Garmin GPS 12

[Thistle]

After years of great service my Garmin GPS 12 seems to be dying. This leads to a couple of questions for the erudite panel ...

1. The set works well some of the time then suddenly cuts out, as though the batteries had become disconnected. This looks to be as though there is a loose connection / broken wire / dry joint.
a. Is this likely to be the cause or are there other possibilities?
b. My guess is that a return to Garmin is not likely to be cost-effective: any views?
c. If a paid-for repair is not worthwhile, how can I get into the set myself to look for possible causes? (I don't mind if, afterwards, the set is no longer waterproof (or guaranteed!!))

2. In the worst case, I'm going to want to buy a replacement. The GPS 12 does all I need both ashore and afloat. Which replacement sets should I look at? What justification can I offer the purser for any additional facilities?

TIA

Ian

 

[savageseadog]

It's a good unit but not as waterproof as it should be. Water gets into the battery compartment on some units. You could try twisting Garmins arm

 

[gjeffery]

I have a GPS12XL. It has been excellent and after some eight years, continues to work well. It still gets a lot of use for pilotage. I also have a GPSMAP60CSx which is a small plotter. Use as a plotter is limited to Garmin charts. The barometer is useful, and I justified this purchase because I use it off the boat. If the GPS12 died, I would replace it with any of the non plotter Garmin, such as ETREX or the monochrome GPS60, both now costing rather less than I originally paid for the GPS12.

Experience of returning equipment to Garmin is limited to returning one car GPS, which Garmin replaced by return. Anecdotal evidence is that Garmin support is superb, even for models out of guarantee.

You are probably right to suspect a loose battery connection as cause for your intermittent fault. Obvious first step is to clean connections and reinstall batteries. You might also consider trying to power the GPS12 via a power cord, using the socket on the back. That should eliminate the obvious.

 

[geoffatstanpit]

My GPS12 does the same from time to time and it's always the cig-lighter plug either wriggling out or getting pulled out by something falling on the cable. One day I'll connect it properly into the circuit, but it's nice to be able to take it out to use in the car or hiking in the New Forest sometimes. The AA NiMH rechargables keep it going for a few hours if the other supply fails

 

[chrishelen]

My 12 year old Garmin gps screen recently developed a fault in the way of a blank line at a point half way down the screen,it still gives perfect service apart from this,a quick phone call to Garmins technical dept confirmed what i was allready thinking, they are not user repairable as they are sealed,and repairs are not cost effective,so now i am waiting for santa to bring me a shiny new one.

 

[FrancisRutter]

I have a Garmin 12XL and it does all that I want. A couple of years ago the internal lithium battery gave out and so it would not hold the waypoints etc after it was turned off. I phoned Garmin and was given advice with the comment that if the action suggested did not correct it then I should phone again. I did and was told to return the unit. To my surprise they did not repair my set but simply sent me another brand new one.
Remarkable service!

 

[gjgm]

just check the terminals are clean.. can get bit of salt on them.Also, if you are using normal alkaline batteries, they do drop off sharply.. just be sure its not a simple problem first !

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

I've had dealings with the chaps at Garmin UK and have to say, vey nice and very helpful. They are definitely worth trying a phonecall, you've nothing to lose.

 

[Spyro]

I have had the same problem with my gps 12, it usually goes off if it gets a knock or is put down sharply. I've found the problem to be dirty/oxidised battery connections, if you can? try cleaning the contacts inside the unit with a bit of sandpaper taped to the end of a long screwdriver or pencil. Also make sure the springs on the end cap are clean and still hold the batteries in tight.
As stated previously if it works ok on a 12v supply then the battery contacts could be the problem.

 

[franky]

I bought a Garmin 72 as a second unit for the boat.
Screen is very easy to read.A few differences in use but after a while very satisfactory.Reason for buying back up g12 sometimes cut out for no reason even with full charge batteries(wd40 in the batt compartment ) also a coup[le of lines of dot matrix have dropped out but as the 72 uses all the same cables as the 12 no reason to change make.Might be some bargains at the shows.

 

[fastjedi]

I had exactly the same problem with my GPS 12 a couple of years ago .... and enjoyed the same fix from Garmin.

I love Garmin and my GPS 12 ...so a year later when I was in the market for a Chart Plotter it had to be Garmin.

Pity they don't make speed, depth and wind so I could dump Raymarine!

 

[brownsox]

We'd heard similar good reports of Garmin here and that was the main reason for buying GPS72. After 2 and a bit years - but only 40 uses (log book!), no damage, well looked after, it totally failed. I was very unhappy about that - we were in France and had to buy another or be without GPS, and I believe kit like that should last longer than 2 cruising summers. (Compare it with the use an in-car satnav gets). Garmin were not interested in why it had failed and would only repair it for standard £35 charge. Compass refunded me half this - as a goodwill gesture - after I said I would claim against them in the County Court. It wasn't really about the money and I had no problem with Compass so I accepted their offer. It seems Garmin have changed their attitude to out of warranty repairs and sadly in law, if you think the product wasn't good enough, you have to claim against the retailer. Incidentally Garmin has a one year warranty - not long for boaty kit usually only used for a few months in summer - whereas Compass has a 2 year warranty on everything they sell.

 

[Amulet]

I had that problem with my Gamin 72 and it was just the actual connections to the batteries. Levered them up a bit and it was fine. btw I also once had a 12, and it's not true to say that the cables are the same. The voltage is different (which is why I got rid of the 12). There is a spigot in the centre of the 12 socket to prevent you sticking a 72 plug in and shoving 12 volts up it. A 12 cable to a 72 is fine.
At least that's how I remember it.

72 is a good replacement for the 12, and it uses batteries at about a quarter of the rate.

 

[jleaworthy]

There are several Garmin GPS 12 on e-bay at the moment including one claiming to be new. I paid £30 for one about six months ago. Does everything I want.

 

[chewi]

If you send it to Garmin for repair they may well offer a very good deal on an upgrade if you want to replace it anyway.

 

[brownsox]

If you send it to Garmin for repair I think they'll just send you a new one. Great if it is old and has served you well. I'm pretty sure they don't do repairs or even investigations - not cost effective these days.