Garmin GPS Useful Life

Depending ambient conditions, using a couple times a month, on Garmin 660, the battery lasts about 3 to 4 years.

Understand batteries can't be replaced, with the shut downs not worth it.

"How To Replace Your Garmin Nuvi Battery"

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

"How To Replace The Internal Battery on A Garmin Nuvi GPS"

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

Thanks for all your youfull information

I still see some people have the StreetPilot 2620 in good working conditions.
If you take good care for the unit it would last 3 to 5 years and the battery can be replaced after 2 years by Garmin service or after market.

You can replace the battery - though Garmin would not tell you this. On most models it is not hard. So if you keep the maps up to date and Garmin keeps supporting mapupdates for your Garmin it will last as long as you take good care of it.

I got my 660 three years ago as a Christmas present and do not use the battery at all. I just plug it in when I want to use it. As long as the unit still works, the battery isn't really that important to me.

I think the "useful life" of a GPS ends when the unit no longer works, or the owner no longer likes the unit. The 660 was quite pricey when my wife got it and many of the newer GPS units are cheaper and have more features. But my 660 still does everything I want it to, so it is still useful to me !

I tend to keep my unit in my pocket when out of the car to prevent theft. In doing so I tore small areas of my Nuvi 295w screen. Input to the areas of the tear will not work. Fortunately with the Nuvi 295W I can turn the unit 180° and the screen will reorient placing the tear on the opposite corner. Garmin does not cover a torn screen under warranty. For $95 they could replace the unit with a factory repaired unit, but I could find a new one for that price. How long will they last? Guess I should have invested in a case for the unit.

My Nuvi battery is only good for about 3 mins so basically dead to any user. Doesn't really matter since it's always plugged in anyways.

I'd think that it'd last, for most folks, until they noticed:
- it's noticeably slower than their friend's GPS
- new GPSs on the market have larger/better looking screens
- the touch-screen interface starts to fail
- maybe the map update starts to outgrown the available memory in the GPS.
- a new GPS is cheaper than the map update.

I'd think the average person, if they held onto it and took care of it, would get a good 5 years out of one before upgrading.

My Nuvi is 3 years old, and last about 2 hours off power. I use is 4-5 times a week while i make deliveries.

I had a different MFG and Model for a while and that battery lasted 30 mins after 2 months. Like my Nuiv 205W

I wonder if a dead battery would keep the unit from turning on?

I have my first portable navigator, a Streetpilot III from 2003 or 4 that I still lend to people who may have to follow me. In many ways it is better than what Garmin is delivering today, albeit some later features would be highly desirable . . . but that ultrahigh contrast display is amazingly simple to read without tilting my glasses.

The mapping on board is the latest I could get for the model, but they don't build roads all THAT fast and to be honest, aside from addresses that may be on new roads, even if they've reconfigured interchanges and such the device will get you where you need to be, even if you overshoot because the device didn't know about the new exit or you got confused.

The quick answer is that the 'useful life' is as long as it still works.

And, just to chime in; The battery on most Nuvis ought to last 3-4 hours, though that will diminish with time and abuse; Batteries ARE user changeable, though Garmin doesn't tell you (links are posted above).

Note that if you REALLY want to buy a new navigator, none of the above will sway you. However if you are moving from an older (Nuvi XX0 and prior) to a newer model you will lose your upcoming streets notification and the map detail display will be reduced from 5 selections to 3, meaning inadequate display detail in rural locales.

There are new features in the more modern units; In the near future us NordAmericanos will be getting photoreal Junction View (to be in Canadian maps first), for example, though that is IMO 'fluff'. The loss of the two features mentioned above and the miserable Bluetooth performance of the xx5 units and those that followed will keep me from buying another Garmin for a long time to come.

Thanks! I did not even know this. Good to consider when time comes vs. a new unit.

You might also consider the following: http://www.sharc.net/gps_repair_prices.htm
(I understand he does good work and is reasonable in his pricing.)

I forgot about POI Factory's own thread on this subject.

Nuvi 660 battery replacement
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/27841

Thanks for the battery replacement posts. Another way to make these Garmins last longer.

A totally dead battery will stop a unit from turning on. The "cure" is to connect external power first and let it sit for a couple minutes and then retry. Some times you have to disconnect the power cord and reconnect it, at least it is that way on my 885. I usually just pop the battery, plug it in and then reinsert the battery once it starts to boot.

I have a 750. I bought a replacement battery (not a garmin) that came with the tools. I was patient, opened it up, and could replace it. After a while I seemed to have trouble with the new battery. So, as a test I removed it and replaced the old battery. After the nuvi was unplugged for a bit, the old battery seemed to perform much better than when it was originally in the unit. The battery and kit was about $19, but perhaps I could have just unplugged my old battery, waited a bit, and they used it.

