Garmin Zumo 660 problem.

[Flip]

Hi all,

a little over 4 years ago I purchased a Garmin Zumo 660 unit (AU + NZ model) from an Aussie on-line seller. It worked great for the first 4 - 6 months then I went overseas for an extended holiday and ended up living in Sai Gon for a year or so. (More than 4 &1/2 MILLION motorbikes and little putt-putt scooters in the one city ! FUN ! )

While I was away, my ST1100P was started and run up for about 10 - 15 minutes every second week. The Zumo 660 was mounted each time to keep the battery charged up.

By the time I returned the Zumo keep on popping up a notice on the screen telling me it was time to re-new/upgrade the maps. (which I promptly ignored) 

Over the past 2 years I've been unable to ride, on going medical and surgery, but keep the ST started and running for 10 minutes once a week.
Upsetting my bike hating next door neighbour no end each time - silly old f*rt that he is !       

Being forgetful - think I'm going senile due to lack of riding time, I usually forgot to mount the Zumo 660 each time. 

Been occasionally remembering to plug the Zumo into the car cigarette socket, usually weeks apart at a time, so the battery was usually down to about 1/2 charge each time.

Last weekend when to do this again - the word 'Gamin' came up on the screen first as usual only this time there was a small notice just above it in orange color. By the time I put my reading glasses on the screen went completely blank. 

Tried several times after that to get it to work again both on the bike and in the car.  Result = ZIP - blank screen every time. 

Could some kind sole out there please advise me who and where the authorized Garmin repair agent is in the Perth metro area ? (if there is one)
Hoping to hell it's only the battery that died !   

Thanks in advance, 

Flip

No more YAROOOOOOM for a few more months - bloody doctors !!! 


 

[Brock]

 Hi Flip,

Does the GPS have a memory card in the side of it, if so remove it and try to restart it. If it comes up, pop the card back in and then shut it down and restart.

here is a how to replace battery vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCndkcmYUPQ

[Flip]

Hi Brock,

thanks for the lead - unfortunately that's for the Garmin Nuvi 660, at different model altogether, but it did give me a lead to the Zumo 660 videos.

The Zumo 660 has it's battery cover panel on the left hand side (from the rear) with the panel's slide key underneath on the lower edge of the unit.

Opened the battery compartment, removed the battery that allowed access to the micro SD card.
Removed the card and replaced the battery then replace the battery compartment's panel.  Pressed the on-off power switch down as usual.
Held the switch down for 8 second first as per the instruction, then for a good 30 seconds, again nothing at all on the screen.
Released the switch and repeated holding it down again, just in case it was in the 'on' position to start with, again nothing.   

Checked the owner's on-line manual.
Under 'Trouble shooting' (page 44) there is nothing at all about not being able to turn on.
The only piece of useful information was to check the 'fast-blow' fuse inside the automotive cigarette plug.
Did that, multimeter showed the fuse is in perfect condition. 

Also tried the instructions for the 'Resetting the Zumo' and the 'clear all my Data' - with the mini SD card removed - again nothing happened at all. 

That is the total limit of any sort of trouble shooting in the owner's manual.
It's obviously written with the USA market in mind attitude, ie - " You're too stupid to be told any more. Send your toy back to us to be fixed or throw it away." 
In today's world there's also the - "We're not going to tell you anything more in case you decide to sue us. "   

Next step, phoned 'Battery World' to get a quote on the cost of a replacement battery. 
GREAT ! They only list batteries up to the Garmin 550 model.   
The guy from Battery world suggested bring the whole unit to their shop and they'd physical have a look at it and see if they have a compatible battery available.

So, still looking for an authorized Garmin repair business somewhere hopefully in the Perth metro area.

Seem to remember when I first purchased this unit, there was a place somewhere north of the river - out Balcatta way somewhere. ( I think )

Thanks again for the lead, Brock.        

Back onto the Google machine again for a while tonight. 

Flip.


 

STILL no YAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM ! (YET)

[Brock]

To my knowledge, there are no Garmin repairers in WA, nearest is Garmin HQ in Sydney. (The Company I work for is  a registered Garmin seller {Mainly aero stuff})

From reading on various GPS fora, what usualy happens is that you send you machine to them, they take a look at it and then swap it for a serviced unit (installing your software, licence codes etc). Your old unit goes back to states for repair. Costs $$$$

[Flip]

Thanks again Brock,

that's much as I feared - no local authorized repairer in W.A. (W.A. = Wait A while) 

Did find one on-line shop in Oz selling replacement batteries they claim are for the Zumo 660.  ' Adventuresafety.com.au '

The serial number is the same as the original Garmin battery but they list no other details, physical size, capacity, etc.
Their site photo shows a battery, same shape etc, BUT with only the name 'Garmin' printed on it - nothing else. 
Also says 'Replacement', nothing about being the genuine item.
They list it as also compatible with - Compatible with the :
Aera 500, Aera 510, Aera 550, Aera 560, Nuvi 500, Nuvi 550, SafeNav, Zumo 220, Zumo 660/660LM and the Zumo 665.
Price is listed as AUS$69.50  plus a flat rate of AUS$10.00 for shipping. 
Learned a long time ago with R/C helicopters that 'Replacement' does not necessarily mean it's the genuine item and not just a knock off copy.   

Also found another on-line shop on fleabay selling the Gamin battery - at AUS$72.08 plus AUS$13.50. 
This one, 'sustuu' (83144 sales. With a 99.9% fleabay positive feedback.) Listed as being in Harrow, North West London, UK.
Their site photo shows clearly the battery with all the printing on it exactly as per the one in my Zumo 660 now. 
And : - Brand New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging. Brand:    Garmin. MPN:    010-11143-00

As you pointed out with the way Garmin operates in Australia, I'd sooner take the chance on buying a new battery and see how that works out than go through the way things are done here.   

In the worse case, I might still have to pay out the $$$$ to Garmin HQ in Sydney - but then at least I'll have a new spare battery to play with.   

Thanks again, 

Flip.



    

silence ! 

[Yorkie]

I have the 660, we could replace your battery with mine to check that is the problem.