vehicle power cable

 

Recently, the "low battery" screen has been popping up on my Nuvi 765t when I am driving. The Nuvi seems fine but there appears to be something wrong with the power cable hooked up to the bean bag mount because it happens every time the Nuvi is moved or jostled. Today, it kept on giving the message "low battery" and even when I pressed "yes" to stay on, it powered off. This was problematic since I was depending on the directions to my destination. Is it possible for the power cord to go bad. I have only had the unit since January 2010 and have not abused it. Does the cord have a warranty. The bean bad mount and power cord stay in the car at all times.

Does anyone have any insight into this problem? Is there anything I can do short of going out and buying a new power cord.

Thank you.

If you call Garmin they may

If you call Garmin they may replace the power cable.Before that I would double check the connection to the accessory plug.Plus the fuse inside the power cable.I had the same thing you described to happen to me.Low battery came up and powered off.Found mine was loose in the accessory plug.Since then I make sure the little red light is pointed up on the power plug so I can see it.They will work loose.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Have you

Have you checked to see if the fuse in the plug is good? Does the Garmin power up when you put it in the bean bag cradle? How's the connection to the plug in the power port? Have you sent an email to Garmin Support about the problem? These type of problems are away a pain to fix, good luck.

--
Nuvi 750 and 755T

Check fuse

Check the condition of the fuse on the base of the power cord. The part that goes into the lighter socket contains a fuse that may be blown.

--
Garmin c340 265WT 1490T 295W 2460LMT 2555LMT 2757LM

Power cord?

Check the power cord first. That is the most likely problem. But be aware that my nuvi 760 needs to be charged outside the car about every three weeks. The car power cord, even though it is in good shape, cannot keep the nuvi fully charged.

You can use the mini-USB cable to charge it from a PC. The PC can't go into sleep mode and the charge can take up to 5 hours. I use a plug-in cell-phone charger with a mini-USB connector.

A lithium-ion battery can last for 2 1/2 to 3 years. Many nuvis could be as old as that.

Make sure the alternator on the car is operating. Put a digital voltmeter on the battery. It should be at least 13 1/2 volts at idle. If it is around 12 volts the alternator is not operating.

Is your unit included in the Garmin nuvi battery recall? Here is a link courtesy of rocknicehunter -

https://my.garmin.com/rma/recallLanding.faces

dobs108 smile

thank you

Thank you for all of your helpful suggestions. I did check the connection to the accessory plug and that is okay and the fuse is intact. I think it is the power cable or the connection to the bean bag. I have contacted Garmin and am waiting for a response. I am hoping that they will replace the cord.

Follow up

I just sent in my cable and am hoping that a new cable will solve the problem. I will keep you posted.

Charging problem

My Nuvi will not charge in sunlight. Manual states this also.

Why sunlight?

FUCCOWIE wrote:

My Nuvi will not charge in sunlight. Manual states this also.

Why sunlight? Does it get too hot?

dobs108 smile

No charge in sunlight....

That seems very very odd. If it will not charge in sunlight that would make the unit quite undesirable in my view.

better example please

FUCCOWIE wrote:

My Nuvi will not charge in sunlight. Manual states this also.

would you care to quote the model and page number you are referring to.

--
John Nuvi 750 765T Winnipeg, MB

sunlight

I have had several Nuvi models and have never experienced a problem with it charging in sunlight.

The 1350 will not charge in sunlight

I was surprised to read this, googled 'nuvi sunlight charge' and saw a few comments about the 1350 unable to charge in direct sunlight or freezing temps.

Perhaps it has something to do with the battery getting hot or cold?

Larry

(edited to mention freezing temps)

Thermal protection.

If you look in the 13xx owners manual in the appendix section under "Troubleshooting", you will see that the Nuvi will not charge if the temperature is more than 113 degrees F (45 degrees C). In direct sunlight, it is likely the temperature would go above this threshold.

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

From Garmin

Question : How do I charge my GPS unit?

Answer:

There are three ways to charge the internal battery in your automotive GPS unit.1

Use the provided vehicle power cable that came with your GPS unit. The unit will charge while powered on and using the device as well as when the GPS unit is powered off and plugged into a running vehicle.
Use an AC power adaptor. Some units come with this power cable to plug the GPS unit into a wall outlet allowing the GPS unit to take a charge. For units that do not come with this cable, one can be purchased from Garmin's online store.
For most units, the final way of charging the battery is to plug the GPS into a powered on computer with a USB cable2. This method of charging will be a trickle charge and it may take longer than the other two options, however it will still charge the battery. A USB cable is provided with a few GPS models. For those that don't come with this cable, one can either be ordered from the online store or you can use a standard USB to mini-USB cable that fits the unit and plugs into your computer.

