Garmin Sat Nav Repairs

[mikey4444]

The usb connection on Garmin nuvi 40 has become loose and I am having to wiggle the connector to get it to work, and the problem is getting worse. I have had a look on youtube and its almost certainly the female connector that needs changing.

Does anybody know a trustworthy mail order service for this repair ?

[bhg481]

Is it worth trying your local laptop repair shop? It's only a computer with a single program after all.

[mikey4444]

Yes...I might try that. I would do it myself but the usb connector has to be soldered in place and its very small and fiddly !

The difficulty is, its difficult to find a trustworthy local place !

[donny48]

I would imagine that the price of packaging and repair would be more than buying new. Most tech. repairs are expensive.

[mikey4444]

Donny....alas you may be right, but a replacement may be £60+, which I don't really have !

[douglas9401]

I have a Garmin sat-nav, Mikey. When used with the cable it was supplied with I often get flashing and colour crazing on the screen.
I tried a different cable and it works fine making me wonder I pins in the plug were off somehow.
Maybe worth a go if you can find another lead.

[Old_Geezer]

Data connectors used today can be very dodgy. I've a micro USB connector on my mobile phone which some fool has decided can double up as the power charger inlet too. So it is continually being plugged into and then unplugged again.

Recently it is proving a pain to charge, with some chargers failing to charge at all, and a small number which will if one ensures that the plug is pressing forward.

It's out of warranty so I took it to the Geek Squad only to be told that it is an integral part of the main board (!?!?!) and so not economically repairable. (That news that the design was so awful that a connector could make the whole thing useless was bad enough, but the salt in the wound was to be told that three years use was supposed to be a good run !!!)

Yeah try the local repair shops, PC, Mobile, Whatever; and the best of luck.

[mikey4444]

My Garmin uses a micro usb as well, and they are an accident waiting happen. They are so small and fiddly, that its easy to try and insert the charge lead in incorrectly, thus damaging the connector.

According to some youtube videos that I have been viewing, problems with the usb being damaged, or working loose are very common. Its a very bad design for something that is going to plugged and unplugged many times a day.

My Iphone 6 uses this new lighting connector, which is about 1 million times better. But I guess it will be some time before it makes its way to other bits of kit.

[donny48]

Tom Tom connectors never need unplugging it has a full size USB connection into a convertor for the power point. Ideal for connecting to computer.

[mikey4444]

Thanks Donny....I may try a TomTom if I need to buy another SatNav !

Meanwhile I am attempting to download Google Maps, but without success....anybody use Google Maps ?

[CrapAtCryptics]

As Donny says the cost of repair can be prohibitive and the new ones are better and often have new maps free. Garmin are ok I find Tom Toms overly fussy.

[donny48]

Tastes vary. I gave my Garmin to my son because I preferred the Tom Tom but when in my car he does not like the Tom Tom. I bought the new Tom Tom purely for the free maps.

[donny48]

I mentioned your problem to a friend and he had a similar problem(not with a sat-nav) and the local tech college did a very cheap repair. I would imagine it to be good practice for students. He had to sign a disclaimer in case it was ruined.

[mikey4444]

I have found what appears to be a reliable place for a repair.....I am thinking if £25+ is worth the price......

http://satnavrepairservice.com/repair-satnav/garmin-repair/13.html

[hc4361]

I've had TomToms and Garmins over the years but much prefer to use an app on my old tablet. If you've got a tablet or a smart phone with a large screen, try it out

[Old_Geezer]

My TomTom has a micro USB. Granted it can also plug into the holder and the micro USB plug connected to that. But it still has that connection even if the cable remains in.

[tonyav]

Worth asking these for a repair quote ( even if it's just out of curiosity ).

http://satnavrepairservice.com/repair-satnav/garmin-repair/13.html

[CrapAtCryptics]

if you are seriously thinking of opening it take great care as the internal wires are very fragile.

[tonyav]

Sorry about that mikey ^^^^^^^

You have already found that repair centre.

[thelewisgang]

I had a Garmin then a TomTom but now use an app on my smartphone. It is free & updates regularly. It hasn't got me lost yet lol. I bought a suction type holder on ebay so it sits nicely on the right of my windscreen whilst driving. Hope you get it fixed though