hey all,
so i just got a nuvi 760, and the ciggarette lighter has given me a bit of trouble. I also just got a used 2005 mazda 3 hatchback. The plug for the 760 fits very snugly in the cigarette lighter...maybe too snugly. I went to pull out the plug without thinking I would need to hold the panel it is mounted on and the whole panel popped out. Turns out it's gonna cost around $250 to replace it. So a couple of questions...
1) Have you guys had similar problems?
2) The cigarette lighter for the 760 seems longer than the others because it incorporates the traffic receiver. Does anyone know if it has a larger diameter than the standard cigarette plug for nuvis? If so, I might want to go get the smaller plug so I don't run into this problem again.
Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 17 Location: Alexandria, KY
Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:39 am
Mine was fairly snug the first time I popped it into the console of my Audi S4 and I haven't had other devices fit so snug. What I did notice is that the metal grounding contact (flexed metal) rubbed a bit on the plastic housing of the adapter. I would push them in with your fingers to see if they move freely or if they are getting caught on the plastic.
Also, I would get a second opinion on that console piece. Usually those simply have metal clips over plastic tabs and pop right back in. $250 sounds pretty steep. Did you crack it or just pop it out?
Mine was fairly snug the first time I popped it into the console of my Audi S4 and I haven't had other devices fit so snug. What I did notice is that the metal grounding contact (flexed metal) rubbed a bit on the plastic housing of the adapter. I would push them in with your fingers to see if they move freely or if they are getting caught on the plastic.
Also, I would get a second opinion on that console piece. Usually those simply have metal clips over plastic tabs and pop right back in. $250 sounds pretty steep. Did you crack it or just pop it out?
Thanks for the reply.
I just went out tonight and bought a cigarette outlet "splitter." So now, I can plug two devices into the outlet at once. On top of that, the splitter fits into the outlet a lot more loosely, so as long as I plug the GPS unit into the splitter, I shouldn't have to worry about the same problem happening again. I think the 760 plug fits snugly, and my center console isn't that well designed. Oh well.
Yeah, it would make sense to get a second opinion. I'm only 22, and my parents are still dealing with my car(lucky for me). I suggested to my dad that we get a second opinion, but he told the service center to go ahead and replace it. Frustrating.
Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Northern Va, US
Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:54 am
Quote:
I just went out tonight and bought a cigarette outlet "splitter." So now, I can plug two devices into the outlet at once. On top of that, the splitter fits into the outlet a lot more loosely, so as long as I plug the GPS unit into the splitter, I shouldn't have to worry about the same problem happening again.
I think that should work fine as long as when you are using the Nuvi you don't plug a 2nd device (such as a cell phone) into the splitter. Though I don't have one myself, I have read posts from those who say doing this will divert too much power from the Nuvi and it will go into USB mode.
It is a standard diameter-- I haven't heard of anyone having trouble other than it is a snug fit.
So you think the cigarette plug with the traffic receiver included is the same diameter as the standard one?
Thanks.
Actually I don't think they are the "exactly" the same. I had the same issue as you did. I owned a Garmin 260W and the vehicle power adaptor always fit in my Honda Element's car plug very easily along with my cell adaptor and iPod adaptor. I just recently bought a 760 plus the MSN Direct plug. Neither the included Traffic Receiver or the MSN Direct plug would work in my car's vehicle power plug. I tried everything and then called Garmin to see if there was something I was doing wrong, they said it should work. Then I went to my car dealership and they said the plug may not be pushed in far enough. They pushed the plugs in very firmly and they powered up.
Yeah, at least for me the traffic car plugs require a much firmer push to get them to go further in to work.
Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 303 Location: Central California
Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:41 pm
I too noticed it took a little more effort than it should to get it in all the way. Maybe a little silicone grease would help. Be careful not to get it down by the contacts.
"Cigar lighter" outlets come in basically two sizes, 21mm (actually 20.93-21.51, SAE J563 12V) & ~22.2mm (used for a long time by VW and probably other European automakers).
Garmin probably makes the plug the largest size they can to fit the SAE outlets (20.88mm), so it fits the larger euro ones better. That would make for a tight fit in a minimum sized SAE outlet, especially with the 4 ground contacts they use.
Are you sure? Those wouldn't be recent Monte Carlos or Gran Prix or G8s, would they? All foreign made. GMC Sierra? Might be foreign.
Yep.
1 The now closed Tarrytown NY plant
2. Lordstown Ohio
3. Shreveport Louisiana
4. Orion Township Michigan
Of the 4 vehicles you mentioned I believe the G8 is the only one built off the North American shores.
Its a hard thing to do these days but I try to buy American if possible. When it comes to vehicles I'll stick with an American car company with GM as 1st choice. Sure the foriegn automakers have some nice stuff out there but they are just not for me. GM has made my life pretty good for the last 36 years. I guess thats why I'm biased.
Sorry I didn't mean to hijack this thread it just seems to be a little peculiar that the people having the same trouble are all driving foriegn cars.
Of the 4 vehicles you mentioned I believe the G8 is the only one built off the North American shores.
All of them are assembled in foreign assembly plants (Canada and/or Mexico). Some, but not all, are also assembled in US plants. Your post said "foreign," not non-North American.
Regardless, ill fitting cigar lighter plugs have nothing to do with where the car is made, as you tried to imply - you've only succeeded in dragging the thread off-topic.
mikes, I personally don't care what you or anyone else drives or where it was made. I've seen it here and on other forums people driving cars foriegn nameplates are having issues with the power plugs. I have yet to see anyone post the problem with a Chevy or Ford. That all I was trying to say. Thats it.
I have just bought the nuvi 760 and had the same problem as that of freelyfallen. When I plugged the unit in the cigarette lighter of my mazda 3 hatchback I noticed that I had to use some force to get the plug inside the cigarette lighter. When I tried to disconnect the plug the cigarette lighter console piece nearly popped out. In fact every time I try to disconnect the plug from the vehicle's cigarette lighter I'm having the same problem where I have to use force. Are there any other suggestions of how to solve this problem without having to buy another cable-plug for the unit so that I will not cause damage to my vehicle?
It is a little tighter than normal in my Odyssey minivan.
You could get one of those adapters from RadioShack that creates two sockets from one. The assumption is that the plug in that adapter will fit your car better.
connection problems w new 760 Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:21 pm
I found my new device was not being charged, apparently because the connection was not working. I tried unplugging and plugging it in a few times, and now it appears to have found a steady connection. I didn't look at it carefully (I was driving!) but I suppose it was a matter of getting the contacts to make contact.
I can already see that the 5 hour charge Garmin claims is a very high estimate, and one needs to keep it plugged in while driving all the time.
I bought an optional AC charger with foreign plug inserts so that I can use this as a pedestrian device as well.
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:54 pm
mikes wrote:
"Cigar lighter" outlets come in basically two sizes, 21mm (actually 20.93-21.51, SAE J563 12V) & ~22.2mm (used for a long time by VW and probably other European automakers).
Garmin probably makes the plug the largest size they can to fit the SAE outlets (20.88mm), so it fits the larger euro ones better. That would make for a tight fit in a minimum sized SAE outlet, especially with the 4 ground contacts they use.
I don't agree with the comment on euro cars. It's a royal pain in the butt to plug my charger in to my VW Jetta.
I find it odd that the plug has 4 ground contacts...whay 4? Why not just 1 or 2 like 99% of all car chargers? The more metal that must bend to insert/remove the plug, the hard it will be...common sense Garmin!!!
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I have 3 Pontiacs and a GMC pickup no issues here. 