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Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

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ronlee(at)pcisys.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:20 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

I just talked to Garmin tech support and the unit has to be returned

 to Garmin to replace the internal battery.  Cost is $250 USD  (ouch).

  

 Battery should last 10 years.

  

 Personally this should be field replaceable or by a authorized  battery

 replacer for less than $20 USD.

  

 Ron Lee

  

  

    [quote][b]

brian.kraut(at)engalt.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:59 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

If  your battery is dead you need to have it replaced before it leaks.  Not  sure what the 96 has in it, but most things these days have lithium coin cells  with solder tabs on them.  There are maybe a half dozzen common  types.  When I owned my marine electronics shop we would replace the  batteries in nearly anything for about fourty bucks.  Your local marine  electronics shop or avionics shop should be able to do it for you.  Not all  shops have techs these days.  Some just send everything to the factory so  check with them first.

  

 

Brian Kraut

Engineering Alternatives, Inc.

www.engalt.com   [quote]   --

gyoung

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 211
Location: Republic of Texas

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:42 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

They told me $350 for the 396 but even $250 is absurd for a  battery replacement. Has anyone cracked the case and determined the correct  battery for it? I won't be able to open mine until the weekend. It's worth a  shot at replacing it myself and if it doesn't fix it THEN send it in for the  flat rate repair.

  

 Regards,

Greg Young

  



 [quote]         From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com    [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ron    Lee

Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 12:18 PM

To:    rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Garmin 296/396 losing    location - Talked to Garmin

   

   I just talked to Garmin tech support and the unit has to be  returned

   to Garmin to replace the internal battery.  Cost is $250 USD    (ouch).

    

   Battery should last 10 years.

    

   Personally this should be field replaceable or by a authorized    battery

   replacer for less than $20 USD.

    

   Ron Lee

    

[b]

sportav8r(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:49 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

If mine continues to give trouble, I might volunteer to try a field repair and post pics.



-Stormy



On Jan 21, 2008 1:55 PM, Brian Kraut <brian.kraut(at)engalt.com  (brian.kraut(at)engalt.com)> wrote:

[quote]       If  your battery is dead you need to have it replaced before it leaks.  Not  sure what the 96 has in it, but most things these days have lithium coin cells  with solder tabs on them.  There are maybe a half dozzen common  types.  When I owned my marine electronics shop we would replace the  batteries in nearly anything for about fourty bucks.  Your local marine  electronics shop or avionics shop should be able to do it for you.  Not all  shops have techs these days.  Some just send everything to the factory so  check with them first.

  

 

Brian Kraut

Engineering Alternatives, Inc.

www.engalt.com   [quote]   --

darnpilot(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:52 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

Ouch is right!  Mine is a 496 (18 months old, battery failed at 12 months) and if this is all the service I can expect from Garmin and their batteries, I will have to seriously reconsider any future Garmin purchase.

 

 Jeff

 

 

 --

cjensen(at)dts9000.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

When  Garmin says "flat rate" of $350 just to look at the box, the flat rate  they are referencing is the rate at which your wallet will go  flat.  For Garmin, internally, it is known as the "bulge  rate"!!!

  

 Chuck Jensen  

 [quote]   --

artglaser(at)sbcglobal.ne
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

I just spoke to garmin.  Contact their aviation support section.  Speak to Todd.  They may repair it out of warranty.



Chuck Jensen <cjensen(at)dts9000.com> wrote:  [quote]    When Garmin says "flat rate" of $350 just to look at the box, the flat rate they are referencing is the rate at which your wallet will go flat.  For Garmin, internally, it is known as the "bulge rate"!!!

   

  Chuck Jensen 

  [quote]  -----Original  Message-----

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com]On Behalf Of darnpilot(at)aol.com

Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 2:49 PM

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

Ouch is right!  Mine is a 496 (18 months old, battery failed at 12 months) and if this is all the service I can expect from Garmin and their batteries, I will have to seriously reconsider any future Garmin purchase.



Jeff

--

pbesing(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

Yes, do escalate that.  Their service is actually pretty good.  And for a $2400 unit, I would hope that it would last longer than 12-18 months.  Mine did have a problem, but they fixed it quick, under warranty, quick return, etc.  I think it wasn't garmin's fault I think it was mine when I was building my new panel I probably touched a hot wire to ground.



Paul Besing



---

Mark Phillips in TN

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 431
Location: Columbia, TN

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

In a message dated 01/21/2008 1:51:25 PM Central Standard Time, sportav8r(at)gmail.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I might volunteer to try a field repair and post pics. 	


 Please do!  This is the kind of stuff that turns us into veritable techno-gods!  ("Ah, man- my 295 is tits-up because it don't have a clue where it is."  "Just replace the battery". "Huh?"  "Sure- just pop it open and slam a fresh one in there!"  "Huh?"  "Piece of cake, and it'll save you a $hitload of $$$"  "Wow, man- you're my hero!")

  

 Mark do not archive



Start the year off right.  Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year. 

  [quote][b]

_________________
From The PossumWorks...

ronlee(at)pcisys.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:37 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

I might volunteer to try a field repair and post  pics.

  

  

 Perhaps it would help to determione a  test to see if the internal battery is the problem.

  

 Also determine if Garmin will replace  the battery for much less that $250 or $350 as

 someone suggested.

  

 As for the internal battery test,  perhaps make sure that the date and time are correct

 by going outside and getting a good  lock.  Then go inside, remove the AA batteries,

 let it sit for 30 minutes or so.   Then replace the batteries and with the unit under a desk

 or similar to prevent signal  acquisition, check the date/time.  If not within a few seconds

 of the correct value...suspect the  internal battery.

  

 Ron Lee

    [quote][b]

sportav8r(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:54 am Post subject: Garmin 296/396 losing location - Talked to Garmin

No need to hide under a desk; just remove the quadrifilar antenna and she's blind.



On Jan 22, 2008 10:28 AM, Ron Lee <ronlee(at)pcisys.net (ronlee(at)pcisys.net)> wrote: 

[quote]       I might volunteer to try a field repair and post  pics.

  

  



 Perhaps it would help to determione a  test to see if the internal battery is the problem.

  

 Also determine if Garmin will replace  the battery for much less that $250 or $350 as

 someone suggested.

  

 As for the internal battery test,  perhaps make sure that the date and time are correct

 by going outside and getting a good  lock.  Then go inside, remove the AA batteries,

 let it sit for 30 minutes or so.   Then replace the batteries and with the unit under a desk

 or similar to prevent signal  acquisition, check the date/time.  If not within a few seconds

 of the correct value...suspect the  internal battery.

  

 Ron Lee

     	  Quote: 	
		  

	




[b]

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