GPS unit will not power up (model 540)
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9 years
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Hi, This is my first visit to the site. There is a lot of good information here. Thanks to all who took the time to contribute to the information.
My question is relative to the Garmin model 540.
It has proved to be a very useful GPS unit.
Last weekend I was headed offshore and could not get it to power up. I used my testers and I have power all the way up the cord leading into the unit. However, the unit will not power up. Has anyone had any experience with this? I can send it back to Garmin. The local guys all have their opinions which include just buy a new one.
I thought of that, not knowing what Garmin will charge to fix. The only question with a new one is can you use the old attachments at the stern. So, if you guys have any ideas on why no power up or change of equipment on new purchase I would really appreciate it.
regards
Exployer
Garmin 540
exployer, welcome to the site!
A look at the Garmin site shows that the 540 could be up to 7 years old, and the manual is no longer available.
Most of the posters on this site are concerned with "on the road" GPS units and may not know about marine units.
I owned Garmin marine GPS units many years before an auto GPS. In my opinion, mainly because a marine GPS is "mission critical," you should purchase a new unit. It will be much more inexpensive than repairing the 540. I know it may interface with other electronics and cause a cascade of purchases, but it is still the most economical decision in the long run.
We have sailed "Princess Alice," a 28 foot S2 sloop on Long Island Sound for 23 years and I have learned the hard way about failure of electronics and the life-threatening situations it can cause. When you are out on the water it is too late to remedy failure of the GPS.
Any POI-Factory sailors, please give your opinion!
dobs108
Plug it in
Leave it for 24 hours, and then try to power it up. Li-Ion's hate to be drained dry of juice.
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK
Updates
If you get the 540 going again, there are updates available from Garmin. So it appears that the 540 is not an orphan yet.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=3517
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.
Thank you for the response
Thank you for the response and also to Juggernaut and Melaqueman. I did not know the site was geared to on the road GPS. When I was searching for a solution, this site came up. Your suggestions are appreciated. I think a new unit is in the wind and keeping the old one for a back up ( if it powers up )
I will keep visiting the site for information and thanks again for your input.
Exployer
repair by Garmin
Just call Garmin support. If they will repair your unit they will tel you price. If your unit is not eligible to repair they will tell you how much it will cost to exchange it for a new unit.
As it was said above: it's better not to risk problems where you will be sailing.
It doesn't matter if you are road or marine
Thank you for the response and also to Juggernaut and Melaqueman. I did not know the site was geared to on the road GPS. When I was searching for a solution, this site came up. Your suggestions are appreciated. I think a new unit is in the wind and keeping the old one for a back up ( if it powers up )
I will keep visiting the site for information and thanks again for your input.
Exployer
There are a lot of people on here and we talk just about any gps unit out there. Most are Road but as you can see we do have sailors. Be sure to ask. If they don't know there are a lot on here that love to find what you are looking for just so they can help.
Welcome to the site and enjoy the help and suggestions and some day I am sure you will find something on here that you can help on.
Mary, Nuvi 2450, Garmin Viago, Honda Navigation, Nuvi 750 (gave to son)
New One
I have to say I agree with getting a new one...
they are getting so much cheaper and now most all come with lifetime maps and traffic...
just a suggestion
540
I have to say I agree with getting a new one...
they are getting so much cheaper and now most all come with lifetime maps and traffic...
just a suggestion
I doubt that Lifetime maps and traffic are applicable to a marine GPS !
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.
Not to mention...
I have to say I agree with getting a new one...
they are getting so much cheaper and now most all come with lifetime maps and traffic...
just a suggestion
I doubt that Lifetime maps and traffic are applicable to a marine GPS !
...not to mention IPX7 water proofing and a non-cigarette lighter power connection.
A different animal
I doubt that Lifetime maps and traffic are applicable to a marine GPS !
...not to mention IPX7 water proofing and a non-cigarette lighter power connection.
Marine GPS units do not have a battery, lifetime maps, or traffic. They have a hardwired 12 volt power supply, charts you pay for, and a NMEA 2000 data connection.
dobs108
Garmin FAQ's
There are two posts on Garmin's FAQ page for the 500 series Chartplotter regarding power up issues. In case you haven't already seen them....
http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?s... 540s&caseId={af7c0c20-aef0-11de-c6a8-000000000000}&locale=en_US
And
http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?s... 540s&caseId={92ca6210-192a-11dc-70f0-000000000000}&locale=en_US
I had a similar issue with an old Gpsmap 176 two years ago. I took the advice others have posted here and bought a newer unit. A flaky marine gps is not worth gambling with you safety.