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What caused my Garmin GPS to die?

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Voodoo Thumb's Avatar
Member with 183 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
20-Mar-2010, 03:59 PM #1
What caused my Garmin GPS to die?
I have a Garmin nuvi 265WT. Used it for 3 or 4 months, and loved it to pieces. Then yesterday, it suddenly would not receive satellite signals. I did everything they recommended, standing in an open area etc., but nothing worked. Costco was great and just exchanged it out for a new one.
What causes this? Is it harmful to leave it attached to the windshield if it’s hot and sunny? If there is anything I can do to keep it from happening again, I’d like to know.
Thank you.
oksteve's Avatar
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Location: 51.5528,-0.0063
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20-Mar-2010, 09:07 PM #2
Lots of things could have caused the problem, and your right to be concerned about it happening again.
The battery,the software,unit overheating unless your in the UK lol.
I don't know if you kept it updated, you probably did, so its more likely the software was at fault or you live in a very warm climate. Even though sat navs are designed to sit in hot places they do have a recommended operating temperature.

Once that temp was reached the unit would malfunction but reactivate when it had cooled down. Not working at all means your sat nav turned rogue and could have lead you down the road to hell. Or your battery was substandard and I doubt if it would have been easy to change.
Nice that the store exchanged it. I would have tried for my money back and gone for a Tom Tom. Let us know if it happens again
DoubleHelix's Avatar
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21-Mar-2010, 12:13 AM #3
I highly doubt it was a software problem, and I've never heard of a GPS going "rogue". Really, the machines are not taking over.

Heat could have damaged it. Or it simply could have been defective. That happens all the time.
oksteve's Avatar
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21-Mar-2010, 06:00 AM #4
ah so you don't think machines are taking over...that its a rare event when a sat nav gives wrong info? Its happening all the time my friend wrong left here wrong right there, no sat signals its only a matter of time ...till....arghhhhhh they will take us all down the same cul de sac and do us in !!!!!

Voodoo had a successful conclusion to his problem and I for one am pleased he did. And glad he shared his experience here so others with the same sat nav model could be aware of what might happen to them.

I tried to inject a lil humour of a "Rogue" sat nav thats all. Overheating would have caused the sat navs software to fail or just a duff unit. Woteva

Run to the hills...if you can find them!!!!
JohnWill's Avatar
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21-Mar-2010, 11:02 AM #5
I'd say it was probably just a defective unit. I've left my GPS in the car on hot summer days, and it's three years old and still works fine. The only surgery it's required is replacing the battery, the original was not holding a charge anymore. Of course, since GPS units are not designed for user battery replacement, it required more effort than sticking batteries in your flashlight!
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