docjames Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 I live in Taiwan. I bought a Colorado 400T during June 2008. I used it for navigation during jetskiing (attached to the handle bar with it's handlebar mount) from the main island to nearby smaller island. During my first ride only 2 days after it was purchased, we ran into a Beaufort number 7-8 wind and one of a friend's jetski perished along with a father and his son. It was a headline news here. Luckily, I had the GPS and I must admit it saved my life. However, after I reached the island just 34 Km from the starting point, the GPS died on me. I later found out that night, water had gone into the battery compartment. I had it sent in for repair and Garmin was kind enough to replace a new one for me. After a very careful inspection, I found a flaw in its design. The O-ring (seal) that suppose to keep the water out would be squished upward whenever I tried sliding the case up. That's why so many of you are having trouble getting the cover completely slide up. If you take a very close look, after the O-ring was pushed up, there are detached parts of the O-ring (supposely glued to it's bottom) that separates and allow water to seep in. I believei it's a design flaw and the company should solve this problem. The only way I can make sure that won't happen again is to buy some camera O-ring grease and allow the case to slide more smoothly so the O-ring won't detach and get squished together. Unlike Garmin's previous water proof GPS, they were manufactured so that the back plate was placed over the seal and tightened by screws. In that way, there's no sliding force on a dry detachable O-ring seal. Lastly, after using the grease, it's hell trying to remove the greased sticky sliding case off for battery replacement. I'm going to wipe the grease off completely days before the warrantee rans out and take another trip on my jetski. I'm sure water will get in and I'll get this GPS replaced with a new one. Come to think of it, it really angers me that Garmin doesn't even make a sound addressing to this problem. Dr. James M. Shih docjames1098@hotmail.com Quote Link to comment
+splashy Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 It's not waterproof, see the small hole on the back under the metal. Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 There are two O-rings on the Colorado. I think the one you are referring to is around the battery compartment, the other is around the SD card slot. The O-ring around the SD card slot was improperly sized on some of the early units. I haven't heard about any replacement or change to the battery compartment O-ring -- there have been rumors about a redesign to the back cover. Maybe to address issues like this one? Pictures of the old and new SD card O-ring: http://garmincolorado.wikispaces.com/Issues+List#toc4 BTW, the hole in the back cover is supposed to be there. It is normal to get water underneath the back cover of the CO if it is submerged. Obviously it is not normal to get water inside the O-rings in the battery compartment or SD card slot. GO$Rs Quote Link to comment
+Evshro & son Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 My O-ring began slipping up as described above, and it was difficult to close. Perhaps it was not the best move, but I placed a dab of superglue underneath the ring. It has not moved since. Quote Link to comment
gallet Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Yes, this 'pushing the o ring up' business is a bit wacky. When sliding the case on I stop when the case reaches the top edge of the O ring and poke the O ring down with my fingernail before continuing to slide the case on. Quote Link to comment
gallet Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Yes, this 'pushing the o ring up' business is a bit wacky. When sliding the case on I stop when the case reaches the top edge of the O ring and poke the O ring down with my fingernail before continuing to slide the case on. Quote Link to comment
docjames Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 It is waterproof. On the box, it states it is waterproof down to 1 meter for 30 minutes. The hole on the bottom is for a harness to secure the CO to the unit and is outside the O-ring seal. Quote Link to comment
+twolpert Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 As g-o-cashers says, the undersized o-ring on the SD card slot is a known problem. I have also seen several other reports of the battery compartment o-ring "rolling" as described here. Doubt that there's much to be done about it other than return it for warranty repair. However, I don't think you need to wait until the unit is water-damaged. If the o-ring moves out of its slot when you close the case, I would think Garmin would replace it for that reason alone. Quote Link to comment
+flattie Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 As g-o-cashers says, the undersized o-ring on the SD card slot is a known problem. I have also seen several other reports of the battery compartment o-ring "rolling" as described here. Doubt that there's much to be done about it other than return it for warranty repair. However, I don't think you need to wait until the unit is water-damaged. If the o-ring moves out of its slot when you close the case, I would think Garmin would replace it for that reason alone. They will replace it because of the battery compartment o-ring issue. They replaced mine, last month. Quote Link to comment
+Tequila Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 They replaced mine three times and then gave me an Oregon instead. I am very happy. Quote Link to comment
TravelingSquirrel Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 The o-ring slipping would definitely be a problem. But, using it on a Jet Ski might also be a problem even if the o-ring is in place. If water hits the unit at speed, it could force its way into the device. The unit is meant to survive the pressure of 1 meter of water, but water/waves hitting it at speed could exceed that pressure. Quote Link to comment
docjames Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 Garmin called me several times this afternoon and told me they would gladly send a personel to pick up my GPS for O-ring replacement. I told them the reason I posted this thread was not because I wanted a new O-ring, but for them to recognize that there exist a design problem and this may result in a failure for a consumer during time of desperate need. They could not offer much more than a sorry and told me that the O-ring seal are OEM then glued on by an outside company. So much for that. Quote Link to comment
docjames Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 That's how water got into the battery compartment. Quote Link to comment
+Tequila Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Garmin is developing a new back cover BUT it appears to only address water around the SD card. A friend just received one from Garmin for beta testing. Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Any idea if they put a lanyard attachment on the new cover? GO$Rs Quote Link to comment
+Tequila Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Any idea if they put a lanyard attachment on the new cover? GO$Rs Here is what my friend wrote in the Central Ontario Geocacher's Forum: Well I recieved the new back cover for my Colorado - first impressions... well I'm disappointed!!!! The visible gap is still present the only change was the addition of an orange type rubber/silicon pad located in the bottom of the cover which surrounds and covers the SD Card slot. The installation instruction says to remove the existing o-ring gasket. Somehow I doubt this will prevent the water from entering the battery compartment. Guess I'll have to wait for the next rainy day unless I drop the darn thing in the toilet!!!! The forum can be found here: http://www.centralontariogeocachers.com/fo...83&start=90 Quote Link to comment
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