I accidentally left mine on while unplugged overnight. I wonder if I have shortened the life of the battery. Any thoughts?
I now have an adapter from 110 to 12v. Will leaving the unit on be a good idea or not?

Useful life? Until my dog figured out how to get it out of my bag. I will be buying a new GPS soon.

I'm going to keep using my 760 for a looooooong time. I don't see any reason at all that it shouldn't last for many years as long as I replace the battery every two years or so.

I replaced the battery in my 660 a couple months back and it's working fine. With the lifetime map updates and POI files from The Factory, I expect mine to last several more years.

Let's face it, no matter how useful your unit may be to you, as with most high tech devices, the manufacturer determines what they consider the useful life. At some point they will determine that your unit is outside of the "normal" usage pattern. This is true with computers, televisions, etc. So, why not GPSrs? It's just another marketing strategy.
I would guess that Garmin sets "useful life" at something like 3 to 4 years, or maybe one or two years after they discontinue production of your model.

my Garmin C320 that I bought in 2005 is still working. That's a pretty long time.

...my 660, and I'll replace the battery when the time comes.

I'm not sure you are clear on the difference between useful life and supported life. Useful life can extend far beyond the supported life of a product. Just because a product is no longer manufactured or updated doesn't stop it from functioning. We are using, and Garmin appears to use, functional as the definition of useful life.

Now, with regard to their lifetime maps, functional also implies they have a contract with, and continue to receive updates from Navteq. The MSN traffic will reach the end of it's useful life not due to Garmin declaring it so, but because MSN is abandoning the service and stopping broadcast at the end of this year.

Just remember if you have lifetime maps and replace your unit, the lifetime maps will go away. UNLESS you let garman replace your battery, then they will transfer your maps to the replacement unit. just something to think about before buying a new gps'r.

I replaced the battery in my 660 for under $20.00 My unit is 4-5 years old.

Yes, you are right, Box Car. Support life is what I was getting at. I used "useful" because so many folks think that is what their lifetime maps subscription is based upon.
Garmin has created so many "scary" loopholes in their disclaimer, and I hope they are just typical "legal speak". I'd like to think Garmin will continue to support the Lifetime Map program for any working unit that has been subscribed and, of course, as long as Navteq produces maps for the program.
But having worked for one of the major high tech silicon valley companies, I am somewhat skeptical. Out of support life declarations seem to leave many consumers holding the bag.

Just replaced my battery in my Garmin 650 with a battery purchased from NewPower99. They send tools along with the new battery. Followed the directions from a youtube video on changing the battery. Works great! Look it up and try it.

Norm

Thanks, mine is dying on me slowly. I thought it mght be the sub zero temperature. Good to know I don't have to get a new GPS because of the battery.

No battery in my 2720 and still doing well.

Had our 660 for over 4 years...
Battery is still 'good'... When and If it acts up, I'll purchase a new battery, follow the instructions on replacing it.... and Keep Going!!!

Had 2 760's for 2 yrs. one has no battery life left but still works when hooked up to the car. the other works great with battery and hooked up.

Zumo 550 is now 3 and I had to purchase a new MC cradle, and the unit is a reman from the service department. I would think these gps will last long as you are willing to spend money keeping them working. My dollar amount was met with the need to buy this unit from service. Would love to buy the lifetime map update but my 2 cradle is already getting difficult to use. For the initial outlay these units should last longer without problems than they do. The monthly cost is high if replacing or repairing in 5 years.

I still use my Magellan Meridian purchased in the 1990's sometime - removal batteries.

My garmin 2720 is still in use - no batteries at all. And my Garmin 850 has a removal battery (but no off switch). I keep it stored without the battery in it when not in use, and frequently use it without the battery when startup time or memory in not important. I expect to keep my 850 until a significant improvement happens. Just hope when it does, I don't lose features I that I have and really like.

Unlike my 760, which was replaced by a 1490T, battery life is non-existent. It still works as long as it's plugged in. I've had both for over 3 years.

My Garmin 1 channel GPS 38 still going strong not as fast as my 12 channel Etrex that can talk to multiple birds at one time.

I have been experiencing that problem this winter season.
I brought the unit indoors and plugged it into my computer and found out the battery was depleted.
After a charge it worked fine, but to be safe I just ordered a replacement battery for $17:00, which should arrive soon.

If you have a wall wart with a mini-usb, try using that. I often charge my 885 with my headset charger. Does a better job - and faster too. An added bonus if it's a Razr charger - the configuration of the plus is the same as a Garmin power cord and it boots up so I can run the GPS while charging.

I replaced my Nuvi 660 Battery in March of 2010 - original only lasted about 3 years. What a difference! I make trips all over the city on the battery without the power cable. Only cost me about $20 - no shipping charges or tax. Now it's good for at least 3 more years, and, I may replace the battery again.

New GPSrs don't have MP3 Players in them.

Good luck on yours.