Dismantling the Nüvi 3xx series.

That was great, thanks! Now I know that I am going to screw up my GPSr when I try to take the battery out...lol.

Just where does one find a 'mobile phone opening tool?'

...did you get it back together again so nice and easily? And more importantly, does it still work? I remember dismembering electronic gadgetry as a child. It was the latter half of the equation which challenged me.

http://www.huahongnet.com/mobile_phone_repair_tool.htm

http://ucables.com/siemens-c98

China ... via Ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Repair-Opening-Tools-T5-T6-for-iPhone-Ce...

...Eventually I reassembled it all and found I'd forgotten to put the Philips screw back through the PCB...so I had to take it all apart again! At that point both LCD ribbon cables came off. I found that reciting a few choice Anglo-Saxon phrases helped them go back on...

I bet it wasnt geeesh, golly, darn. dadburn it.

I never have the patients to take photos as I'm disassembling. I usually pay the price.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the great info. Might come handy in the future.

Seems all units with this form factor (nuvi 3xx) have probably the same or similar way to take apart.

Being a retired Sailor, I bet I could help you with some NEW rich anglo-saxon phrases and other phrases.

thanks for the pictures and info, although I hope I never have to dismantle my Nuvi.

'At the moblie phone opening tool store,' of course, silly me, how did I not see that one coming. I led with my chin again.

The most common reason I can think of to take a GPS apart is to replace the battery when it stops holding a charge, but how often does that happen?

I could not. So I guess it is going to be the guessing game if there is no way to find it on the market.

I know we can substitute with similar, even not the same size, but with similar parameters though.

Most of my electronic gear have the tell tale signs of being pried apart with a flat bladed screwdriver. LOL

Guess I'll spring for the $1.98 (+ s & h ) and pick up a kit. My next problem is deciding what to take apart next. Won't be my NUVI, it's too new.

thanks for the pics

I found the next size up - apparently intended for the Nüvi 6xx series. At least one supplier reckons it fits the 3xx as well.

http://www.batteryship.com/htmlos/htmlos.cgi/batteryship/cat...

http://cgi.ebay.com/BATTERY-f-Garmin-Nuvi-300-310-310T-350-3...

http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=11272

Radioshack
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=297027...

$29.99, there are cheaper ones (~$20) for the Nuvi 3x0 from other vendors that I've seen, just don't have time to search again right now.

Thanks Phil,

BTW I'm fan of Queen too

Now that's a surprise...

I actually checked a few months ago on the phone and they said they don't know and they don't have such a thing... At the time I just asked for "battery for Garmin nuvi 350", but I did not know the designation.

That is great documentation. I was not looking forward to sending my unit to Garmin for a battery replacement and now I don't have to. I am constantly amazed at what is available on the internet. How did we ever do without it?

Phil,
Very nice tutorial, great job documenting with your photos. Most Nuvi's probably come apart just like what you have shown.

Miss POI, If you would Please take note of this fine well done tutorial and place it with the other FAQ's.
Phil does such a good job with his plain, simple and easy to follow documentation. and this one needs to be framed.

Bob

I will make it happen;)

Miss POI

Some users can even seem to master sending POIs to their unit let alone disassembling a unit and getting it to work again, In the victim society that we live I advice you put a BIG disclaimer.

I agree with the above post. There seem to be quite a few people on this site who are not capable of taking care of themselves. If you put a "How To Disassemble Your Garmin" thread on the FAQs, you are just asking for trouble.

Anyone technically proficient enough to disassemble their Garmin should be able to locate the thread through a simple search.

P.S. - if you are going to include the thread in the FAQs, at least put a warning that disassembling your Garmin will void the warranty.

The thread's entitled "Dismantling the Nüvi 3xx series".

No mention of re-assembling it afterwards. I leave that as an exercise for the student.

Great, one just opened up down the street from me last week!
And I was trying to figure out what they sold in there too.

Bill

I didn't see a left over parts count...

One of my favourite sayings, is

"If you take something apart often enough, eventually you'll have enough pieces left over to make a whole new one"

... the saying "If you have an infinite number of type writers and an infinite number of chimps eventually one of them is bound to write a Shakespearean sonnet".

You might also contact these folks. They seem to have all kinds of odd batteries:

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp

thanks for the pics!

One word . . . "BRILLIANT"
Thank you !