Replacing Battery in Nuvi

Living in a consumeristic society moves me to think that these GPSs are really designed to be thrown away when they go dead or the newest one comes out. How many old computers, or cell phones, or the like are sitting around collecting dust or filling our landfills? "They don't make 'em like they used to!"

Hi,

I've had my Garmin Nuvi 760 for a little over two years now, and as with most devices, over time, the battery life began wain.

I finally decided to bite the bullet and replace it, cracked open the case to find the model number, and for ease, disconnected the battery and speaker connecter.

Lo and behold, when I reconnected it, I'm back to 5hrs battery life again. I left it disconnected for about 10 mins.

Not saying this will fix all problems, but it's certainly worth a try, and cheaper too. The case is tight to crack open, but persevere and it does come off.

Illegalerror

Thank you for the info on the nuvi 750. My battery is not good and needs to be replaced

ohwogo nuvi 750

I too was a Heathkit junkie when I was in my twenties. I built a Stereo Receiver with the first digital readout. That was in 1977 when my eyesight was better and my hands didn't shake. I still have the receiver and it still works as well as when I first finished it.

And I agree with you Robert. There is no way I would take my Nuvi apart unless I was planning on replacing it.

My 765t battery is down to 2-3 minutes when it's not plugged in, so I will replace it. If you saw the Garmin youtube video for the 760, it's the same battery as the 765t.

They have one battery for $8.95 w/ free shipping from e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-GPS-Battery-For-GARMIN-Nuvi-760-760T...

I've used similar sellers for iPod batteries and never had a problem. The aftermarket batteries, however, typically don't work as long as the OEM ones but at $8.95, I can buy another one in a year or so.

Same question
Does Battery Plus do the replacement on all Garmin GPS

try this address www.sharc.net/gps-repair.htm it is 42.00 to have a battery installed. He has been at it for a while and does everything to GPS

Probably best to call and ask your local store. The answer will depend on the training of local staff. Some do, some don't.

To illegalerror: how bad was the battery before you did your disconnect trick, as you described?

It seems strange that the battery would behave like this. I would expect that once it was bad, it would need to be replaced.

This would suggest that perhaps the circuitry used to control/regulate the battery in your unit is faulty? Would be interested in why your battery behaved in this way.

thanks to everyone for all the great info!

Well stir up some old memories.. I haven't heard that term in many years. I built a depth finder and several radios even a older than dirt crystal set.

My 680 was only holding a charge for 5-10 minutes. I had only had it about a year to 18 months.
I rang up Garmin and was told it would cost me $110 for them to replace the battery. I asked to kick my request upstairs. Five minutes later I had a shipping number and in 10 days a new garmin 680.
One question please.
Why does gamin make so many different numbered units that do just about the samething? 600 -700 series and such
Paul Harrington
paulj1938@yahoo.com

Oh Ya... I remember those Kits...

I made a Morse Code unit once with one.

They sold some huge kits that you make many things out of too.

Hi Paul, Are you sure it was a New GPS and not a refurbished one?

My Nuvi 650 battery is now down to 2-3 minutes and then I have to plug it into my car charger. No big deal.
JeffSh

Bad webpage - tried it this morning...

http://www.sharc.net/gps_repair.htm

I decided to buy a battery and open my 760, Battery was from NewPower99.com and they gave me the link to a video they made on replacing the battery. Worked Great! My nuvi is alive! Heres the link

http://www.newpower99.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GAR...

Nathan Mcgee

I used this video to change mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXXzsi9Ures

It's EASY and FAST. I went from very short battery life to excellent battery life.

Considering that the link YOU provided has a kit including the battery, the case opener, and the Torx driver - and the fact that the guy in your video isn't a total klutz - I wish your link had been available when I did mine.

I received my battery for the link I posted earlier & installed it with no problems. The one recommendation I do have is to make sure you have the correct Torx driver. The first time I opened the case, I cheated and used a precision Phillips to confirm the battery #. It is very easy to strip the threads. While the price from the ebay site I posted earlier was good (< $9), it took 2 weeks to get the battery from Hong Kong. I was in no hurry, so this was fine for me.

