Garmin Monterra - no battery charging and USB-PC connection

**Thomlodz** · 21st August 2020, 05:50 AM

My friend bought a second hand Garmin Monterra 2 years ago. At the beginning the device was Ok but as the time went on the charging time was longer and longer. Now the rechargeable battery cannot be charged at all. The device is not detected by PC after connecting with USB cable. And the loudspeaker sound is very weak. I measured the voltage on battery terminals in the device when connected to PC or external charger with USB cable - the voltage was 0. So what to do in this situation? Is it a hardware or software problem? I cannot update Android via WiFi and garmin servers because there was a message that the software was the newest.

**asprin624** · 21st August 2020, 10:22 AM

Here is a link to get a new Garmin Lithium-ion Battery Pack for the Garmin Monterra

Spoiler: Garmin Poland

**Thomlodz** · 22nd August 2020, 05:35 AM

I have successfully charged the battery with a DC power supply like that

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

The Monterra works normally but there is still no USB connection and no charging. Perhaps it is a hardware problem?

**Butters** · 23rd August 2020, 11:08 AM

@Thomlodz
Many Garmin devices are very prone to their USB socket suffering physical damage. For instance: (i) the socket's internal pins may be bent or broken; or (ii) its soldered connections to the PCB may be damaged. Easily corrected by repairing/replacing the socket in the first instance and by simply reflowing the solder in the second instance. Often with those particular problems the device can be charged but there's no USB recognition of the device by computer, or vice versa. Sometimes it's as you've experienced and there's neither function. There can also be a failure of integral components on the PCB resulting in such symptoms and that's usually the case once the USB socket and cable used have been proved serviceable.

**Thomlodz** · 26th August 2020, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Butters

@Thomlodz
Many Garmin devices are very prone to their USB socket suffering physical damage. For instance: (i) the socket's internal pins may be bent or broken; or (ii) its soldered connections to the PCB may be damaged. Easily corrected by repairing/replacing the socket in the first instance and by simply reflowing the solder in the second instance. Often with those particular problems the device can be charged but there's no USB recognition of the device by computer, or vice versa. Sometimes it's as you've experienced and there's neither function. There can also be a failure of integral components on the PCB resulting in such symptoms and that's usually the case once the USB socket and cable used have been proved serviceable.

OK. Im thinking on purchasing a hot-air soldering device, perhaps it will be useful for me in the future. Is it Garmin USB cable different form a standard one? Perhaps there is a resistor built-in?
And now another question. I noticed that if the Monterra is powered with the battery and I connect it by cable to USB port od PC or external charger and then disconnect the cable the following info is displayed on the screen "Power disconnected, stay with the battery or switch off?" or something like that. So I think the external voltage is detected by the navigation.
And perhaps there is a software problem? I cannot update the firmware via Internet because it is most up to date. But perhaps it is possible to install it form a memory card? I found this page:

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

BI have installed the GOA, but it did not help. And what about the firmware (213 MB)? How to reinstall it?

**asprin624** · 23rd August 2020, 01:04 PM

Well with it being an Android device running one of 4.X versions of Android doing a hard reset would be a good thing to do.

Plus using the correct external charger for the battery is very important and using a Garmin USB cable too.

3rd party cables is one thing I stay away from when it comes to all my Garmin GPS units.

Example:

Spoiler: The correct battery charger.

And Garmin Monterra came out in 2013 and replacing the battery would be a very good thing to do to start with.

I am not one who would take a Garmin unit apart to try and re-solderer connections.
You would need cold solder so you do not fry the unit.

Cleaning contact areas yes and seeing that they fit tight against the battery.

My son in-law let his eTrex 20 sit of over on year with alkaline batteries in it.
They leak and it could not turn on.
I took a look at the contact area cleaned it with alcohol and let it dry.
Put new batteries in it turned on and also connected to my laptop.

The eTrex does not have a way to charge the batteries they have to be charged with an external charger.

But the bottom line here is:

1. Hard Reset
2. New Battery
3. Correct Garmin USB cable
4. Correct External Garmin Charger
5. Clean the contact areas
6. Make sure the contacts fit good to the battery

Remember this is a very old Garmin unit from 2013 running Android.

