JonnyHK 

The unit is dead. No start, no link, no charge, no reset. Nada.

Managed to get a short flash of the start up screen while squeezing on the casing, so I think I may have the loose battery connection problem that I have read about.

However...I haven't managed to find any instructions on how to disassemble the unit (it's out of warranty, so I'm prepared to risk complete loss!) to get at the battery.

I'm guessing the first step is to remove the soft rubber band around the unit, but I'm not sure how it is secured (had a bit of a play with it and there is something clipped in there) and I don't want to mess it up just in case I do fix the connection problem and want to re-assemble.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

JonnyHK 

No one?

I'll try some different searches and see if I get lucky. If not, then it's time to get mediaeval with this thing...

songfta

There's plenty of info out there if you do a Google search on "Garmin Edge 305 disassembly." The basic cause of this "death" is a poor battery contact assembly that's easily compromised by the simple act of repeatedly hooking up and disconnecting the mini-USB cable to the back of the unit. This article, in particular, shows the problem areas and a DIY fix (albeit one that's only possible if you are good with a soldering iron).

JonnyHK 

Thank you very much!

I was searching for the fault, not for disassembly!

JonnyHK 

Well, once I saw the example it only took about 30 seconds to gently open up the casing using the small blade of my swiss army knife!

One of my contacts is not straight (one on far right of pictures), so that might also be a problem apart from the 'standard' one.

My unit has a black strip of a soft rubber under the contacts (the example in the tutorial does not) so I am thinking that this is a later model improvement. The strip is not straight under the end contact, so perhaps that is why this one is bent. Left end of the strip is covering the GND terminal as noted in the tutorial.

Just got to find some suitable wire now and borrow a soldering iron.

JonnyHK 

*almost* got it...

Followed the instructions. Used a small section of a dead tube for the spacer (as suggested by one person replying to the instructions posting) and that worked fine.

Used some fine insulated wire - unlike the varnished magnet wire used in instructions - but had to be a bit more careful of the length and position so that I could neatly tuck it all away when putting the two halves of the casing together.

Had some trouble soldering the very small wires on. It was difficult to get two wires to solder down on the USB plug board. Not a lot of room there.

Sealed it up and taped it shut (electrical tape with some force) to hold it together, but the casing was not fully closed (bulged a smidge). Managed to get the start up screen for a moment, then it flickered and died.

Opened it up, relocated the wires for a neater fit and trimmed the spacer a little (to allow more room for wires etc) and sealed it up again. This time a flush job!

Hit the power button and....nothing.

Will have another play in the morning.

Herbie53

I sent an out of warranty 305 back to Garmin (was about 2 months past - as was diagnosed as having a "chipset issue" - would not find satellites without being reset several times) and they fixed it free of charge.

They do a nice job with warranty / repairs. Given the battery connection issue is a known problem I suspect they would have handled it as warranty, not so sure now that you have attempted repair.

https://www8.garmin.com/support/outofwarranty.html

wannaride

Call 800-800-1020. Garmin customer service is excellent. They will provide a refurb or new unit in exchange for a payment of I think $70. If you butcher the unit first they may not.

JonnyHK 

I'm not in the US, so it's a little more complicated than that! There is no number to call from Hong Kong for starters and the cost of sending this thing back and forth isn't exactly expensive, but it was going to be more trouble than it was worth. Local Garmin agent doesn't do repairs and pretty much shrugged at the suggestion that it might be anything other than a throwaway.

I'll have another play with it, but I had chalked this unit up to the garbage can anyway so if I get lucky it is a bonus.

New Edge 500 is on order and should be here in a day or so.

JonnyHK 

Re-checked everything and one of the soldered joints was a bit 'dry' and was almost broken. Not enough solder and then some wiggling when trying to get it all together.

Re sealed, taped and powered up. It started to acquire satellites, so it seems happy. Turned it off.

Will glue it tonight and weight it down to get a good seal and contact. Then we'll see for sure.

JonnyHK 

Glued, clamped, dried, tested.

No Go.

Will open up again, but think it is a lost cause. *shrugs*

bernmart

[QUOTE=JonnyHK;10934221]The unit is dead. No start, no link, no charge, no reset. Nada.

Managed to get a short flash of the start up screen while squeezing on the casing, so I think I may have the loose battery connection problem that I have read about.

However...I haven't managed to find any instructions on how to disassemble the unit (it's out of warranty, so I'm prepared to risk complete loss!) to get at the battery.

Contact Garmin asap. My Edge 305 was almost three years old--way out of warranty--when it started turning off when I went over a bump. Probably from the same cause as your more drastic problem. Anyway, Garmin offered me a free exchange for a refurbed unit w/a 45 day warranty. I mailed it to them on Monday, had the "new" unit the next Monday. Works great.

What have you got to lose?