I have a Garmin 370 and have used it for 7 months mounted on my motorbike with a cigarette lighter installed. It worked fine and charged the battery on the cigarette lighter. Then the mount broke and the charger went missing. I made a mount got a usb car charger and plugged it in to the side, but it would go into to computer mode with no maps.

I've read this whole thing and figured it out.

If you plug a usb into the BACK of the car mount the unit will turn on the maps. If you plug a usb into the side it goes to computer mode. Both charge for me.

I forgive Garmin for the broken mount as it took a hell of a beating

My Nuvi 660, purchased in 11/2007, began holding less and less charge over the last few months, lately only one minute.

I was a little nervous about attempting a replacement until I saw the NewPower99 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2KEu_if7wA
Not simple by any means but appeared straightforward.

So I took the plunge and bought the replacement battery and tools from BatteryShip:
http://www.batteryship.com/htmlos/htmlos.cgi/36223.2.3946340...

Swapped the battery today, charged it for several hours and it is holding a charge. Not very scientific but based on the battery drain I observed in the Diagnostics screen, I will now have at least three hours of charge--I'll put it to the test this weekend.

The only stumbling points for me in the Nuvi 660 case disassembly were:
1) the antenna hinge spring shot out and luckily I saw where it went
2) once you release the spring, you can put the antenna back together making it a little less cumbersome
3) don't let any little wires get in the way when you are closing back up the case; I couldn't figure out why the case wasn't closing and I had slightly mangled a small blue wire.

Hope this helps someone.

I just purchased a nuvi 660 battery from BatteryShip.com. I found the following YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRXK0EfMaf4 that has a tailed video on replacing the nuvi 600 battery. The method works for the 660. I followed the procedure and replaced the battery in less than 15 minutes. You need an awl or other skinny small pointed tool to push the hinge free. Good luck!

Here is a video I found on replacing the Nuvi 660's battery. The kit from newpower99.com made my little "surgery" smooth and simple. Hope this helps. -Craig
http://www.newpower99.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GAR...

Remember Vacuum Tubes? I still have a Heathkit VTVM that I built back in 1955 and it still works. I don't use it any more though. I also have a RF Signal Generator. The Oscilloscope that I had built was discarded years ago.

This is one of the best video's I have seen on replacing the 660 batter. Thanks.

Many times you can find batteries cheaper through ebay for around $10 - $13. (shipped free).

If you need the plastic pry tools, this site sells it cheap and their shipping is only a few dollars:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/TOOLIPOD/

If you need a torx tool, Home depot has this Husky tool for around $6:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDi...

Home depot also has the Phillips/Flathead screwdriver combo too. Lowes has similar tools too.

The one with the woodgrain veneer, right?

I loved that clock, although the alarm tone was pretty annoying (as it should be, I suppose). I think it's still over at my parents' house.

- Phil

I am going to have to give this one a try when my battery gets a little worse.

It's a simple, well-documented process, at least for the 6xx series. take your time, have some small containers to hold small parts, and you'll have better battery life again in a few minutes!

I'm quoting myself here just to give you all the info at once.

I changed the 750 battery in April using a battery from ebay ($16 w/tools) Used the video as I went along and had no problems. The NUVI now works perfectly. Installation was easy (and I had never built a Heathkit). Just be careful and work slowly and methodically.

Hope this gives some hope to those of you who need a new battery but are hesitant to take the plunge - inexpensively.

I found this video which pretty much shows you how to do it step-by-step. Looks as if anyone can do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxP4PdRB_98

They obviously want you to buy from them, but a quick search on eBay resulted in some savings.

See here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1250mAh-Li-Polymer-Battery-w-Tools-Garmi...

Sorry about the double post. Screwd up while doing this from my IPod.

Man, are we ever dating ourselves lol.

Over the weekend I took a risk and replaced the battery on my Nuvi 650 successfully.