If all else fails you can always use an SD card to copy over apps that are needed to be installed or maps.

**Butters** · 24th August 2020, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by asprin624

..........
I am not one who would take a Garmin unit apart to try and re-solderer connections.
You would need cold solder so you do not fry the unit.

It's not so hard to do, just a fine tip iron and be careful not to create bridges with excess solder. Look at this video from 5 minute mark, he seems to be a tech but even he's a bit heavy on the solder imo however he does reinforce the socket mounts which is something i always do too. He's got his iron at 700°F and isn't too concerned about keeping the tip in prolonged contact either:

Spoiler: YT video 1

This next guy is a hopeless amateur and has to get a friend to reflow the connections but even he muddles thru' successfully, soldering from around 4.45 mark but you can't see much detail like in the one above:

Spoiler: YT video 2

Both devices shown above are nuvi models. 1xxx and 40/50 series seem particularly prone and i've fixed many of them but any Garmin devices with USB sockets can have connections break. The outdoor models seem to be tougher generally but all it takes is some excess horizontal force when the plug's attached and the solder gives way. They're not 'hand-soldered' in the factory, it's done robotically in mass production and are therefore inherently weak from new. In fact a careful hard-soldered reflow with extra reinforcement of the mounting points is far superior to the original provided you know what you're doing. A common mistake is using a generic socket to replace a damaged Garmin socket. They're usually different and it's hard to find a suitable match from electronic parts suppliers. If a socket has broken pins internally i now only use scavenged sockets from devices with bricked boards, they are at least a guaranteed fit.

**asprin624** · 24th August 2020, 08:40 AM

@Butters,

All that is great but not trying what I have pointed out be for going down the road of so called repairing the USB port.

You pointed out:

I quote you:

"A common mistake is using a generic socket to replace a damaged Garmin socket. They're usually different and it's hard to find a suitable match from electronic parts suppliers. If a socket has broken pins internally i now only use scavenged sockets from devices with bricked boards, they are at least a guaranteed fit."

That alone said do not try it.

I have 25 Garmin units dated back as far as 2007 and they all work.
Have never used and generic cables or charger on any of the GPS units.

Been using only genuine Garmin cables and chargers both for car and house.
To many times users do not watch how the plug cables into their USB ports and make a problem for themselves.

This unit being second hand to start with we do not know how well it was taken care of in the first place.

Some times a little TLC on the unit will do a world of good...... to bring life into the unit again.

**Butters** · 24th August 2020, 12:44 PM

I suppose you're against ppl attempting what is essentially a basic repair because of the potential for collateral damage thru inexperience? However, it's not hard to find information on how to safely open a particular Garmin device and then even if someone doesn't know how to solder it's not rocket science to learn or just get it done by someone else like the guy in the second video. If you wouldn't do it that's fine of course and the OP may-well also decide not to attempt repairing the socket which is also fine. He can now make a decision armed with the information of how to at least investigate his device's problem, or leave it how it is now. Most devices with this problem don't need the socket replaced, they only need the connections repaired.

**asprin624** · 24th August 2020, 03:17 PM

If someone want to take the risk of making a paper weight out of there GPS, then by all means do it.

But I know from all the user's you have tried to help in one way or another.
Most if not all do not know what they are doing in the first place.
Anyone that has any PC background does not format the memory of the GPS unit.

You remove the GPS from the PC.
You then take the SD card out.
Then put the SD card in the PC and do what you need to do.
Then you format the SD card if it really needs formatting......
But how many have done it the wrong way.

Plus I question why so many are even formatting in the first place!!!

I take my hat off you you to have so much patients with these users over and over again.

You have repeated your instruction many time over.
Users need to take the time to read how you have attempted to help some other user with out you having to repeat the help over and over again.

You do a great job and service for the users.

Saying that users need to really pay attraction to what they are doing and not make these fundamental mistakes. ( IT 101 )

PS
I have an electrical background from both the US and Europe along with a very long IT background.

There are lots of thing I repair or install new.
But I keep my fingers off of items like Smartphones , Tablets , Garmin GPS's and TomTom GPS

But again well done with your help to others in this forum.....