Traffic no longer works on Nuvi 2689

What are your symptoms on not getting traffic? You might want to check https://support.garmin.com/en-IE/?faq=N0jcByYLkm1kmGxXGeW1m5. Once there, scroll down for the steps to check that traffic is enabled on the 2689.

The Garmin Nuvi 2689LMT has a built in traffic receiver and would only require the Garmin Universal Vehicle Power Cable 010-11838-00.

Everything checks out.. except there is no traffic. I get a message “Searching for traffic reception. This process may take several minutes”.
The thing is that plugging my spare into the same cord gives traffic.
I am not sure when this first started, My routes don’t always go in traffic problem areas.
Could this be a software glitch? I wonder if any other 2689 owners have a problem?

I'll check my 2689 but it won't be until much later today as the wife has the car. But as of a few weeks ago, around the time of the last map update, I didn't get any such message. In fact I don't think I've ever seen such a message.

You may want to review this thread for some ideas. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/47416 Down near the bottom, one member updated Garmin Express and was successful. You may want to remove Garmin Express and reinstall it.

An interesting thread of semi similar problems. I never get/got any messages about incompatible cables. I only started "wondering" when there would normally have been a traffic issue that did not show on my 2689. I get a notification when I select traffic.. that the system is looking for a carrier.

This is from memory about traffic updates to my nuvi 3597, while watching popups in the traffic screen of the GPS. There also may be a Garmin Support post about this.

When Garmin Express downloads a traffic update, the file is placed onboard the GPS, but it is not yet installed. The first time the traffic receiver is receiving a digital FM traffic signal, the update is installed at that time.

Traffic has to be enabled in settings. The FM signal has to be sufficiently strong over a long enough time until the update is installed. This does not happen quickly. It takes hours. During that time, you have no traffic.

You may have to drive to a stronger signal location.

dobs108

Relative to what dobs108 said about signal strength, you may wish to check the URL https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=p0bTDWWUmW2UNq62eC79C7.

Also, while web searching potential resolutions, I came across a Garmin blog where someone mentioned that a low battery would inhibit traffic reception on the newer models with an internal antenna. Now I realize you’ve said your 2689 works OK with a spare cable so maybe that points to a defective cable possibly not delivering the proper voltage.

Lastly, as I mentioned I would do earlier, I checked my 2689 with the original T20 cable and it works fine, showing one traffic situation ongoing (and nearby), a PA turnpike repair. The unit has the latest map (late May??) which was installed using GE 7.6.0.0. I have not rolled back toGE 7.5.0.0 as many have. My GE 7.6.0.0 originally would not open on occasion, but with the Windows update from last Tuesday it is now reliable.

The internal traffic receiver uses Bluetooth. The Garmin Smartphone App on your cellphone gets the traffic info thru the internet.

I have this problem a lot with my 3597. I just open Bluetooth on the phone, then I unpair and re-pair the phone to the Garmin and all is well after a minute or two.

Also, I always plugin the power cord and then mount/connect the Garmin.

If you are not using your cellphone for Traffic, then be sure that the little black plastic box at the end of the cable is elevated above or on top of the dash. I just drape the cable over the rearview mirror. The box, in my situation, would rest on a piece of the dash, which is factory painted silver and would soon show wear marks.

do you need a special cable for traffic. I never get an announcement. My 3597 Nuvi will sometimes show yellow dashes to show traffic, but many times I can be sitting in a standstill on the highway and the Nuvi shows open roads.

the block on the cable is the traffic rcvr. It is not internal to the nuvi. That cable works with your 2597 and used to work with your 2689, therefore the problem must be internal to your nuvi.

There are 5 wires in the USb connector. The normally unused wire has a resistor tied to it. If using a normal connector, the nuvi goes into USB mode since that resistor is not present.
I am assuming the traffic data from the rcvr is also placed on this line. Since the cable is working and the nuvi is not going into USB mode, the connection to the nuvi must be ok. That would indicate, the data rcvr in the nuvi is not functioning or the circuit is not enabled or there is a f/w glitch causing the inoperation.
I would reload the firmware 1st. There isn't much to do 2nd except replace the device. Repair probably is not economical.

The 2689 has an internal antenna so you won’t find a “block” in the cable.

