Panasonic F05 fault - ribbon connectors

[GrahamJH]

I've a Panasonic NVMX7B camcorder with the F05 error problem. I replaced it with another camcorder but just recently tried it out again after it had been in the garage for a year (!) and it worked just fine for 5 hours of tape copying before the F05 fault recurred.

After a bit of research on the web I bought a pdf service manual and started to dismantle it - as there's suggestion that it could be a ribbon cable problem.

Trouble is, I'm not sure how to disengage some of the ribbon cables! The first large one just pulled out fine, just the flat cable with contacts slots into a block; but the smaller ones seem a little different as if there's a plastic clip needs to be disengaged. I'm afraid of damaging them just by pulling the ribbon. Does anyone have the knowledge to offer advice about this, and any more info about the F05 problem on Panasonic camcorders?

Thanks in anticipation.

Graham