Broke Gps Garmin

[hamburger33]

I got 2 broke Garmins GPS III+. both have screen problems. It looks like the ribbon cable if it has one does not connect the display and the main board. I get lines in the display on both. I don't know if they have been dropped or not.

 

Can they be fixed?

[+Team JSAM]

Yes they can buy a Magellan

[+CheshireFrog]

I got 2 broke Garmins GPS III+. both have screen problems. It looks like the ribbon cable if it has one does not connect the display and the main board. I get lines in the display on both. I don't know if they have been dropped or not.

 

I agree, it sounds like the ribbon cable is at fault; lines on the screen is a classic symptom. Since the units don't seem to be usable as they are now, you might try cleaning and reseating the ribbon cables. I generally use a dollar bill to buff the contacts on the cable. It's abrasive enough to clean the contacts and wicks off any skin oil that might be on them. It goes without saying that you need to be ginger when handling the cable.

[Neo_Geo]

Yes they can buy a Magellan

That would be worse than just having lines on the display!

[+Intermountain Angler]

Yes they can buy a Magellan

That would be worse than just having lines on the display!

 

Magellan can likely fix a Garmin unit but the wait would just kill you

[hamburger33]

i have opened the back of the gps but i can not see a ribbon cable. the back seems to only hold the batteries. the display and the guts are all in the faceplate. i can't get to any thing.

[+Campmaster]

Have you called Garmin? I have had good luck with their after warranty support, they replaced the batteries in my IIplus after 7 years, for free!

 

~CMT

[+Ed & Julie]

I get lines on my display sometimes (a known Garmin issue)...I just just the tried and true "Garmin Whack" to fix it. When the display begins to ge wonky, smack the ubnit on the side with the palm of your hand. Works for me (for that day, anyways).

 

Ed

[arthurking83]

...... Works for me (for that day, anyways).

 

Ed

 

do they call you "The Fonz" ?

 

whack the Garmin with a Magellan, instead of the back of your hand...why hurt your hand?

......a Magellan is much stronger!

[Twilight Error]

...... Works for me (for that day, anyways).

 

Ed

 

do they call you "The Fonz" ?

 

whack the Garmin with a Magellan, instead of the back of your hand...why hurt your hand?

......a Magellan is much stronger!

Indeed, the Magellan is much better used as a hammer than a GPSr.

[+Sputnik 57]

At the risk of moving this thread back ON TOPIC, here is step-by-step showing how to disassemble of a Garmin Vista to fix the ribbon cable. I isn't a III+, but you might find some tips in there.

[hamburger33]

my unit is not the same as this photo you had. i have removed the back but the circuit board is mated to the display and i can not see any means to remove the circuit board from the display. if there is are screws holding it to the display i can not find these and i see no way to remove it. it might not be a ribbon cable it might be contacts. that would be one reason for the contact problems. both units are doing the same. i kept the units on the dash board of the truck for several years and i suspect that the sun has warped the case. and with the case flexed from warp-age then the contacts and or ribbon cable is not making the correct connection.

 

 

i feel this is the only problem with the units. aside from short battery life.