One thing that is worth trying is a procedure posted a few years ago by CraigW for a 2599/2699. See below for the procedure. One thing of note is “select the country” and the OP hails from Edmonton Canada. Long-shoot but making sure that country setting is correct might fix things. If it is set correctly, I would even suggest changing it, powering down, restarting the device, then reset to the proper country. Things like that often trigger a specific reset that gets things working again.

“I found this on another forum regarding resetting the traffic for a nuvi 2559. I wonder if it's worth a try here. The 2599 and 2699 belong to the same series and use the same Owners manual so it may help.

I found the hidden reset. From the settings, select traffic (2nd page), then select the country and then the 3 bar symbol (top left). This gives you a reset option. After running reset I got traffic updates about 2 minutes later.”

I can comment that my Wife’s 2689LMT Is getting traffic notifications.

Thanks for all the suggestions/help but where does one find "Country". From Settings I have
Updates
Map % Vehicle
Navigation
Bluetooth
Display
Traffic
Units & time
Language & Keyboard
Proximity alerts
Device
And none open to "Countries"

As I said the procedure was for a 2599/2699 and a long-shoot. I did confirm with my 2689 that a "country" option doesn't seem to exist.

So, my 2689 shows the following when attached to GE 7.6.0.0.

Full coverage NA 22.10 and software software 8.80.

What are you showing? Also, what exactly is the P/N of the cable?

Pretty sure it is the 2689 LMT that is at fault. Even when I connect it with the cable that it came with it > select Apps > select Traffic it immediately goes to message: Searching for traffic reception. This process may take several minutes. And after 30+ still nothing.
Connecting my old 2595 to that same cable >> same process and it immediately gives me a map.
The traffic cable I purchased ($93.39 CAD) 26/09/2019 is called Garmin GTM 60 Digital 3D Portable Lifetime Traffic Receiver with Mfr. P/N: 010-01031-00.
I did a "chat" with Garmin this AM that accomplished little.In his opinion it's the fault of the cable and had no answer why it would also not work with the original traffic cable.
I was hoping to get access to a previous software version reasoning that "perhaps" it is a software problem but evidently this is not possible. My next option "I guess" is to do a complete factory reset and hope I don't brick it.
My About shows GPS Firmware 3.0.11 P32
Software 8.80
TSC Version 2.170.004
Installed Maps CN North America NT 2022.10 All CN North america NT 2022.10 Foursquare

GTM 60 is the correct traffic receiver for the 2689 LMT. In settings/traffic, there are choices to turn on HERE FM traffic, HERE HD traffic, or Garmin Smartphone Link. Choose HERE FM Traffic.

The Smartphone Link choice will turn off FM traffic. If it is running on your cell phone, turn it off.

Like I said above, if a firmware update for the traffic receiver has been downloaded, it will take a long time in a good signal area to update the firmware. During this time it will display the popup, "searching for traffic."

If you are in the suburbs of Edmonton, you may not have a strong signal. Drive downtown or near a known FM broadcast station antenna,and stay in the area for a while, with the Garmin/settings/traffic screen displayed.

HERE Traffic is available within an approximately 40 km radius of the center of Edmonton:

https://coverage.here.com/rds-coverage.html

Lift the cable of the GTM 60 over the dashboard as high as possible. The cable is the traffic receiver antenna.

Since you bought the GTM 60 separately, you must activate it on the Garmin site!

It is unclear when it says, "If your device came with a traffic subscription, the activation occurs automatically and the steps below are not necessary."

Is the device the 2689, or the GTM 60? Also, the 2689 LMT has a traffic receiver in the box. It does not need an accessory traffic receiver!

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=yNViasBAPx6d8QGE2N4Lz6

Now that you have provided some details I think it likely is the cable and specifically the use of the Garmin GTM 60 cable. I'm not saying the GTM cable or the GPS is faulty, just that the GTM 60 may be incorrect for the 2689LMT.

The GTM 60 is specifically shown on the Garmin website as HD Digital Traffic Receiver (see https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/104181/pn/010-01031-00) and note the word "Digital". I do not think the 2689 LMT is capable of receiving HD digital traffic. At least mine isn't. But one way to tell is to power up the 2689, go to Settings, then page down and select "Traffic". When you expand Traffic the choice at the top of the screen is "Compatible traffic accessory required." Check that off and it will say "Connect the correct power cable to the vehicle power outlet, and ensure the power cable is connected to the device." Report back what message you get.

