Can't turn on GPS antenna on nuvi 350

Have you tried the reset button?

you may have a broken unit. If under warranty, they'll replace it.

bentbiker, thanks, pushing the reset button can't solve the problem.

kch50428, yes, I'll call Garmin support.

Sorry to hear about your problem but that is exactly the same thing my Nuvi 680 did........in fact I had one replaced at Best Buy and less then 6 months later the new one did the same thing and they replaced that one also........I am so glad I bought the extra 4 year warranty at the time I bought my 680....it will be one year on March 23 08,,,,,,,,,not sure what would have happened if I had not bought the extra warranty.......good luck......Dave

From what I understand, the switch is magnetic. Therefore, when the magnetic link is broken, is when the antenna starts to work....so is there some huge magnetic force surrounding your unit?

Yes I am sure there is some huge magnetic force surrounding the GPS........come on now get real........there is a problem with some Garmin units that so many people are having this problem........Dave

Ummm...it was just a thought.

It's tiny little thing - I removed mine, so the gps still works with the flap closed.

It sounds like your this one has stuck in the closed position (reed switches do that sometimes - but I'm surprised the garmin doesn't use a solid-state equivalent).

Maybe the application of an external magnet would persuade it to 'let go'? (try both poles).

(My house alarm has a reed switch that's stuck - I've never persuaded that to let go - and it's totally inaccessible )

Thanks everybody.

Hornbyp, is the switch on the antenna pad or on the unit body? I'll give it one last try before I return it to the retailer or request a RMA from Garmin.

The switch is in the body - in the recess, above the contacts.

However - I just re-read your original problem statement:

If something's happening, when you flip open the antenna, that implies that the switch is working - and it knows there's no signal from the receiver - when there should be.
Maybe the ribbon cable that connects the two parts together has become disconnected, or something along those lines

Hi Guys,

Maybe your help brought good luck for me. I just tried again. And the antenna works. I flipped open and close many time and it still works.

Now I have a dilemma. Shall I keep it or ask Garmin to replace it? If I keep it, I'm afraid the problem will appear again and by then my warranty expires and can't replace. If I ask Garmin to replace it, will Garmin give me a new one or a refurbished one?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Oh, so you got away from that magnetic force...lol.

I would test it out for a few days and see how it works. If it happens again, get garmin to trade it out. My friend did (for the speakers) and they gave him a refurished one.

The magnetic force is emitted from this forum that attracts me and helps me.

If it were me, regardless of whether it continues to work, I'd get it on record with Garmin that it failed before the warranty expired. At the time of reporting it, I'd ask whether I could keep it with the confidence that a reoccurrence after warranty expiration would now result in a "fix" by them, or must they send me a new one now. They'd be crazy not to opt for the former.