Garmin 2820 Soldered To Death?

[tourunigo]

My Garmin 2820 has apparently died as a result of my tampering. This is what happened: I needed what is called a Bare Wire Connector because my old one malfunctioned at the unit end. So, since this part is no longer available, I pirated a wire from the same unit's extra speaker unit. Connected it up and it worked fine. I then proceeded to solder the power and ground wires. Turned on the unit....... nothing. Played with it a while and still nothing. Connected the dc converter wire. Still nothing. Connected to the computer...nothing. Did numerous Hard Resets (holding Menu and Map while clicking on) ..... futile.

So, I really cannot get a new unit but reluctant to trash this unit until I have exhausted all options. My final option is to ask the Forum members. Could my soldering of the two wires have somehow screwed up the unit? (soldering took place two feet from the connected unit). Thanks. - Bob

 

[exgman]

This does not address your question, but Garmin will take your old 2820 (just the unit, not the accessories), and send you a Nuvi 56LM for free. An alternative to the 56LM is a discount on any other Garmin Unit. Of course the 56 LM is not waterproof, but some cases will handle that issue.

Anyway, just a thought...

 

[omega man]

My rough guess is only if you were soldering it while it was powered or- you have inadvertently connected the two wires you were working on.
You could start over and see what happens.
OM

 

[tourunigo]

This does not address your question, but Garmin will take your old 2820 (just the unit, not the accessories), and send you a Nuvi 56LM for free. An alternative to the 56LM is a discount on any other Garmin Unit. Of course the 56 LM is not waterproof, but some cases will handle that issue.

Anyway, just a thought...

I don't know anything about that exchange (which I would do if my unit is trash). How do I do that? My backup plan is to use my wife's Nuvi 66lm (she velcros it on the back of my jacket for her own use when we travel 2up). Will check into a waterproof case, as you suggest.

 

[exgman]

Well this all evolved when I attempted to update the maps on my 2820. I had a NuMaps subscription from a long time ago. Of course, the map files are too large now for the 2820. I called Garmin to ask about how to update just a portion of the US which I had formerly been able to do. The fellow in Customer Service said that the 2820 really could not handle that kind of thing, and offered to have me send the unit itself, not the power cable, not the mount, just the unit to Garmin in Kansas. In return I'd get a brand-new (not refurbished) Garmin 56 LM.

I found a small box, sent it out to Garmin and a week later I got the 56LM. It has a 5" diagonal screen, has lifetime maps for US & Canada. It comes with a vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, and a USB cable (for map updating). Here's the box:



I believe this unit is commonly available on Amazon for about $110. A waterproof case is probably another $25.

I asked about alternatives to the 56LM and was told that I could also have something like a 20% discount on any other Garmin highway unit. I don't imagine the BMW Nav V is part of that program.

 

[tourunigo]

My rough guess is only if you were soldering it while it was powered or- you have inadvertently connected the two wires you were working on.
You could start over and see what happens.
OM

Did a direct connect on battery and still playing dead. Possibly I did fry it by getting a bunch of electrons all heated up and excited whereby they attacked the Garmin circuit in some way. Can this happen? Hopefully my tale of woe will alert others inclined to solder in such a way. Maybe someone will have information on how this misfortune can happen.

 

[tourunigo]

Well this all evolved when I attempted to update the maps on my 2820. I had a NuMaps subscription from a long time ago. Of course, the map files are too large now for the 2820. I called Garmin to ask about how to update just a portion of the US which I had formerly been able to do. The fellow in Customer Service said that the 2820 really could not handle that kind of thing, and offered to have me send the unit itself, not the power cable, not the mount, just the unit to Garmin in Kansas. In return I'd get a brand-new (not refurbished) Garmin 56 LM.

I found a small box, sent it out to Garmin and a week later I got the 56LM. It has a 5" diagonal screen, has lifetime maps for US & Canada. It comes with a vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, and a USB cable (for map updating). Here's the box:

View attachment 54971

I believe this unit is commonly available on Amazon for about $110. A waterproof case is probably another $25.

I asked about alternatives to the 56LM and was told that I could also have something like a 20% discount on any other Garmin highway unit. I don't imagine the BMW Nav V is part of that program.

I just wrote their Customer Service about this. Will update here regarding that outcome. - Bob

 

[omega man]

Did a direct connect on battery and still playing dead. Possibly I did fry it by getting a bunch of electrons all heated up and excited whereby they attacked the Garmin circuit in some way. Can this happen? Hopefully my tale of woe will alert others inclined to solder in such a way. Maybe someone will have information on how this misfortune can happen.

I would have to have seen it Bob. Generally you would want to use a low wattage iron- not a gun, on this type of repair. With the SMT (surface mount technology) all this kind of thing gets harder to repair. For example, sometimes with small parts I have to glue them to the board before I can solder them because the iron bumps them out of position.
Sounds like John has a good solution for you. Let us know how it works out.
Gary

 

[tourunigo]

Follow up: A case of inequity at garmin

Well this all evolved when I attempted to update the maps on my 2820. I had a NuMaps subscription from a long time ago. Of course, the map files are too large now for the 2820. I called Garmin to ask about how to update just a portion of the US which I had formerly been able to do. The fellow in Customer Service said that the 2820 really could not handle that kind of thing, and offered to have me send the unit itself, not the power cable, not the mount, just the unit to Garmin in Kansas. In return I'd get a brand-new (not refurbished) Garmin 56 LM.

I found a small box, sent it out to Garmin and a week later I got the 56LM. It has a 5" diagonal screen, has lifetime maps for US & Canada. It comes with a vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, and a USB cable (for map updating). Here's the box:

View attachment 54971

I believe this unit is commonly available on Amazon for about $110. A waterproof case is probably another $25.

I asked about alternatives to the 56LM and was told that I could also have something like a 20% discount on any other Garmin highway unit. I don't imagine the BMW Nav V is part of that program.

As a follow-up to my self induced Garmin-Fry: I contacted Garmin to see if I could get the same offer as outlined above. It seems that, yes, such an offer exists , but only if you live in the U.S. But they could give me a 20% credit on a trade in option..... if I had both a shipping and billing address in the U.S. Really? Now, I do have a U.S. shipping address but having a billing address is a much more complex achievement. And, to likely make it all that more improbable, I would be paying an additional currency exchange rate :banged

So, as a Canadian, Garmin has nothing to offer. Doesn't sound very fair but...... oh well. Will just get a waterproof container for my car gps and go with that. Still like Garmin as a product though. Below is what Garmin Customer Service said...... - Bob



"Thank you for contacting Garmin International. We are happy to be of assistance and apologize for any inconvenience it has caused.

Unfortunately, the trade-in is only eligible within the U.S.

In order for you to be able to take advantage of this program, you would need a U.S. shipping and billing address.

If you have both a U.S. shipping and billing address, then the only offer we would have for this specific device would be a 20% trade-in option. This would allow for you to purchase a new device directly through us at full price, then send your old device back for a 20% credit. Your device is not subject to any free trade-in programs, unfortunately.
"

 

[rocketmanli]

Garmin is offering a trade-in program for old 27XX and 28XX series StreetPilots (I didn't ask about the 26XX series), only if you purchased lifetime map updates with the old units. If you return your old one to them, they will replace it for free with either a Nuvi 56LM (US & Canada maps) or a Nuvi 55LM (just US maps). If you bought periodic map updates, it doesn't count; only lifetime map purchases. Either way, they will give you 20% off list for your trade-in towards a newer model, but Amazon's regular prices are better than Garmin's prices with the 20% discount.