ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
.....from the canbus socket near the bars. It did used to work but for some reason has stopped, I've checked the connections and they look fine. Any thoughts?
550 Not charging....
- Thread starter ExpatinIstanbul
- Start date
its all poo
Registered user
Well I have had the internal bits of the cradle fail twice, once the sprig loaded pins failed and the contacts on the actual Zumo. The spring loaded pins on the cradle wore a tiny hole through the middle of the contact on the actual zumo. I think the power pin on the cradle is 2nd in from the left ? its normaly a bit green and shacky compared to the others. If it is the contacts on the zumo the demo ones in the shops are real cases so you can swop the insides around and fix it. I have one here if you just nip up to Serbia !
eggsy
Registered user
Might not be the charging system. My 550 wouldnt charge the other week and the nice man at Garmin said just take the battery off the actual Garmin for a few minutes and its resets when you put it back in. Bingo, worked for me.
TDC Rab
Registered user
youll prob find its the cradle thats at fault the circut board gets rusted and causes this problem. hope this helps 
ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
I'm going to try the battery removal option, if it's the others or something more serious i'm going to shout at it until it works.
Tried using / charging it with the car mount? That would help confirm if the bike side of things are the problem, or if it's the zumo that's faulty.
Had the same issue on my Zumo. Battery charge worked when used on car cradle but did not work on bike cradle. After disassembling the bike cradle found that contact corrosion of the +12V pin caused this problem (2nd or 3rd from lhs on front row). Ordered a new bike cradle replacement (£45). 
Works fine now
Works fine now
ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
Battery removal didn't work, car charger does, so it's the bike cradle. Crap. Or maybe the bike charging lead, but I doubt it. I really don't want to have to buy another bike cradle (this is already my second). HarryMcGuiness, could you have done something to clean up the pin?
Bikerjim
Registered user
Had this a couple of times on mine
It may be the Canbus is having one of its funny turns where the Garmin and Canbus dont talk to each other so no charging.
Try to tun ignition live with the zumo swithched off it should (as usual) swith on the garmin.
I usauly leave it on and in the cradle and usulay sorts itslef after 10 mins
Jim
It may be the Canbus is having one of its funny turns where the Garmin and Canbus dont talk to each other so no charging.
Try to tun ignition live with the zumo swithched off it should (as usual) swith on the garmin.
I usauly leave it on and in the cradle and usulay sorts itslef after 10 mins
Jim
ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
Still not working. Here's what I've tried in my feeble attempt at eliminating possible faults.
1. Charging the Zumo via the car cradle and mains. It works, so it's not the unit itself.
2. Using a borrowed bike cradle that I know works. Still doesn't charge, so it's probably not the cradle (i'll be trying it on someone else's bike to see if my cradle works on his).
3. Taking the battery out for ten minutes to reset the Zumo. Didn't work.
4. left the Zumo on the cradle, on the bike, for 20 minutes. Didn't work.
So, assuming my cradle will work on another bike, which i think it will, I think it'll be either the cable running from the accessory socket at the front, or the canbus is not recognising the Zumo. If it's the latter, can I do a canbus reset?
1. Charging the Zumo via the car cradle and mains. It works, so it's not the unit itself.
2. Using a borrowed bike cradle that I know works. Still doesn't charge, so it's probably not the cradle (i'll be trying it on someone else's bike to see if my cradle works on his).
3. Taking the battery out for ten minutes to reset the Zumo. Didn't work.
4. left the Zumo on the cradle, on the bike, for 20 minutes. Didn't work.
So, assuming my cradle will work on another bike, which i think it will, I think it'll be either the cable running from the accessory socket at the front, or the canbus is not recognising the Zumo. If it's the latter, can I do a canbus reset?
daral
Registered user
My cradle is not on the bike and I have the Zumo to Canbus Touratech cable... We can try it (I live in Istanbul)
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That was a waste of £45. Garmin will replace it free of charge. Phone them up, explain the problem, ask for an RMA number and send it off. Replacement should arrive in just a few days.
