Garmin bites the dust

TyBoo

TyBoo

Administrator
Staff member
My Garmin 2006C appears to be fried. I turned it on this morning and it looked just fine until I left the dock and saw it wasn't registering any speed. The satelites were fixed, and the display looked fine. I shut it off, restarted, and it came back up and worked for a few seconds, then quit responding again. This time, the on/off button would not turn it off. In fact, none of the buttons worked. I shut off the power to it and restarted. Nothing. Went back to the dock and looked everything over. No power or connection problems. The next dozen tries, it would not even turn on. Then it got to where it would turn on and display an all white blank screen after some weird rainbow loooking blips at power up. But none of the buttons do anything, and I have to remove the power to shut it off. I don't know what it is. And I ain't happy about it.
 
This doesn't sound good at all...however, will mention that my Garmin188C on the 22 worked great from February through October 2003, then on the Sequim weekend (in the fog, naturally), it started spontaneously powering off. I contacted Garmin, they said it sounded like a software problem and to download the new version of the software, which I did. I installed the software, and it worked flawlessly thereafter. Of course, if your 2006C does not respond to the buttons at all, it could be difficult to install software...
 
Jeeze, Mike, first it was the Furuno radar, now the Garmin? I hope you carry a second VHF, because it sounds like a techno-cloud is currently over the boat.

If Garmin software updates are like Lowrance updates, you can download the upgrade to your computer, burn a CF card, plug it in the Garmin and power up. The unit should look to the CF card first and basically boot to the card, upgrade the firmware/software, then go on to start up normally.

Good luck. Nothing like a broken primary nav device to ruin yer day

Don
 
Bummer Mike. kind of an odd failure though.
You might want to try;
Disconnecting the antenna and all other inputs
Pull the map chip

might be getting brain damage from an outside influence

stevej
 
Sneaks - Thanks for that idea. I already have an upgrade chip that came with the GSD 20 sounder module that I can stick in to try. I really thought the electronic jinx theory might have some substance, because my Honda alternator puts out a little higher voltage than I like to see (14 to 15v). But the Garmin specs list a range of 10 to 32v for the unit, so over voltage wasn't it. The Furuno - well - that came with the boat and was never quite right anyway.

Steve - I haven't tried unhooking the antenna, although I did unhook the sounder module. Fishing sucks, so maybe tomorrow I will screw with it a little.

I kind of think it is a hardware problem, though.

If nothing works after spending a little time, I will turn it over to Garmin. It will be interesting to see how they treat me. I really like the Blue Charts, and I really like the new Garmin units, but for two grand it had better last more than four years. I will definately post a report on here.

I was going to try the unit as a flasher for fishing today, since it ain't much good as a fish finder any more. But the only way to attach the leader is to tie it to the mounting knobs, and I figured that one knob or the other would come unscrewed depending on which way it was spinning.
 
If those old charts and compass were new in your lifetime, sonny boy, I probably got underwear older than them. Thanks for the offer, but I have my own compass. You can sure mail me the charts if you want, though. All I have is the cruising atlas variety. Or better yet, get your butt and the charts to the SBSCBGT in January and meet some of these nice people. You can dogsledpool with Mark, 'cuz there's no way he is missing it two years in a row.

I've already ruled out the Honda culpability. The only way it could be remotely connected is through the prop it's turning.

Now be nice - this is a Pub, not a treehouse.

I am going to go plug in that upgrade chip in a little while, but I am betting the unit won't care.
 
The software chip didn't do a thing. It might have worked if the unit would power up correctly. Now it only comes on if I hold the power button for a few seconds while it makes a high pitched squeal, and then comes the white screen for 5 seconds until it shuts down by itself. I clipped the wires for the antenna and disconnected the sounder module. Nothing. Checked the voltage to the main unit plug - 12.62vdc. Visually inspected the other connections - all tight and clean. It's junk. I'll do the Garmin phone call next week.
 
Bummer. Sure glad you didn't cut the end of your finger off or anything dumb like that while you were clipping those wires . I hear it can take days for something stupid like that to heal :roll: .
 
