Earlier this week I bought my first ever SatNav, the Nuvi 760. I immediately updated the software and firmware (as per Garmin's support site) and charged it fully and minor criticisms apart, I'm very happy with it...When it works properly!
The damn thing turns itself off unpredictably! It makes no difference whether it's in simulation or GPS mode and happens whether cradled or not.
The seller sent me a replacement which arrived today, and it had a good partial charge so I tried the unit immediately without a software/firmware updates and it has EXACTLY the same problem. The only extra info I can give is that both units have serial numbers 28 digits apart so were likely manufactured in the same batch and the diagnostic mode tells me they both have the v.3 circuit board.
Interestingly, this site's own review on the unit has a comment (no. 413 by Patrick on June 3rd 2008) which mentions the same fault.
Naturally, the retailer won't send me another unit until completing an investigation, but they have arranged to collect both units and refund my money.
Is this a recognised issue, or have Patrick and I been unlucky?
I need to order another unit now as it was bought after extensive research for a trip to Southern Europe in two weeks time; should I order another 760 or try something else? I did consider the TomTom 720 but I found it awkward to use and the routes it chose to my destinations were very odd. I had considered ordering the Nuvi 770: I know it's exactly the same with additional mapping and a little more internal memory but reasoned that it's likely to be from a different production batch, but my retailer can't supply one for at least three weeks...
My new 760 (without the updated software) doesn't have that problem. But I may have a situation where the unit goes on mysteriously. I may be doing something putting it in the case or taking it out. I'm not sure yet.
Cheers Tim, sounds encouraging but let's wait and see if anyone else reports the same fault. I'm hoping that Patrick might see this thread and reply with his eventual outcome.
Galanw wrote:
My new 760 (without the updated software) doesn't have that problem. But I may have a situation where the unit goes on mysteriously. I may be doing something putting it in the case or taking it out. I'm not sure yet.
That's an easier problem to solve! The supplied slip case is a tight fit at the edges of the unit and grips the edge-mounted, sliding power switch. So if you pull the unit out of the case with the SD-card slot facing downwards it turns the unit on and if you turn the unit off and then put it into the case with the SD card slot facing upwards it turns the unit back on.
Of the two, the "automatic" switch on as the unit is pulled out is preferable so I always switch off, slide the switch to the lock position (for extra safety) and slide the unit into the case card-slot first. It also protects the unprotected card slot from the ingress of dirt.
The case is a poorly designed accessory especially for such an expensive unit and I plan to replace it asap (if I keep the 760!)
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Chandler, AZ
Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:00 pm
Mine hasn't turned off after updating to 3.10, but it has locked up a couple of times, requiring a reset by holding the power switch. Not sure if it is related, but thought I would post to see if we see a pattern.
Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 308 Location: Bay Area, California
Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:08 am
I had this problem with older Versions, 2.7 or 2.8, or was that 2.6? I have had OK luck with V3.0. I'm having problem with V3.10 (MSN Receiver not working reliably and Nuvi, powered it self on, and would would not turn off. Reset ignored.)...
Well I'm clearly having no luck here: the first 760 is due to be collected by the courier today; I tried the master reset trick yesterday but it still powered off unexpectedly a few times yesterday. The replacement unit has the same fault, but to a much lesser degree and although Amazon had arranged to collect it and make a refund, I told them I'd try it a bit longer to see if the fault was a persistent one.
That was tempting fate!
I made a fantastic journey yesterday across some of the busiest areas of London at rush hour; it all worked so well and the traffic receiver meant I encountered no major delays. It picked a route which seemed illogical and was one I'd never have chosen, but it got me there in half the expected time.
Once I arrived at my destination I turned the unit off and removed it from the car. Ten minutes later I needed to consult the POI list but the unit was found to be totally dead. No warning, no brief flash of life: nothing I've done since has raised a peep out of it!
I'm now right up the creek. I'm glad it failed before I was deep in rural France and depending on it, but I now have very little time to source a replacement. Amazon(UK) list the 770 (same unit, extra internal memory to cope with additional N.American mapping) which I thought I'd try as it's likely to be from a different production batch but they currently have a minimum three week delay on supplying it. The one remaining option, the 800 series is just way beyond my price range.
It's looking like I may be dragged kicking and screaming to buy a TomTom, filled with unnecessary bells 'n whistles and hampered by inferior navigation and much poorer European mainland street-level mapping but at least it's available quickly and is better than trying to drive and read a paper map... Unless anyone else has an alternative recommendation
Rob
p.s. None of the above is intended as any form of criticism of Amazon; the customer service which I've had has been very good.
