All the Canon AE Series camera require a battery to operate. Here are a couple thing to check.
Check/Replace battery.
Check for corrosion in the battery contact area, does the bottom spring loaded contact move (it is spring loaded)
You can remove the bottom cover and manually release the large magnet to see if the mechanics are working, This will release the shutter and winding mechanism so that the camera can be advanced. If this works, are the wires to both magnets still attached?
Beyond this it requires a little more disassembly and knowledge of the camera's electrical system.
IF the mechanism cycled then it could be a dirty contact on a switch that is inside the camera. If the camera would not let you cycle after releasing the magnet the could be that on of the plastic rivets from the top cover has come loose and gotten lodged in the advance gears.
These are just some of the more common issues with the A-Series cameras.
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I put in new batteries, but I cannot get the film advance arm to load the film. what else can I try
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Angela DiChaira Stokes crwdne2934271:0
I have a similar issue with my AE1, the film advance lever works but after a bit of the film rolls up, the tension overcomes the lever and the film won't advance. after removing the film I can actually roll the spindle with my fingers forward and back and with film in the camera I can just touch the winder roller and make it stop...there isn't enough force to roll up the film. HELP
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Michael L DiGregorio crwdne2934271:0