If you still have the original mount it's not too late to do this, then sell one of the mounts on this site to someone who wants a spare mount.
I have three mounts, one of each of my bikes and a third spare mount that I take with me travelling.
ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
That's a kind offer daral, but I have a friend I'll be seeing this weekend who can do the same thing. I'm hoping it's just the cable, as that should be an easy and cheap fix.
Can I suggest you post an introduction, to say hi and tell us something about yourself?
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=152
Can I suggest you post an introduction, to say hi and tell us something about yourself?
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=152
Bikerjim
Registered user
Sorted
This happend to me again, a trick to cure
A good squirt of WD 40 on the conectors and a good clean (old tooth brush)
Using thin pliers pull up all the conectors
Worked on mine
Jim
This happend to me again, a trick to cure
A good squirt of WD 40 on the conectors and a good clean (old tooth brush)
Using thin pliers pull up all the conectors
Worked on mine
Jim
mr badger
Registered user
Mine had a tiny, and I mean tiny, bit of corrosion on both pin and contact.
Polished both and fine since.
Polished both and fine since.
Frodo
Registered user
I've just been working on a friend's Zumo 500/550 that wouldn't charge from the bike cradle & hope the following info might be helpful to others:
1. symptom = zumo not charging on bike mount, but charges ok from mains (usb) and car mount. Therefore zumo unit = ok; bike mount = goosed.
2. check external voltage using the HIDDEN INFO+DIAGNOSTICS SCREENS in the zumo (start zumo, wait until settled, then press+hold the time display at top RHS of screen for about 10 seconds until the hidden info/diagnostics screen appears. the reading to look for is 'Vexternal'; also handy if you want to know your bike's voltage!).
3. ok so confirmed it's the bike mount cradle thats bust. a quick check with the zumo in another bike cradle as a double check just to be sure. yep, definitely the bike cradle.
4. so, a look on fleabay & replacement mounts seem to be anywhere between 40 and 60 quid but I've a broken one here so nothing to lose so may as well have a look inside to see if anything can be done.....
5. have a read on a few forums / sites & it seems this is a common problem, with moisture getting inside & a bit of corrosion.
6. the back of the cradle comes off fairly easy, just 4 small screws.
7. at the bottom of the cradle, there's a very small ribbon cable that connects the main circuit board to the zumo pin connector. it looks like a few pins are corroded. the ribbon cable is a clip fit into this socket.... just ease back the grey clamp a tadge & the grip on the cable is released. the ribbon cable can now be pulled out of the socket.
8. looking through the cable against a strong light, the small wire tracks can be seen. in my case, it looks like one or 2 are broken (looks like this was due to corrosion), but these are way too small to even think about repairing.
9. took off the small plate at the bottom of the unit to get to the bit that connects to the bottom of the pins on the cradle..... carefully peel off the rubber bit attached to the pin protective cap.... then there's 2 small screws to be removed. then very gently pry off the bottom cover (it's stuck on with silicone sealant). be gentle but careful, it will come off. underneath is another connector at the bottom end of the ribbon cable.
10. this bottom connector is well sealed with silicone, so gently scrape this off with a knife. then (just as before), the grey clamp can be eased back on the connector block & the bottom end of the ribbon cable released (noting which end & side of the cable !).
11. check out the ribbon cable against the light for broken tracks. I found a couple broken (probably due to corrosion & electrolosys). gently scrape & clean up the cable connectors.
12. I re-installed the ribbon cable IN REVERSE, so the wire tracks that were broken (probably the ones that supplied power to the zumo) were now at the other side of the connectors.
13.
it works !! power is now back on via the cradle to the zumo. the broken tracks don't seem to have had any effect (probably because the zumo cradle is far too complex for most users, having USB links etc) but the main thing is that it's charging again, & all the functions needed are now working.
