Garmin 430 "Mem Bat Low"

[Ironflight]

Hmmm....wonder if anyone else has seen this - I cranked up the GNS 430 today and got a "MEM BAT LOW" message. I checked the manual when I got a chance, and it says that I have to have a dealer replace the battery. Well that makes sense, but I got a couple of questions....

1) Has anyone else had this done? Is it a "Local" repair? How much did it cost? (I am hoping this isn't a "Return to garmin for their $700 flat rate repair" deals...)

2) Anyone know how long from the first message appearance to a loss of memory? In other words - does this require immediate action, or do I have a few weeks or months?

Paul

[n5lp]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

...I am hoping this isn't a "Return to garmin for their $700 flat rate repair" deals...

My personal experience is that Garmin can be very flexible in dealing with polite and informed customers that have an early failure, even if the unit is well out of warranty.

[Sticky1]

Sounds like a 3volt battery or something like that. If out of warrenty..I would open her up and change it my self....

[w1curtis]

Paul,

See this thread:
http://www.matronics.com/forums/view...ccddf658e78daa

Bob Newman of tcwtech just did a similar repair on his 530. I guess you did not upgrade you unit to a "W." If you are not as adventurous as Bob, this is something that can be done by a competent Garmin service center for far less than the $700 flat rate repair.

Picture of 530 system board:
http://www.matronics.com/forums/download.php?id=10684

[w1curtis]

Originally Posted by Sticky1

Sounds like a 3volt battery or something like that. If out of warrenty..I would open her up and change it my self....

Sanyo Lithium cell # CR14250SE with solder tabs


This is from Bob Newman of TCW Technologies
http://www.tcwtech.com/

[Ironflight]

Thanks guys!

I had a talk with Garmin today, and the 430 is on it's way overnight to Kansas for a quick turn-around repair and overall check-up. I liked th links posted for a DIY fix, but in my conversation with Garmin, it was pointed out that the battery should have lasted much, much longer - and that frequently, field shops will replace the battery, only to eventually find that the charging circuit was the problem. Since I fly IFR with the unit, I decided discretion was the better part of valor in this case, and decided to let them do their magic....


Paul

[Sticky1]

Well in that case,,,,,,,,......good choice..!

[kentb]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Thanks guys!

I had a talk with Garmin today, and the 430 is on it's way overnight to Kansas for a quick turn-around repair and overall check-up. I liked th links posted for a DIY fix, but in my conversation with Garmin, it was pointed out that the battery should have lasted much, much longer - and that frequently, field shops will replace the battery, only to eventually find that the charging circuit was the problem. Since I fly IFR with the unit, I decided discretion was the better part of valor in this case, and decided to let them do their magic....


Paul

Please let us know how much the charge for this when you get it back.

Kent

[Ironflight]

I got my 430 back from Garmin yesterday and it slid right in and fired up without a problem. Latest software loaded, and the paperwork said that they "repaired the main board and also repaired an unreported problem in the keypad interface". They got the unit on Thursday, and shipped it Monday, and the total charge was $0.00 - can't ask for much better than that!

One note of interest is that when they loaded the new software, they saved my user waypoints, but not my stored flight plans. It was no big deal for me, because I only had a few plans saved anyways, but I can't figure out why one thing would survive the jump, and the others didn't....

Thanks to Garmin for the speedy turn-around - I hate holes in my panel (even though I was adequately equipped with my #2 Comm and three other GPS's.....)

Paul

[Flyrod]

?and also repaired an unreported problem in the keypad interface"


I am wondering if there is a known problem with Garmin GNS 430 keyboards, because I am experiencing intermittent keys on mine that appear to be getting worse?