If you go to Garmins website you will find that the cable that is supplied with a 2689 is the TA20, and that is because the traffic antenna is built into the GPS. It is US$25 roughly (see https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/pn/010-11838-00).

Now, while on the Garmin website go to https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/138360/pn/010-01188-00#ove... which is for the 2699 LMTHD, the version that uses the HD Traffic (note the 2699, not 2689). Note in the description "lifetime HD Digital Traffic" and quite a description of HD Digital traffic in the overview. As a point of interest the same T20 cable is shown for the 2699LMTHD as the 2689LMT.

Go to the 2689LMT (see https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/138361/pn/010-01188-02) and the only thing mentioned for traffic is "Detailed maps of North America with free lifetime¹ map updates and traffic avoidance". Traffic avoidance is not HD Digital Traffic.

Going also to your nuvi 2597 you also will not find mention of HD Digital traffic and it also uses the same US$25 cable as the 2690.

So in summary I think you will find there isn't anything wrong with the GTM 60 cable, it is just overkill for the 2689 but optimistically it may work using the configurations steps I provided. If it doesn't, and it hasn't been too long, I'd try to return it and get the correct cable (P/N 010-11838-00) which should work with both your 2689LMT and nuvi 2597.

Traffic; Compatible traffic accessory required, is checked, Current Provider > searching; Subscriptions HERE Traffic (US Can) lifetime subscription HD And HERE Traffic (US Can) lifetime subscription. Clicking on the + You already have a traffic subscription. Do you want to purchase another subscription.
So, unchecking Traffic, greys out all of the above.

Plugging in my 2597(to the very same cable) Traffic; Compatible traffic accessory required, is checked, Current Provider Auto - HERE Traffic (US Can) ($)

Really starting to think it’s time for a new unit

You might check the content at https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=yNViasBAPx6d8QGE2N4Lz6. And by the way that content has a link to a HERE Digital Coverage map and Edmonton is not listed. Perhaps you don;t even have the coverage? (Calgary is listed by the way)

One more thing, the HEAR subscrition needs to be purchased on a per device basis.

I know Edmonton is not listed but there was.. limited traffic available before, and I continue to get limited traffic on my old unit. The bottom line is that my 2689 was getting some traffic, and now, for whatever reason is not. Things die.. and perhaps the traffic component of my 2689 has finally bit the dust…. It has served me well.

The 2689 is always capable of getting traffic, assuming the information is out there and being transmitted.

I would hook it up to a PC and back it up, then do a hard reset.

I provided the link above.

https://coverage.here.com/rds-coverage.html

It displays a worldwide map of HERE traffic coverage. Enter "Edmonton CA" in the search box, zoom in, and the coverage for that city can be viewed. It shows coverage for the entire city up to 40 km away from the city center, as I posted above.

dobs108

I'm also in Canada (Ottawa) using a 2689 and the standard T20 cable that came with it.

After the last map upgrade, my traffic seemed to have stopped working so here's what I did.

Took all the twists out of the Cable by letting it hang free for a few days. This prevents damaging the wires further.

With the cable powered on, no loops and all of it on the dashboard, powered on the Unit. On the Map Screen, pressed the Speed Box (lower left) to go to the Trip Data Screen. On the Trip Data Screen, pressed and held the Speed/Direction circle to move to Diagnostics Page. From there, chose Developer Info. From the Developer Info page, chose Traffic.

I reset my Traffic Receiver Providers using the 3 bar choice and reset.

I moved back into Traffic choices and selected the Traffic Receiver Dashboard. I watched to make sure it was running through the FM frequencies to either get a soft lock or hard lock on something. I was in an area of known coverage and this still took a longish time, 20 to 30 minutes of driving around.

Once I got a Lock, I moved back to the Main Screen, went to settings and switched my Traffic Provider from Auto Search to Here Traffic.

Now, any time I suspect I am not getting Traffic (or just because I know where I am going and I like the colours), I move down the menus and just show the Traffic Receiver Dashboard. Your Turn by Turn directions are still announced to keep you going where you wanted.

Your mileage may vary.

Cheers

Bob
Ottawa
Not the one in Illinois

RKLLKR, thanks for that very clear explanation!

Thanks for that detailed "how too".I will give that a shot, but I have put in an order for a Garmin DriveSmart 65LMT from GPS City. Have been thinking of upgrading (?) for sometime anyway.

I'm looking forward to checking the settings on my 2689 but leaving on a trip today so I'll leave well enough alone, for now.

