Accidental Drop Test

 

My nuvi 680 GPS fell out of a pocket in my jacket when I was taking it off. Although the fall was probably from about 3 feet, my GPS suffered no external signs of damage and it works fine when plugged into the car adapter. However, the unit no longer runs on battery power. It worked just fine before the "drop test." Does anyone have any ideas? Thx!

Unplegged the battery

The battery plugs into the main board using a small plastic plug. Perhaps the impact caused it to pop out. Google "replace the battery in a Nuvi" and you'll see how to check it out.

Drop Test

My original post suggested trying to replace the battery. I have since done some investigation into past posts here at POI Factory, and realize I didn't have the slightest idea what I was talking about. I hereby withdraw my idea, and shall sit quietly in a corner and continue to learn before making further suggestions.

Me Too

I dropped a Nuvi 660 and had to send it to Garmin for repair. I believe they replaced the battery altogether.

--
RKF (Brookeville, MD) Garmin Nuvi 660, 360 & Street Pilot

Me Too

I think the battery suffered physical damage at the connection points.

--
RKF (Brookeville, MD) Garmin Nuvi 660, 360 & Street Pilot

When you send back to Garmin

When you send back to Garmin you usually get back a Refurb unit.

There are several websites with instructions and video on how to open your Garmin and get to the battery - which is then easily replaced. The battery on most models seems to plug into the motherboard with a small cable plug that is hardwired to the battery. One site that I saw that sells Garmin batteries for most models includes all the tools needed to open your Garmin (a slip/pry tool and a screwdriver) and the instruction videos take you step by step (sorry I lost the link or I would post it here).

--
Garmin 1490T and Tom Tom In-Dash Eclipse II

"Un bon croquis vaut mieux qu'un long discours" (Napoleon)

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

And, translated into the lingua franca of the 21st century, what Bonaparte meant was: "A good sketch is better than a long speech".

Drop Test Update

To give you an update, I opened my nuvi as per those instructions somewhere on this website about how to replace the battery. To make a long story short, the impact managed to dislodge the battery connector as well as a nearby connector. I reinserted these connectors and all seems well now.

thanks

Thanks for the update. Good to know, since I tend to drop my GPS on a regular basis, carrying it in and out of the garage.

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

Good to know it was only the

Good to know it was only the connections.

I will check this first before worrying about the battery needing to be replaced.

restore full utility to your "vintage" 680 nuvi

beagle.fan wrote:

To make a long story short, the impact managed to dislodge the battery connector as well as a nearby connector. I reinserted these connectors and all seems well now.

Now you can order a replacement battery and restore full utility to your "vintage" 680 nuvi.

--
“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

Battery Replaced

e_piph_a_ny wrote:
beagle.fan wrote:

To make a long story short, the impact managed to dislodge the battery connector as well as a nearby connector. I reinserted these connectors and all seems well now.

Now you can order a replacement battery and restore full utility to your "vintage" 680 nuvi.

Actually... this is something that I have already done. It was a scary and somewhat difficult experience to replace the battery the first time, but now that I have done it once, opening the case isn't all that bad. That experience gave me the courage to open my GPS to see if anything came loose.