Olympus X-920 camera lens fails to fully open when powering on, the lens cover does open for a few seconds, then the lens retracts and opens again every few seconds. The Battery appears to be fully charged.

Try these procedures.

The problem you are describing is a problem with a sensor in the lens assembly of the camera. It seems to have failed and needs to be replaced. Following are the instructions to send your camera to Olympus for service.

http://olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_servicerepair.asp

Olympus will charge a flat rate repair fee for this product if beyond the one year factory warranty or the warranty is voided. The cost is $73 plus your local sales tax. This covers parts and labor, factory cleaning and diagnostic check, 6 month warranty and the cost of shipping the product back to you is all included in that price.

To save battery power, the camera automatically goes into sleep mode and the monitor turns off if there is no operation when the camera is turned on (when the lens cover opens and the monitor is on). No picture is taken even if the shutter button is fully pressed in this mode.
Operate the zoom lever or other buttons to restore the camera from sleep mode before taking a picture. If the camera is left for 15 minutes, it automatically turns off (the lens cover closes and the monitor turns off). Press POWER to turn the camera on.

If the lens is stuck out extended you may want to call Olympus Customer Service to discuss repair process and pricing. If the battery is fully charged and the lens still stays extended then this is a clear repair issue as something in the lens assembly has failed. Their telephone number is 800-622-6372 option 2 and then option 3

i called the company (1-888-553-4448) olympusamerica.com and they told me to send it in and they will repair it for 70.95 plus a 6months warranty because i cant find my reciept. they also said what eva is wrong with it they will be able to repair it, but if u have ur warranty u can send it to them it wont cost u anything because u have ur reciept.

first check the battery... charge or replace it... else reset the camera or repair

You may have the same problem that i had. It does involve taking the camera apart. Not overly difficult - just fiddly.
Let me know and i'll talk you thro' it

Try blowing lots of compressed air around the open lens shutter to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Also with the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. A grain of sand in the mechanism is usually the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it.

You can open it up, but only as a very last resort. The above procedures usually work if you try them enough. But for those particularly nasty stuck mechanisms, here's an example repair on a Canon Powershot A400 (do this at your own risk, and it will void your warranty):

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html

Lens motor is shot - check out Olympus web site for repair options-not cheap

Try blowing lots of compressed air around the open lens shutter to clean the mechanism. Or use a hair dryer for a few seconds (don't want to heat up the camera). Also with the lens barrel extended and pointed downward, tap the lens barrel with a pencil while you extend and retract the lens by powering the camera on and off. A grain of sand in the mechanism is usually the culprit, and you want to try to dislodge it.

You can open it up, but only as a very last resort. The above procedures usually work if you try them enough. But for those particularly nasty stuck mechanisms, here's an example repair on a Canon Powershot A400 (do this at your own risk, and it will void your warranty):

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/repair-of-stuck-lens-covers.html