The DS 65 is a nice unit. I almost bought one simply because it could connect to my WiFi for updates, etc. but when I compared to the 2689 decided I needed some more pluses to justify.

Still don't know why everyone is so set on FM Traffic.

FM Traffic won't do you a bit of good in most of the Midwest. Whereas the Smartphone app works almost everywhere in North America.

Of course, if you don't have a cell phone with the smartphone app installed, then I guess you have no choice but FM Traffic.

I wonder how long FM based traffic will even be offered. We certainly haven't seen any increase in coverage for many years. Remember when Garmin eliminated their "nulink" service 6 or 7 years ago? They gave owners of these devices about a year's notice, then "poof" no more traffic service. I could see the same thing happening with the FM based traffic.

I don't use Smartphone link anymore because of bluetooth pairing problems. It would work if the GPS and the phone were the only two devices in the car, but today the car is a bluetooth device. Three devices do not play nice together.

I was skeptical about FM traffic at first, but it saved me from a bad accident. I was in Westchester NY on a three-lane in each direction limited-access parkway with a speed limit of 55. The usual speed is 70 and up, with BMWs at 85!

In heavy traffic at more than 70 mph, the GPS said, "Road closed! Accident ahead! Seconds later, I saw brake lights far ahead and everybody panic stopped. My car had good brakes and I was able to stop short with inches to spare.

I feel without that warning from FM traffic, it would have been an accident.

Perhaps the lack of traffic was a precursor to it dying. Today went to take a trip and the 2689 refused to start up. No changes since yesterday.. Totally dead at this point.Plugged in my spare and it works just fine. Took my 2689 and plugged it into my computer.. and again nothing.

Do you have a wall charger? One from anything, as long as it had the USB connector will work. Let it charge for 24 hours and try it.

My, My, How did we ever cope before we had apps to tell us what to do?

A bunch of Googling, searches on this website for Secret Menus or Maintenance Modes and past experience mucking about. I've had a variety of Garmin Nuvis and most seem to use the Speed/Direction block on the Trip Data page to get down to where you can poke around.

Cheers

Bob

A two-minute Google search revealed dozens of developer mode and hidden menu posts on this website. Just one:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/31352

With all the checking on you’ve done the past few days has the 2689 been plugged into a LIVE accessory socket in a car for a minimum of about 6 hours, or as someone else suggested plugged into a USB charger? Also, I’m assuming you know the difference between standby and true OFF for the 2689? While trying to help you I did find reliable sources that said traffic was automatically disabled in the event of a weak battery.

Battery life on a 2689 is only about two hours, at best!

After using my spare all day tried plugging in the 2689 again (the semi-hardwired Garmin GTM 60 Digital 3D Portable Lifetime Traffic Receiver NADA.. nothing! Tried with the cable it came with plugged into my cigarette lighter socket and again nothing. Pressing/holding the off/on switch did nothing.
Brought the 2689 into the basement and plugged it into a wall charger.. And BINGO, it came to life. No traffic but the maps showed.
So, following the procedure RKLLKR had given us, (thanks and amazing what's there) reset the traffic providers. Poked around in the other options. Backed out, selected Apps > traffic and lo and behold have traffic.
Unplugged from the wall charger.. took it to my vehicle, tried it with the original cable plugged into my cigarette lighter socket.. have traffic. Turned it off (sleep) and plugged it into my semi-hardwired connection and.. again have traffic.
So.. we will see what tomorrow brings.

RKLLKR mentions getting a lock, I would not recognize one if there was.. but there was no waiting/searching and this from my basement in a single detached bungalow.
Thanks again to all that gave advice and tried to help.

This whole thing could have been caused by a lack of electricity.

Agree. Many people don’t read the manuals and thus fail to realize the difference between “standby” and “off” on some of the newer models. Further compounding this is many accessory outlets in cars are essential dead unless the vehicle is running or the ignition is in an accessory mode.

I had this issue also with my Kia Optima that has bluetooth smartphone features including Android Auto/Apple Car Play. My Driveluxe 51 just wouldn't seem to automatically pair with my smartphone ... I would have to disable/reenable/unpair/re-pair several times to get Smartphone Link connected. Then I would have to go through all of this again the next time I tried to use SmartPhone Link.