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Chandler, AZ
Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:59 pm
Sorry to hear about your situation. I had another 760 before my current one that had similar issues to yours. On arrival, it would not turn on. I was surprised that it shipped with a dead battery. After charging it for a while, it finally came to life and was ok for 2 days. After 2 days, and barely any use, it just decided not to boot up past the splash screen anymore.
I really think Garmin has had some bad batches of 760's. It really is a great unit, once you get one that works. However, it does have its flaws.
I think you are correct in thinking that if you get a 760 from a different batch you might have better luck. I finally changed vendors to get my current one for that very reason. I have no solution for you on getting one quickly in the UK.
Maybe you could try and get a Magellan (do they sell them there?) or Tom Tom from a place with a good return policy. If after using it, you still don't like it you can return it and get the Garmin later. You would be using your trip as a trial of it. Who knows, maybe you would end up liking it better!
Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Las Vegas, NV
Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:03 pm
I've had my 760 about 2 months now. I use it all the time. The closest to this problem I've had is when I accidently have moved the power switch to LOCK. This causes the backlight to turn off eventually and in bright light (daylight) it appears to be off.
I too updated the firmware and maps the day I bought it, as soon as I got home.
...I really think Garmin has had some bad batches of 760's. It really is a great unit, once you get one that works. However, it does have its flaws...
...Maybe you could try and get a Magellan (do they sell them there?) or Tom Tom from a place with a good return policy. If after using it, you still don't like it you can return it and get the Garmin later. You would be using your trip as a trial of it. Who knows, maybe you would end up liking it better!
Bryan
Thanks Bryan. Magellan's are sold here but not widely, TBH I didn't even consider them. Same deal with NavMan and various other brands.
The UK brand leaders are (in no particular order) TomTom, Garmin and Medion, but the TomTom's UK and European mapping leaves much to be desired in my opinion and the navigation and traffic updates appear to be inferior to Garmin & Medion.
I've ordered the 770 instead anyway as I've managed to get it at the same price: I'm a very persuasive haggler... (I'll be interested to see which chipset that one has as it's from a French supplier. I hope that doesn't mean that it's going to give up immediately...
tomj03 wrote:
bacevedo wrote:
I was surprised that it shipped with a dead battery.
I don't know of any electronic device that works right away , out of the box.
Many items do these days; both 760's were showing about a 70% initial charge, and most of my mobile phones and current digital cameras came partially charged.
I wonder if it's a feature of the manufacture/testing of lithium-polymer batteries?
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 123 Location: Chandler, AZ
Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:26 pm
Boulanger wrote:
I'll be interested to see which chipset that one has as it's from a French supplier. I hope that doesn't mean that it's going to give up immediately...
Now that's pretty funny. I got a good chuckle out of that.
Getting a 770 for the same price as a 760 is a smoking deal. I would love to have European maps available for those rare chances that I might travel to Europe and need it. No further costs for maps.
As for the battery, yes, almost every electronic device I have bought in the last few years came with at least a partially charged battery. They don't recommend to use it without first charging, but every other item I have bought you could at least turn on and verify it was working. That one 760 was dead as a doornail, and that concerned me. One, it was either sitting in the warehouse for a very, very long time and the battery discharged. Or two, it had a defective battery or battery connection. Seeing as how it locked up within 2 days, there was something definitely wrong with it. The battery was just a foreshadow of things to come.
Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 308 Location: Bay Area, California
Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:27 am
What version of firmware to you have? 2.6 or so was flaky, and this is what they ship with (I've had a 760 and have a 780); 3.0 was good for me, 3.1, not so much. 3.1 seems to make my flaky MSN rcvr more flaky...
What version of firmware to you have? 2.6 or so was flaky, and this is what they ship with (I've had a 760 and have a 780); 3.0 was good for me, 3.1, not so much. 3.1 seems to make my flaky MSN rcvr more flaky...
Both shipped with 2.6 (IIRC) and were updated to v3.1. One of the 760's clearly showed the power-off fault before and after the update so it seems not to be a software/firmware problem. I suspect it's actually a fault with either the sliding power button or maybe a poor connection to the internal battery.
It would be interesting to open a unit to see whether the battery is soldered in or connects via a connector plug. The former would use lead-free solder and I've found these joints to be more likely to have problems than good old fashioned lead solder (banned ) and the latter may merely be a loose connection exacerbated by possibly a poorly designed/manufactured plug and socket. Purely speculation on my part, but based on experience.
Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 308 Location: Bay Area, California
Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:27 pm
Another common fault with connector of that sort, is crimped insulation. This is ware, the part of the crimp, that was suppose to crimp the wire, instead the wire's isolation. Often it works, at first, but as the metal relaxed, the connection fails. And, worse, it hard to see, as it is inside the connector housing...
Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia
Power off problem and freezing screen Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:58 am
Hi All,
I just read this post as I have been encountering some problems with my 760.
