Garmin GPS

[gypsy]

Hi Lads & Ladies,

I was on a ride down to Rhode Island last weekend when my GPS went kaput. It would start to boot up when I hit the power button but then would shut down and automatically try to reboot. Being a software geek I quickly surmised that I had a software problem unfortunately no keyboard attached to this baby so not much I could do.

On the ride home I it occurred to me that I had been keeping my GPS unit in my tank bag...you know the one with big MAGNETS to hold it onto my tank!! I cannot be sure if this is the cause of the software problem but I will definitely NOT be putting it in the tank bag again.

I just wanted to give anyone else who does this a heads up.

gypsy

 

[Carl]

Are you sure the battery isn't dead? My Garmin exhibits that behavior when there's very little battery power left. Also, I've carried my GPS around in my magnetic tank bag and had no problem.

 

[Toynut]

If it's a fairly fresh unit, Garmin will generally repair /reload bios pretty much gratus.

I've owned about a dozen Garmin units and they have a very accomodating customer service department. If it's a unit like the 2620 that incorporates a microdrive, it's possible vibration may have caused the drive to crash(also repairable).

Good Luck

 

[gypsy]

Carl,

I thought battery at first but then I contacted Garmin and they said it would have to be sent in for repair. I assumed, maybe incorrectly, that if this was what happened when the battery died they would tell me. Before it **** the bed it was showing battery fully charged...but hey that can sometimes be wrong. Why would it do this when plugged in and the battery removed though? Does it always feed off the battery and the external power just constamtly recharges the battery? (Not sure if I phrased that well but I hope you know what I mean.) I never use the unit on battery power I always have it plugged into my powerlet outlet which is not on switched power so it stays on even when I shut down for fuel, etc.

Could someone with a Garmin 276C tell me if the unit works on external power while the battery is removed from the unit? Thanks.

As for Garmin, Toynut is correct. When I contacted them they were very helpful. They seemed fine with the warranty. I have only had it this summer.

Jude

 

[FJRmogul]

Gypsy,

The 276C does fire up without the battery. I also keep mine in my magnetic tank bag for over a year and no problems. Good luck.

 

[gypsy]

Thanks gentlemen,

I will pack it off to Garmin since it doesn't appear to be the battery.

gypsy

 

[Bounce]

Garmin's got the best rep in the business. They are very good about customer support and dealing with any of their units; even those out of warranty or on their discontinued products list.

 

[FJRocket]

Garmin's got the best rep in the business. They are very good about customer support and dealing with any of their units; even those out of warranty or on their discontinued products list.

I agree with part of what Bounce said, Garmin has a very good product support system. But as an owner of a couple discontinued items, I have to say that they have not supported them once they were discontinued. And I was a little annoyed at how quickly those items were discontinued and the support stopped. I essentially have a couple of old Garmin doorstops.

Having said that, I will certainly continue to purchase their products with confidence.

Good luck with that repair, and let us know how it goes.