheels which rotate the lens inner housing which extends or retracts the lens. When the motor starts to play up with age or use, the lens will not extend or retract correctly and the camera reports a lens error. If the motor stops working altogether the lens will jam and the lens unit needs to be replaced. It is impossible to get moisture or sand or dirt in the lens since it is a sealed unit. Canon have very cleverly situated the only moving part in the camera inside the lens unit so it cannot be replaced easily. Don&even try to open the lens unit as small screws, springs and ball bearings will explode everywhere lol. Just to give you some idea: the lens unit has no less than five optical lens inside the unit and six aligning rods and runners all assembled with engineering precision! Credit to Canon the lens does a good job at taking photographs but the motor assembly could have been better designed. Perhaps they overcame this with later models? If you are brave you can buy the OEM lens unit on ebay for about £30 and replace it yourself but be warned you need to remove two PCB&and their associated wires and connectors and remove the cameras outer body to get to the lens unit. There are also about...