TyBoo":2nm84af6 said:
The software chip didn't do a thing. It might have worked if the unit would power up correctly. Now it only comes on if I hold the power button for a few seconds while it makes a high pitched squeal, and then comes the white screen for 5 seconds until it shuts down by itself. I'll do the Garmin phone call next week.
Click to expand...

Damn. If it won't get past the hard wired bootstrap routine then you're well and truly in deep feces without a propellant device.

Another hint: Call Garmin using your cell phone while you're sitting in front of the unit. 80% chance they'll just tell you to send it in, but like all 'tronic customer service reps today, the guy might make you do all the obvious things again - with him on the phone. :roll:
 
Bummer on the Garmin, Mike, ain't nothing bullet proof when it comes to electronics or for that matter, most anything else. Character, integrity and quality of this site excepted.

You got it right Mike, I'm not missing the SBS this year, Betty and I will be there. Hopefully, Dan and Paige will make it as well.

Everything worked like it should on 3rd Byte this year with the exception of the minor glitch on the auto pilot and some damn fool leaving the fenders out when my boat is running at mach 2 and no land within miles. . If I ever catch that sucker, he's is in a world of hurt.

Good luck on the Garmin. This sounds like a problem for Garmin to resolve and it WILL be interesting to see how they take care of it.
 
3rd Byte":u9qyugf6 said:
some damn fool leaving the fenders out when my boat is running at mach 2 and no land within miles. . If I ever catch that sucker, he's is in a world of hurt.
Click to expand...

Or at least get the nasty guy that got the picture of that damn fool!! :lol: :lol:

Charlie
 
So what do you all think of this?? A flat rate of $250 for something I paid $2000 for less than four years ago? On one hand, it is worth that for a working 2006C (they are $1300 new today, and I find no used ones on eBay). On the other hand, it sure takes the shine off of the Garmin product. I guess I'll send the piece of junk in as long as I know the flat rate is the maximum rate. I really have no choice if I can get it back for the flat rate, because I could sell it for twice that.

Thank you for contacting Garmin International,

Sir, from what you are describing the unit should come in for repair. If
the unit is 1 year old or less it will be covered under warranty. If it is
older than 1 year there will be a flat rate of repair on the unit of
$250.00. You may setup the RMA by calling the 800 number in the close of
this Email. Please have the following information when you call in.

Full Name:
Shipping address:
City, State, Zip Code:
Daytime phone number:
Unit:
S/N of unit:
Description of Problem:

If, you have any further questions please feel free to contact us.

Thank You,
Jake Dahlstrom
Senior Product Support
GARMIN International
800-800-1020
<http://www.garmin.com/>
Fax 1-913-440-5488
Click to expand...
 
Well now, I called the Garmin 800 number, and the last thing the recording said was to expect a wait of 30 to 35 minutes. I paid two grand for this thing!?!?
 
Ah, maybe it ain't so bad. The guy who came on the phone after 15 minutes or so was the same one who sent me the email this morning, so the explaining was easy. The cost is $250 total, regardless of the problem. It covers a complete refurbish, latest software update, and return shipping. All I have to send is the display itself, the antenna, cables and sounder module can stay on the boat. If my unit is toast, it will be replaced with a refurbished one. He said it will be back within seven working days from the time they receive it.

I got called into work at midnight, and I haven't had any sleep yet. That's part of the reason my patience is so low. But, it was double time for the holiday and four hours call time, so in six hours I made better than two days pay. So maybe I can afford this. Plus I got today off to get the thing taken care of.

Oh, and the three days I would have ran out to the ocean were lousy fishing days out there, so the 50 gallons of fuel I saved by not having the GPS will cover a good part of the repair.

Thanks for letting me whine.

Gotta go to the UPS place............
 
Mike, I had very good service when I had my Garmin GPS/Sounder on the 16'. I had some problems and after 2xs to the factory they replaced the whole unit. (Fortunately for me it was still under warranty).
On the plus side for you.....I would suspect that after you pay your $250. that if anything else goes wrong with it, it will be under a new warranty for a period of time. (After mine was replaced I never had a problem again).
 
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