does nuvi malfunction more as it gets older?
Fri, 09/03/2010 - 5:04am
15 years
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I wouldn't think so, as it's electronic, but I get an error about an accessory is not supported? It takes longer to find a satellite, and the battery is totally shot (that is understandable, but why it's not removable is beyond me). Are you listening Garmin? I refuse to buy a new one just because! LOL Plus the Droid X is just as good as a navi. Good point was brought up though--what happens if you're on a phone call? Not sure.
Do you malfunction as you get older?
I sure do, and so does my nuvi. Age is age, and stuff breaks down, be it electronics or biological.
If anything, electronics are far more fragile than past forms of storing data, when you consider that the Guttenberg bible is still around, and even books from ancient Rome and Greece. A better question is how much imperfection you can tolerate in a gadget before you buy a new one. I personally like to get my money's worth, and given that I spent $550. for my nuvi 4 years ago, I figure it still had better last awhile longer.
With no money tree in my backyard,
GC
Nuvi 350, GPS Map 76CX
I don't know, do they?
My experience with electronics is they will remain stable for the life of the unit unless changes are introduced.
That being said, components age and have a finite life expectancy - measured in the 50,000 hour range. Batteries are different, they do have shorter life cycles. To pinpoint some of the recent complaints, we need to consider changes which occurred outside the units. The GPS constellation is being upgraded. That means new software and data strings from the satellites to our units that are not necessarily capable of handling all the new information.
The map data has changed along with other external inputs we often receive. My old unit, which my daughter uses still has the original maps from '07 and the unit software hasn't been touched in about 3 years. As a unit, the only problem is the battery life. It still operates really well and any delay in picking up satellites is almost immaterial.
Illiterate? Write for free help.
My Nuvi was seeming to get
My Nuvi was seeming to get flaky, but appears to be fixed by the last firmware update.
I'm guessing it wasn't getting worse, I was just noticing it more.
Common Contributors to Consumer Electronics Malfunctions
Battery life due to number of charge/discharge cycles, environmental factors, and battery type (NiCad, NiMH, Lithium)
Non-volatile memory "bits" becoming inoperative due to limited (but large) number of write cycles before cells begin to fail, which can lead to insufficient storage space and/or working memory as well as corrupt data and programming
Buggy programming or corruption introduced during consumer-performed modifications/upgrades or use of inappropriate tools, utilities, or techniques while attempting to troubleshoot or remedy a perceived problem
Physical damage from impact, heat, moisture, static discharge, etc.
Lack of "reset to defaults" by rebooting or other direct hardware/software method to "wipe the slate clean" and start from a known working condition as when the device was new.
Extraneous files or file fragments
Combinations of one or more of these.
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You haven't indicated whether you've tried doing a factory reset or other action(s) to address what you're observing. More details might yield advice you can use to improve the way your GPS is performing.
My Nuvi 660 is better now
My Nuvi 660 is better now (Due to improved firmware) than when new...
Hardware and battery still act like new..
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!
johnnatash4 wrote: I
I wouldn't think so, as it's electronic, but I get an error about an accessory is not supported? It takes longer to find a satellite, and the battery is totally shot (that is understandable, but why it's not removable is beyond me). Are you listening Garmin? I refuse to buy a new one just because! LOL Plus the Droid X is just as good as a navi. Good point was brought up though--what happens if you're on a phone call? Not sure.
I have heard that if you send your Unit back to Garmin, they can replace the battery for a nominal fee. There is no reason to buy a new unit just for a battery.
Older but not better?
There are several sites that sell batteries for Garmin GPS units. Prices are reasonable and then have the tools and instructions needed to do the job. If your unit's battery is bad then spend a few bucks and replace it.
What accessory do you have connected to it that isn't supported? Do you have an option turned on that your unit doesn't support, like bluetooth.
How much longer does it take to find the satellites?
As long as the operating system is properly written, there should be no change in the malfunction rate. But it is a computer and electronics do fail.
Don't dump it if its only a battery problem
The only part of the nuvi hardware that should degrade over time is the battery. But like that old 386 computer that may boot up and work flawlessly with that 1980’s software still running in it. If you try to put any new applications it will just stop and give that blank look. As for the battery, although these electronic devices are sealed and you are warned that opening them will void the warranty, the replacement batteries are usually cheap and with very little expertise can be replaced by the end user. I have done this with all types of electronic devices with total success. I don’t know which nuvi you have but check out this link for instructions for the 660.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2KEu_if7wA
nuvi 6xx problems.
Actually, there are some known hardware points of failure (besides the battery) in the nuvi 3xx/6xx series ... antenna and power switch. You can read about these at the sharc.net web site: http://www.sharc.net/gps_antenna_repair.htm. It is possible that the satellite reception problem the OP referred to is a problem with the antenna.
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
680 solid performance--
No problems with my 680 (purchased as a refurb on eBay). I've replaced the battery, not unexpected. It powers on when I start the car and gets covered by a hat when the car is parked, occasionally going in the glove box. I've updated maps, and the firmware. I update POIs aperiodically. I don't use half the features (MP3 player, bluetooth, probably others I don't know about or have forgotten).
It works!
Nuvi 2460, 680, DATUM Tymserve 2100, Trimble Thunderbolt, Ham radio, Macintosh, Linux, Windows
Nuvi 265wt
Seems to take longer to map out directions.
Nuvi 350 Screen Gotten Darker
I think the backlight on one of my 350s has gotten a bit darker since I bought it. Other than that, both units work just like new.
I assume the backlight consists of white LEDs, or does the 350 have a CCFL bulb?