I first encountered an occassional power off whilst in the cradle and in the process of navigating, since then the unit has also encountered a problem with the screen freezing every 10 minutes or so - hence my joining this site.
I updated the firmware to the latest version immediately after purchase and added the garmin speed camera POIs.
As I'm at work I can't carry out the master resent power off thingy, but will keep you posted on whether this resolves the issue.
Thus far I am very annoyed - my c510 was faultless. I hope that I've not picked up one of those lemons that have been mentioned!!!!!
Tyresqueel - your freezing issue may be software related. I and many other people have experienced lockups after installing 3.00 or 3.10 updates. The problem seems to involve custom made POI files. Try deleting your custom POIs and see if that solves the lockup problem.
Or you could install the 4.0 update that just came out today and see if that helps. I'm too scared to update my unit until I hear reports from others!!
Don't waste time with it: you have a faulty 760. Return it to your supplier for a replacement or better still, a refund.
I've been told by a SatNav dealer that faulty units of all makes and models do tend to arrive in batches. A replacement from the same dealer is more likely to be faulty than one sourced elsewhere.
The 770 I was reluctantly forced (by time pressure) to buy has not shown any of the faults of my previous 760's but it's not a model I'd recommend either. It's significantly slower to start-up and keep track of positional changes; it also seems to be slower to redraw the screen. I understand that this may be due to the processor being only barely adequate to cope with the demands of the 760. The 770 has twice as much internal memory and is further taxed by the 8Gb MMC card I've installed (the latter was also fitted to both of my faulty 760's).
On a separate issue, Garmin have really got it wrong with the time-setting on the 770. They are unaware that Western European Time is one hour ahead of UK time and there is no manual override. It meant that when travelling in Europe my estimated arrival times were always shown as being one hour less than they should have been. If I'd disabled Daylight Saving Time then it would have been two hours out of kilter.
Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Highways of America
Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:35 pm
I received my 760 as a birthday present two months ago. I use it in the car, our motorhome, and, occasionally, on my bike. When not in use it's plugged in to the cigarette lighter in the motorhome (which we live in). The last time I used it was on the bike, and after about an hour I got a low battery warning. I attributed that to the fact that I had not turned down the screen brightness.
Anyway, after my ride I put it back into the cradle (where it's always kept) for recharging. Several days later when I went to use it it would not come on—it would not do anything. I tried it in the cradle, plugged into the USB, and just on battery. Totally dead. I called Garmin and they are going to send me a new unit (I sent the old one back without removing my 2GB card [DUMB].
The guy at Garmin said it was very unusual that the unit would be totally dead and not come on with the USB (the computer did not see the 760 either).
Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia
Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:20 pm
[quote="GadgetGuy2008"]Tyresqueel - your freezing issue may be software related. I and many other people have experienced lockups after installing 3.00 or 3.10 updates. The problem seems to involve custom made POI files. Try deleting your custom POIs and see if that solves the lockup problem.
Or you could install the 4.0 update that just came out today and see if that helps. I'm too scared to update my unit until I hear reports from others!![/quote]
Thanks Gadget - I did a master reset an discovered that the unit is fine except when i leave the house, where it is close to a red light camera alert - looks like I've got a duff unit and will need to replace it.
I tried to install update 4.0, but garmin webupdater or their website isn't listing it for the 760. If anyone can point me in the right direction I'm happy to act as a guinea pig, seeing as how I'm probably going to have to replace it anyway!
my nuvi 760 won't turn on Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:11 pm
I just got the new garmin 760. it worked when I first time turned it on. Connected to PC through USB port for registration. Asked me to upload updated software, but it never let me through. Gave up the registration process but still kept it connected to PC for charging. After about four hours, the screen went black, and it just can not be turned on any more
Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Denver, CO
Re: my nuvi 760 won't turn on Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:22 pm
uscom168 wrote:
I just got the new garmin 760. it worked when I first time turned it on. Connected to PC through USB port for registration. Asked me to upload updated software, but it never let me through. Gave up the registration process but still kept it connected to PC for charging. After about four hours, the screen went black, and it just can not be turned on any more
I think that before the online registration process will work you have to connect your unit in your car and acquire satellites. Once you've done that you can connect to your PC and register the device. The registration process requires the data from the initial acquisition of satellites. I went through this frustration with an earlier Nuvi unit that I had and gave up on registration until I learned the "secret" on this forum. For some reason Garmin is not very explicit about this process. You would expect them to have a note on the registration web page advising to first acquire satellites. Alas, they don't.
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However, it does have its flaws.
(I'll be interested to see which chipset that one has as it's from a French supplier. I hope that doesn't mean that it's going to give up immediately... 
) and the latter may merely be a loose connection exacerbated by possibly a poorly designed/manufactured plug and socket. Purely speculation on my part, but based on experience.