14. better put it back together again, sealing the joints etc back up with silicone. oh & just to be sure, stick a plastic bag over the mount if it's left out in the wet, as it's not up to the 'waterproof' tag garmin would have us believe !
15.
now for a beer !
1. symptom = zumo not charging on bike mount, but charges ok from mains (usb) and car mount. Therefore zumo unit = ok; bike mount = goosed.
2. check external voltage using the HIDDEN INFO+DIAGNOSTICS SCREENS in the zumo (start zumo, wait until settled, then press+hold the time display at top RHS of screen for about 10 seconds until the hidden info/diagnostics screen appears. the reading to look for is 'Vexternal'; also handy if you want to know your bike's voltage!).
3. ok so confirmed it's the bike mount cradle thats bust. a quick check with the zumo in another bike cradle as a double check just to be sure. yep, definitely the bike cradle.
4. so, a look on fleabay & replacement mounts seem to be anywhere between 40 and 60 quid
but I've a broken one here so nothing to lose so may as well have a look inside to see if anything can be done.....5. have a read on a few forums / sites & it seems this is a common problem, with moisture getting inside & a bit of corrosion.
6. the back of the cradle comes off fairly easy, just 4 small screws.
7. at the bottom of the cradle, there's a very small ribbon cable that connects the main circuit board to the zumo pin connector. it looks like a few pins are corroded. the ribbon cable is a clip fit into this socket.... just ease back the grey clamp a tadge & the grip on the cable is released. the ribbon cable can now be pulled out of the socket.
8. looking through the cable against a strong light, the small wire tracks can be seen. in my case, it looks like one or 2 are broken (looks like this was due to corrosion), but these are way too small to even think about repairing.
9. took off the small plate at the bottom of the unit to get to the bit that connects to the bottom of the pins on the cradle..... carefully peel off the rubber bit attached to the pin protective cap.... then there's 2 small screws to be removed. then very gently pry off the bottom cover (it's stuck on with silicone sealant). be gentle but careful, it will come off. underneath is another connector at the bottom end of the ribbon cable.
10. this bottom connector is well sealed with silicone, so gently scrape this off with a knife. then (just as before), the grey clamp can be eased back on the connector block & the bottom end of the ribbon cable released (noting which end & side of the cable !).
11. check out the ribbon cable against the light for broken tracks. I found a couple broken (probably due to corrosion & electrolosys). gently scrape & clean up the cable connectors.
12. I re-installed the ribbon cable IN REVERSE, so the wire tracks that were broken (probably the ones that supplied power to the zumo) were now at the other side of the connectors.
13.
it works !! power is now back on via the cradle to the zumo. the broken tracks don't seem to have had any effect (probably because the zumo cradle is far too complex for most users, having USB links etc) but the main thing is that it's charging again, & all the functions needed are now working.14. better put it back together again, sealing the joints etc back up with silicone. oh & just to be sure, stick a plastic bag over the mount if it's left out in the wet, as it's not up to the 'waterproof' tag garmin would have us believe !
15.
now for a beer !
Bollox Tim!
Only if it is within the 12 months warranty. The third pin was loose on mine and the unit stopped charging. I just phoned Garmin and got put on hold for 20 minutes. Their response was basically "Tough sh!t! Buy a new cradle. It is not repairable and we won't help in any way as it is out of warranty" Spoke to a supervisor and asked politely if there was any discretion but he was adamant that it is not repairable.
He told me they have sold thousands of these bike cradles and he has never heard of a problem with one before and that mine must be a "one-off" problem caused by corrosion.
He insists there have neve been any problems before and they have never replaced any units for customers. So I have to scrap an otherwise perfectly good unit for one 2mm pin.
That makes as much sense as scrapping your bike because the headlight bulb has blown.
He offered to sell me the new cradle at the full RRP of £58.
Very, very disappointed with Garmin.
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