1 - Please note that temperature can play an effect on the charging of a device. If the battery registers a temperature of 0°C and below or 45°C and above (32°F and 113°F respectively) then it will not charge. When connected to external power it will only be operating off of external power.

2 - The Quest® and Quest® 2 will not charge using a USB cable.

--
Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk

Okay that is clearer

alandb wrote:

If you look in the 13xx owners manual in the appendix section under "Troubleshooting", you will see that the Nuvi will not charge if the temperature is more than 113 degrees F (45 degrees C). In direct sunlight, it is likely the temperature would go above this threshold.

It is still quite a jump from "will not charge above 45 C" to "will not charge in direct sunlight."

I'd suggest that one can charge a GPS in most of North America most of the year without a problem if it is sitting in a sunny location.

If it has been in an enclosed car on a hot day in July or the like, then it will not charge until the A/C brings the interior temp and that of the unit down to something more humane. (Such harsh conditions also reduce the life of the battery.)

Likewise, in winter I can't charge mine until the heater warms up the interior and contents.

--
John Nuvi 750 765T Winnipeg, MB

Getting back to the power cord

Getting the thread back to the topic of the power cord .... I'm experiencing a similar problem with my Garmin power cord (approximately two years old) ...

At first, I thought the problem was the power plug in my truck ... I had a heck of a time getting the little red light to illuminate. Had to jiggle it around.

Then I discovered that the problem also happens in my wife's car.

The power plug fuse is good. The metal ribs (or what ever you call the little strips of metal that make contact with the power socket) are firm.

Yet I still have to really jiggle the plug around to make a positive connection.

It has to be a problem with the power cord somewhere.

Please let me know the outcome of the your new power cord.

--
Garmin 205, 260W, 1450LMT, 2460LMT, HEREwego for iPhone ... all still mapping strong.

whoops double post

sorry

--
Garmin 205, 260W, 1450LMT, 2460LMT, HEREwego for iPhone ... all still mapping strong.

Power Plug

I had the same problem sometimes with the power plug. I replaced the tip with one from a cell phone charger and that seemed to solve the problem.

Cradle

I have had the same issue with my 765 and my 77o. I has always turned oout to be the cradle between the cord and the unit.

Plug Sizes

There are actually two 12 volt plug and socket sizes. What I've run across on ANY appliance with these plugs is this, depending on the make of the vehicle your driving, mobile home, rv, boat, etc. You may find that the socket is the larger size and your plug the smaller. Depends on WHERE the manufacturer got his sockets from. In that case you can imagaine the lose fit, that would require constant jiggling to make contact, etc. Sometimes you'll have one size of socket up front in the drivers area, but another in the rear area of the vehicle that are labeled accesory sockets. Why they do this? I have no clue other than cost.

That's my 2 cents on the issue.

12-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size A:

Receptacle inside diameter: 20.93 - 21.01 mm (median 20.97 mm)
Plug body diameter: 20.73 - 20.88 mm (median 20.805 mm)
Most often used in American automobiles.

12-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size B:

Receptacle inside diameter: 21.41 - 21.51 mm (median 21.455 mm)
Plug body diameter: 21.13 - 21.33 mm (median 21.18 mm)
Most often used in European automobiles, and sometimes as a second socket in American automobiles expressly for DC power connections.

Same Problem

Believe it or not, I just experienced the same problem (760). After replacing the battery - I thought maybe it had gone bad, I detemined it was actually a problem with the connection between the power cord and the unit (the fuse was fine). I just went onto eBay, purchased an after market cord that goes the connection that I use to connect the unit to my computer and all is now fine. I did try cleaning the connection with alcohol first but no success.

I will find out when Garmin gets back to me.

ikeler wrote:

I have had the same issue with my 765 and my 77o. I has always turned oout to be the cradle between the cord and the unit.

I hope it is not the cradle (bean bag mount. I don't want to buy another one.

Still having problems

Well, I got the cable back from Garmin but I am still having problems. Again, while I was driving, I got the message "lost connection" and it went on battery mode and since the battery wasn;t charged, it powered off. When I held the unit and giggled the bean bag mount, it would briefly repower and then shut off again. I now think it may be the bean bag mount connection. I am hoping it is not the connection on the Nuvi. I will buy another bean bag mount and see what happens. This is so frustrating. Has anyone had problems with the connections on the mounting devices?

