Ecoroute HD = Don't Waste Your Money >>>

I've had my ecoRoute HD for about 3 weeks now and it has been rock solid. Well worth the money IMO.

Have you updated all your firmware? What GPS are you connecting to?

running a 1490T

I have no idea why you would be having issues like that. Have you contacted Garmin tech support yet?

What make, model and year do you have it hooked up to? Just curious if it might be because of the car and not the unit.

I thought the OBD ports were standard on all cars from 1995 on. I would like to think it uses some sort of standard communication protocol.

I hope the OP has contacted Garmin and can resolve his issue.

TMK If you really like it, why not send it back to your vendor and get another one and try again? Or, at least try talking with Garmin tech support? You might have gotten a lemon.

Here is the vehicle incompatibility disclaimer from the Garmin site: http://www8.garmin.com/services/ecoroute/incompatible.html

You guys shouldn't waste your time trying to troubleshoot this issue. My guess is that it's like Garmin's bluetooth feature, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

http://www.obdii.com/connector.html

my car is not included. As to why I don't just get another one and try again...because this is not a critical piece of equipment, it was just a toy...I have a very simple philosophy about toys...they work or they are gone...toys are, by their nature, supposed to be fun...this wasn't.

don't really care though...not going to waste a minute more of my time.

I just got an Eccoroute HD about two weeks ago, and haven't seen any of the issues you describe whatsoever. It has never failed to link to my 1490T, but I always start the car first, then fire up the GPS...connects every time. I also link my Motorola phone by Bluetooth as well - same thing - never had a problem linking them up.
Maybe you need to check if there's a firmware update for your GPS (there have been two since I bought my 1490T about a month ago).
The firmware updates specifically addressed Bluetooth connectivity problems....might be worth a try.

Good Luck ☺

(BTW - I really like the Ecoroute HD - yes, it's a toy, but I find it a great tool for knowing what's happening with my hand-held Tuner - & the real-time gas-mileage display is not only very accurate - but I've noticed I'm driving MUCH more economically because I can see EXACTLY how my driving affects mileage)

Wastage of money is the most childish act a person can perform.

I do not have an EcoRoute HD as it is not supported on the Nuvi 7x5 series. However, my 2000 Honda Insight has a realtime mileage display, as do most hybrid vehicles. I have owned the car since April 2001 and I had observed early on what you noted above. Realtime mileage feedback does help one to learn to drive more efficiently. I would find that I was pressing down on the accelerator more than I had to. I could ease up, get better mileage and still maintain the speed. Also, with my previous car I used to drive fast in the left lane. Since purchasing the Insight, I became a right and middle lane driver and stick to the 55MPH speed limit. Seeing how much fuel I was wasting was an eye opener. The same techniques I learned with the Insight I use when I drive other vehicles that do not have a mileage display.

It was also a blessing to have this car back in the summer of 2008, when gasoline around here hit $4.259/gallon, and I was still filling up once a month. Those high prices did not hit me as hard as the folks filling up their SUV's every three days due to getting 12MPG. I get 70MPG in the summer.

on definition of what is 'childish'. I don't think Ecoroute HD is a waste of money, it's a useful accessory if you care about your MPG. In fact, I think it's childish when people don't care about their MPG.

interesting

Our federal government does not care about our gas mileage. The ethanol industry has duped our government that this is a renewable energy. In fact it is a government subsidy program. I have pleaded with my congressman, (since defeated) to direct the EPA post gas mileage statistics for pure gasoline and gasoline enriched (diluted) with ethanol. I urge everyone that has a gasoline choice to compile their own mpg history. I have. A truth in labeling bill died in committee. That bill would require the percentage of ethanol to be displayed at the pump.
End of rant

Great product, no problems. Sounds like you have a defective unit but I would call tech support before you jump to conclusions and post bad press.