For those of you with "old" GNS430 or similar units...
For the last several years, my front faceplate buttons have been getting more and more unreliable. Seems like every time I went to fly it took more and more presses to activate the buttons. After checking on Garmin's repair prices, I decided I was up to the task of doing it myself
For most of us here, this would be an easy task...so here are some pics to help others make the decision which way to go! FYI, my 430 is at least 10 years old, if not a bit older.
I used DEOXIT (available at ur local Radio Shack) on the PCB and on the underside of each switch...
Hints on disassembly from BarranAir (post below):
- To remove the ribbon from the back of the display screen, gently push up the tabs on the ends of the little plastic cover on the connector until it pivots up and the ribbon will spring free. To reassemble, make sure that the plastic cover is pivoted open, then slide the ribbon into the slot underneath until it butts on the end then pivot the cover to the flat position over the ribbon and slide the cover down on the connector to clamp the ribbon. Give a gentle tug on the ribbon to make sure it is clamped by the plastic cover.
- To remove the knobs, use a medium sized flat screwdriver to push the buttons off one at a time. They are just held in by friction. Take care to exert pressure as evenly as possible so the button doesn't get cocked. Suggest twist the screwdriver alternately on opposite sides of the button. When it has moved a few millimeters, you can pull it off with your fingers.
- To remove the knob components, you will need to unfold the GNS into the two components, NAV and COM, as shown in the PICS. This will expose the other ends of the ribbons and give you easy access to pulling the connectors out. Take care, of course, not to damage or bend the delicate pins. Once the ends are separated from the mother boards, you can unscrew the knobs in the face plate. The large hex nut (about 1/2 inch) holding down each of the two big knobs are difficult to fit with a socket ... I used needle-nosed pliers to grab opposite flats on the nut and twisted it off, one flat at a time, until I could unscrew it with my finger.
Overall, not too difficult. I recommend doing this on a comfortable work bench or table with lots of bright lighting. It is important to see small movement of screws and fasteners to know if you are making the right moves, else you might end up forcing something.
After putting it all back together, the switches all work like new again...very happy to have saved lots of money and time!
Excellent Pics from Barran Air here:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnnmZEt4LXEIheoQFK6MFkbqBQHuDw
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For the last several years, my front faceplate buttons have been getting more and more unreliable. Seems like every time I went to fly it took more and more presses to activate the buttons. After checking on Garmin's repair prices, I decided I was up to the task of doing it myself
For most of us here, this would be an easy task...so here are some pics to help others make the decision which way to go! FYI, my 430 is at least 10 years old, if not a bit older.
I used DEOXIT (available at ur local Radio Shack) on the PCB and on the underside of each switch...
Hints on disassembly from BarranAir (post below):
- To remove the ribbon from the back of the display screen, gently push up the tabs on the ends of the little plastic cover on the connector until it pivots up and the ribbon will spring free. To reassemble, make sure that the plastic cover is pivoted open, then slide the ribbon into the slot underneath until it butts on the end then pivot the cover to the flat position over the ribbon and slide the cover down on the connector to clamp the ribbon. Give a gentle tug on the ribbon to make sure it is clamped by the plastic cover.
- To remove the knobs, use a medium sized flat screwdriver to push the buttons off one at a time. They are just held in by friction. Take care to exert pressure as evenly as possible so the button doesn't get cocked. Suggest twist the screwdriver alternately on opposite sides of the button. When it has moved a few millimeters, you can pull it off with your fingers.
- To remove the knob components, you will need to unfold the GNS into the two components, NAV and COM, as shown in the PICS. This will expose the other ends of the ribbons and give you easy access to pulling the connectors out. Take care, of course, not to damage or bend the delicate pins. Once the ends are separated from the mother boards, you can unscrew the knobs in the face plate. The large hex nut (about 1/2 inch) holding down each of the two big knobs are difficult to fit with a socket ... I used needle-nosed pliers to grab opposite flats on the nut and twisted it off, one flat at a time, until I could unscrew it with my finger.
Overall, not too difficult. I recommend doing this on a comfortable work bench or table with lots of bright lighting. It is important to see small movement of screws and fasteners to know if you are making the right moves, else you might end up forcing something.
After putting it all back together, the switches all work like new again...very happy to have saved lots of money and time!
Excellent Pics from Barran Air here:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnnmZEt4LXEIheoQFK6MFkbqBQHuDw
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