Here are some warnings:

1) The Nuvi 650 has a small magnet in the case of the antenna housing. Do not lose this or your GPS antenna will NOT shut off when closed (down position).
2) You will also need some double sided tape for the battery which is not pictured on the YouTube video.
3) Removing the original battery will not be so easy due to the double sided tape.
4) As with all electronic repairs be very careful not to break delicate Flex ribbons or cause any static discharge.

Additional Warnings: http://www.sharc.net/discus/messages/6/351.html

I would recommend that you contact sharcnet (Forum member) and have him do the replacement if you feel any discomfort with opening the case which may lead to new problems.

This can be done successfully but it does have its risk. TRY IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Replacement battery: http://cgi.ebay.com/1500mAh-Li-Polymer-Battery-w-Tools-Garmi...

True, but I think I was still in elementary school at the time when I built mine, so it's not quite as bad as the old guy who was in Jr. High...

- Phil

Here is another link showing how to replace the Nuvi battery:

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2010/02/how_to_replace_the_intern...

I finally had to give in to the fact that the original battery in my 660 was worn out and would no longer hold a charge for longer than a couple minutes.

I ordered a replacement from BatteryShip as discussed here and had it installed in about 10-15 minutes. I'm charging it now so I'll be able to see shortly how this replacement holds a charge.

I also had a successful battery change-out also using a newpower99.com video. Bought a nuvi 650 for $40 with a battery that wouldn't keep a charge. Got the new battery from buy.com (came with the tools for $16.99), watched the video a couple of times and went for it. The spring removal was the only tricky part for me. Just have to go slow, be careful and even a klutz like me can do it.

I agree, the spring was the tricky part. Knowing exactly where to place the tiny screwdriver, exerting enough but not too much pressure and being careful that the spring and hinge pin don't go flying across the room.

Well, add me to the list of people whose battery seems to have quit holding a charge all of a sudden. Here's a video I ran across on how to change the 350 battery. I'll see what Garmin wants-I just emailed tech support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYZKu_ZXa6o

Definitely want to thank all above me for the tips. Garmin told me it would be $90 for a new battery, so needless to say that ain't gonna happen. Not when I can get one for 20 bucks. I work on computers enough I feel comfortable attempting this.

Well, I'm digging up an old thread, but what tha heck...

I've been putting it off for a while now, but it's time to replace my Nuvi 660's battery. It lasts long enough to put in my lock code, and get to the main screen then...BAM...Dead as a doornail.

I've read thru the thread, and looked at the various link to the seller of the batteries and tools. I have the case tools and for a few bucks will buy a set of the torx bits (I can use them at work anyway). I work at a computer shop and tear all kinds of systems apart from iPads to servers. This should be a piece of cake. I'll just buy the battery off the internet and save a few bucks.

Thanks for everyone posting the links and such.

That instruction looks easier than replacing the palm TX battery. Given the tools it can be done easily. I like it because there is no soldering. Nice Video

If you do that kind of work daily this should be a piece of cake. Watch the youtube video, be careful of the antenna ribbon cable and you should be fine. I replaced mine several months ago and it was no problem.

Well, there is the spring-loaded antenna hinge that could fly across the room and then there is another cable connector that likes to get pulled off as you're moving the 2 case halves around and oh yeah, you'll need a little piece of double-sided sticky tape to hold the new battery in place because the old tape invariably stays stuck to the old battery and not the case.

It was almost two months since I replace my 660 batter and it is still showing a full charge and haven't used it at all .

just like new with a new battery!

Recently replaced the battery in my Nuvi 760 after amost 4 yrs. The new battery came with the necessary tools and was very easy to do. Total cost shipped 20$. Once you have the correct size torx screwdriver it's a no brainer!

Sigh. Just another product that you can't change the battery in yourself, thus creating the need to buy a new product and contribute to more electronic waste in the landfills.

It looks like it couldn't be simpler.

But never buy the battery from ebay. Use a reputable source like Radio Shack.