TheAbraxas

you can buy a new garmin empty case for nearly 12$cnd. Yes? Where? Including screen?

Thanks QuigleyJones! I will take that as a start. In case I do the repair I will publish instructions here.

Why not send the GPS to a friend/relative via registered mail or better yet UPS/FedEx? They can send it to Garmin Germany and return it to you. @verdugan Right. That's an option. That would cost me 200$ plus shipping to and from Germany. How much is a new 76csx on the street? At 375$ with a little research. So there is another option... If only I had not this 3 registered maps tied to the unit ID... Frankly speaking I still don't know what to do. @LifeOnEdge! The reason I told my story is I wanted to add some real world reference here. All over the web there are only happy Garmin customers, no broken units ever and in the very unlikely case of problems the GPS receivers are exchanged within hours for brand new ones. No matter if the warranty has run out. That may happen; lucky ones, I envy you. But it also may not happen and show Garmin as a normal company. Nothing more to it. BTW: Did anyone see an instruction on the internet how to open the 76csx?

I live in France and have a 60CX bought in the US. I called Garmin France for service, they were OK to service it but not under warranty because, the US warranty is only ONE year while the EU model is TWO years. So INSIST with Garmin and keep this warranty issue in mind !!!! @Suscrofa Doesn't work. Actually I am even still in the 1 year range. Bought it in April 07. Both Garmin US und Garmin Germany tell me a broken display never falls under the warranty. It is a customer handling fault. Period.

Befor you all wet your pants, here's my experience with this company. Bought my 76 csx one year ago in Germany for an unbelievable 750$ (530Euros). At that time the most unexpensive offer available there. Yes guys, they really punish us for not living in the US. Official story is, the basemap makes the difference. Now I'm having an assignment for one year to Detroit, MI. Of course my GPS is going with me. Two weeks ago the unit dropped off my pocket to the ground. No Rocks, plain blacktop. Maybe a 2 feet fall. Guess what, the display broke at once. So to me all this stories in the internet about these oh so rugged devices seem to be faked, sorry. BTW: Hey Garmin there are transparent plastics available like PC (Polycarbonat) who literally are unbreakable. Standard material for boat window panes. I worked a lot with it when I had this small Yacht. Called Garmin service in the US. Yes, sure send it to us. Oh you say it is from Europe, then sorry not our business. Send it back to Germany for repair. I told them no I won't. Due to: 50% of all mails between the US and Germany disappear traceless (personal statistics), parcels need at least 3 weeks to travel one way, charges and insurances fees are pretty high and of course not covered by Garmin. So this nice lady called her manager and they came back to me with the great offer of letting me send the GPS to Kansas and get another refurbished one back. With the US basemap of course as they do not ship European units within US. And all inclusive for only 150 bucks. And no, they won't repair my unit and no again they don't ship display glasses as spare parts. It's their policy. Cool, thanks! Called Garmin Munich, Germany. Yes, sure send it to us. You'll get a different refurbished unit with a European basemap back. Shipping included that's 133 Euros (200$ approx). Errrr, excuse me sir, what did you say where you live? In the US? We are so sorry, but we can accept and send orders only within Germany. Cool, thanks! True story, I have noted all the names of the people I talked to. Maybe Garmin should add a note to their manuals like: This great device capable of international worldwide mapping is supposed to be used only within the same country it has been purchased. Taking it with you, make sure you never cross any borders. And be careful to use only with greatest caution. Unit breakes easily. I really liked my 76csx. Used it on foot for hiking, in the car for routing, on the water for sailing, cayaking... Never had any issue. But since this incident 2 weeks ago I'm really pissed, sorry.

That was my point of view, too. Stress on 'was'. Check around the brass thread on the back. Yeah, the one to fix your data cable. Maybe a tiny crack? Or two? Even three? Not even tiny? That's my unit...