Then I discovered that if I turned off (unchecked) phone calls on the DriveLuxe, but left bluetooth pairing and Smartphone Link enabled for traffic and weather, the automatic pairing would work every time. In fact I often run Smartphone Link and Android Auto at the same time. So I let my phone pair with the Optima for phone calls and Android Auto and pair with the DriveLuxe for Smartphone Link Traffic. That combination works great for me and pairs every time without problems.

Yes, unchecking phone calls was tried but did not work. We have posted about this issue before, Alan. I looked through all the settings in the 3597 and the phone to eliminate any bluetooth setting except Smartphone Link. This began with one car and then another car, and one phone and then another.

Most annoying was on a long trip, everything would be paired and Smartphone Link would be running fine. Just stop for lunch or a rest area, and the pairing has to be redone.

I am not saying that this is a Garmin problem, it is a bluetooth problem. I hate bluetooth!

I have to agree with you about Bluetooth. When it works, it's great, but it seems some combinations of devices just don't get along well with each other in bluetooth pairing.

Though I have the Garmin Smartphone Link loaded on my phone but stopped using it with my 2011 Ford Escape with latest/last firmware in it due to inconsistent operation with phones when calls came in. I never perused a fix, as there are few times where I use Link program, with Foursquare updates usually accomplishing my needs

Garmin does have a "secret" debug screen that allows you to view the FM radio traffic channels being scanned or used.

Get to the screen with a speedometer, than hold down the middle of the speedometer until the screen changes. The traffic channel won't show as a radio frequency, but instead as a Garmin channel number. You can use simple math to convert that to the radio station frequency, but I forget the constant number to subtract by, it may be somewhere on this or another website.

If the FM traffic channel keeps changing, your receiver isn't picking up a signal. It is also very possible that there is no longer an FM traffic signal in your area. Radio stations have less incentives/money to broadcast this these days.

Depending on the GPS model, quite a bit of information may be available. See https://www.gps-forums.com/threads/garmin-secret-menus.46595...

Explore at your own risk!

Well, after following the procedure RKLLKR had given me I am happy to report all is still well and working as it should.

This may well have been caused by a lack of electricity as dobs108 suggested several posts back. Although I don't understand how, this was always plugged in to the same source. Perhaps connecting it to a wall charger as phranc suggested helped. Certainly it was totally dead prior to connecting to a wall charger.

GPScity informs me that my DriveSmart 65LMT will arrive next Monday (two sleeps) so now I may have a second spare. Their website also implies that the DriveSmart 65LMT-S is being discontinued (or I am miss reading it) so perhaps.. I have purchased a soon to be discontinued family member.

Anyway, thanks to all that offered advice and suggestions.

Thank-you so much!!! I followed your very clear instructions and got my Nuvi 2689 LMT traffic working again!!! It hasn't been working for quite a long time and I was almost going to purchase another GPS. I'm in Toronto and it took only a matter of minutes to get the soft lock and a few more to get the hard lock. I didn't even need to drive around. Thanks again!!!

Happy to help. Glad you got things going.

As for me, my 2689 crapped out about a year and a half ago. It was having troubles booting and eventually went into the constant reboot mode. This strongly suggests that the operating software has been corrupted.

Two things working against solving the problem; Garmin Express has no function to re-apply the operating software and the GPS itself needs to boot properly before even it mounts as a device on your computer.

The GE problem I could solve by having the old Garmin Webupdate app that can re-apply operating software on my iMac. If I'd been smart, I should have used Webupdater at the first sign of trouble starting.

The constant reboot I could not solve. I contacted Garmin, the Canadian Garming Repair centre in Montreal and Sharcnet. Sharcnet, though their website is active, no longer fixes reboot problems. Garmin and their support centre basically said "Too Bad, So Sad, buy another one".

There is a piece of software called Cure out there in the wild that apparently can work around the boot up before becoming a disc device issue but it is PC-based. I'm in the Apple environment.

I gave the device to my most IT-savy friend, suggested he try Cure and Webupdater but he couldn't get the 2689 working again.

So now I have a nice looking brick and a lost lifetime EU maps subscription.

Every time I open Garmin Express, it shows the updates available for the 2689 since I haven't deregistered it. Bit of a "Nah, Nah, Loser" vibe there but I just grit my teeth.

If anybody can suggest a fix or someone who actually re-installs operating software (like Sharcnet used to), I am all ears.

Cheer
Bob
Ottawa
Not the one in Illinois