Cradle

On my 765 and 770 units the cord plugs into a cradle and the unit then sits in the cradle. The cradle has the attachment point for the mount. It is a “L” shaped cradle. It has been the cradle that has been defective. You can purchase the cradle for replacement or you can purchase a new cord and cradle from places like Amazon for less money than a cradle alone.

thanks.

I am going to do that right now. I don't want to wind up depending on the GPS for directions and having it conk out on me again.

removed

removed

Check with customer service

I had a problem with this same cradle on my 765T (a piece was broken off of it). I sent an e-mail to customer service asking about a replacement and they sent me one immediately at no charge. I had it up and running from broken part to replacement in hand in about 3 days.

cradle replacement

I checked online for Garmin mounts (I had the bean bag mount but I am probably going to get the newer friction mount) and none of them came with the cradle. Shouldn't the cradle be covered under the warranty like the power cable. I only got the 765t in January 2010. Shouldn't Garmin replace the cradle for free?

I didn't even have to ask

They sent me the cradle for free, when my request to them was "Is the cradle available to buy and what is the part number to order"

I sent an email

and asked for their assistance. I hope I get the same reply that you did.

good news

Garmin is sending me a replcement bracket in 7-10 days. Thanks so much.

?

jqua wrote:
FUCCOWIE wrote:

My Nuvi will not charge in sunlight. Manual states this also.

would you care to quote the model and page number you are referring to.

I remember Fuccowie, he has a Nuvi 1300.
That is strange not charging in Sunlight.

--
Garmin GPSmap76CS / Nuvi 200W

Not charging in direct sunlight

jqua wrote:
FUCCOWIE wrote:

My Nuvi will not charge in sunlight. Manual states this also.

would you care to quote the model and page number you are referring to.

Page 57 of online manual for Nuvi 1300 Troubleshooting:

Metal ribs are...

cbwatts wrote:

Getting the thread back to the topic of the power cord .... I'm experiencing a similar problem with my Garmin power cord (approximately two years old) ...

At first, I thought the problem was the power plug in my truck ... I had a heck of a time getting the little red light to illuminate. Had to jiggle it around.

Then I discovered that the problem also happens in my wife's car.

The power plug fuse is good. The metal ribs (or what ever you call the little strips of metal that make contact with the power socket) are firm.

Yet I still have to really jiggle the plug around to make a positive connection.

It has to be a problem with the power cord somewhere.

Please let me know the outcome of the your new power cord.

The metal ribs as you call them are to keep the plug secure in the socket. They also act as ground. The center pin on the plug is the positive point for power. It has a spring behind it. I have seen the springs get weak and not make contact. That also goes hand in hand with making sure the plug components are tight.

--
Nuvi 2460LMT.

Very interesting situation.

Very interesting situation. I will need to follow a bit closer as I can say I haven't had this expirence yet but it is good to know what I can expect and what direction I can go to trouble shoot this situation. I will add anything I can when I'm able to cross that bridge.

Metal Ribs aren't the problem

Metal Ribs aren't my problem. I discovered that two plastic pieces broke off the plug ... don't exactly know what purpose these pieces serve ... but the plug now no longer works at all.

Hard to describe the location of these two pieces. Other than to say ... imagine a 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock position around the bottomw of the plug. The metal ribs are at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions, the little plastic ribs are at the 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock position (I'd never noticed them before.

Anyway when one of the plastic pieces broken off, the plug made an intermittant connection. When the second plastic piece broke off, the power plug quit working completely.

I ordered a replacement plug from ebay.

--
Garmin 205, 260W, 1450LMT, 2460LMT, HEREwego for iPhone ... all still mapping strong.

metal ribs

The metal ribs provide ground, you don;t have a complete circuit without them.

I know the metal ribs

I know the metal ribs provide a ground.

The metal ribs AREN"T the problem.

There are two small 1/8 by about 3/4 inch plastic indents at the 3 and 9 position (the metal ribs are at the 12 and 6 position.

Check your plug to see if you have this design. The plastic indents must help align something inside the plug (the fuse?).

Anyway without the plastic indents, the power cord is toast.

Once again, my Metal Ribs are intact and are making contact. The metal ribs are not the problem

--
Garmin 205, 260W, 1450LMT, 2460LMT, HEREwego for iPhone ... all still mapping strong.

Follow-up

bsp131 wrote:

Garmin is sending me a replcement bracket in 7-10 days. Thanks so much.

Just to let you know, I got the new bracket and that has fixed the problem that I was having. Garmin was very accommodating and quick in their response times.