Help with Garmin
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Help with Garmin
My Garmin 350 is acting up, and I tried to get help online, but it doesn't give me answers. When I try to enter anything when it asks "what state?", as soon as I press any letter, I get a message " not found". I tried to reset the unit, and still no help. Where can I go to get this fixed, or what can I do myself?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
Mine has been acting up a lot lately. Have you tried going to Garmin's site and downloading any free updates since you've purchased it?
You're allowed 1 free update after purchase.
Incidently, I'm quite sure I won't be running Garmin again. I've had a LOT of mismatched streets, cities and points of interest even after an update.
I have several friends that bought the chitty little Tom Tom and those things blow my Nuvi away.
Scott
You're allowed 1 free update after purchase.
Incidently, I'm quite sure I won't be running Garmin again. I've had a LOT of mismatched streets, cities and points of interest even after an update.
I have several friends that bought the chitty little Tom Tom and those things blow my Nuvi away.
Scott
Team Owner
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From: Brooklyn, NYC .. If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere, New York, New York - Fred Ebb
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Mine has been acting up a lot lately. Have you tried going to Garmin's site and downloading any free updates since you've purchased it?
You're allowed 1 free update after purchase.
Incidently, I'm quite sure I won't be running Garmin again. I've had a LOT of mismatched streets, cities and points of interest even after an update.
I have several friends that bought the chitty little Tom Tom and those things blow my Nuvi away.
Scott
You're allowed 1 free update after purchase.
Incidently, I'm quite sure I won't be running Garmin again. I've had a LOT of mismatched streets, cities and points of interest even after an update.
I have several friends that bought the chitty little Tom Tom and those things blow my Nuvi away.
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,894
Likes: 1
From: Farmingdale NY
St. Jude Donor '06
Try downloading updates.
I have the Nuvi 360 which is essentially the same as the 350, but with bluetooth (which IMHO is worthless). Mine was acting crazy a while back and when I downloaded the updates from their site it went back to normal.
I just got back from Arizona where I spent a week riding around in a rental Impala from Hertz that was equipped with a Magellan. The Magellan was a real POS compared to the NUVI. The only good thing about it was that unlike my NUVI, the volume was loud enough to hear over normal conversation.
The 09 Impala on the other hand was a great car
, and got really good gas mileage. Too bad the General wasn't offering competitive lease deals on their cars a few months back.
I have the Nuvi 360 which is essentially the same as the 350, but with bluetooth (which IMHO is worthless). Mine was acting crazy a while back and when I downloaded the updates from their site it went back to normal.
I just got back from Arizona where I spent a week riding around in a rental Impala from Hertz that was equipped with a Magellan. The Magellan was a real POS compared to the NUVI. The only good thing about it was that unlike my NUVI, the volume was loud enough to hear over normal conversation.
The 09 Impala on the other hand was a great car
, and got really good gas mileage. Too bad the General wasn't offering competitive lease deals on their cars a few months back.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
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From: Bethlehem PA
Well, they are 3 for 3 because ours is acting up too. It takes forever to acquire the satelites and changes the directions in the middle of a trip. Now it isn't charging when pluged in with the car adapter. We gave our son our old Tom Tom and it was miles above the Garmin.
Scott
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
updates
did not work for me. Mine does not hold a charge, takes forever finding locations, and sometimes sends me the wrong way. I contributed my problems to having dropped it a few times besides it falling from the windshield.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,972
Likes: 20
From: N.Y./F.L
Well if you bought it at Costco or BJ's the problem would already be solved! I just returned my nuvi 650 yesterday after... umm... some time, because it acted up.. Researching my next one as we speak!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
So far no issues with my 760. However, even loaded with features, I find it routes comparable to the one I bought for my wife, which was a "lowly" Magellen Maestro 3100.
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From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It sounds like the core program is messed up and you need a re-load. Contact Garmin support by phone and address it with them.
No problems with my Garmin 330; Only issue I had was some streets not being found that were in the boon docks which was fixed by updating the maps.
No problems with my Garmin 330; Only issue I had was some streets not being found that were in the boon docks which was fixed by updating the maps.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I tried downloading everything from their site this afternoon, but had a problem getting it to completely load onto my computer. It kept telling me to disconnect and then reconnect the unit, but it still wouldn't work. I bought it from Amazon.com because it was alot cheaper there than anywhere else. I did drop it yesterday morning just before I left for Steve's. That was when it stopped working, when I got in the truck to go over there.
I'll try to get in touch with Garmin, and find out how to reload as Ike suggests.
Geez, looks like I opened a can of worms with all the rants here.Most folks I know who have had others units prefer the Garmin over the Magellan, and the lower priced Tom Tom. Oh well. Thanks for the input.
I'll try to get in touch with Garmin, and find out how to reload as Ike suggests.
Geez, looks like I opened a can of worms with all the rants here.Most folks I know who have had others units prefer the Garmin over the Magellan, and the lower priced Tom Tom. Oh well. Thanks for the input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
Well, I have NOT dropped mine and it does some seriously squirrely STUFF.
I've long thought Garmin to be the industry standard for civilian GPS.
Maybe I need a better model.
Scott
I've long thought Garmin to be the industry standard for civilian GPS.
Maybe I need a better model.
Scott
Last edited by mvcrash; Mar 3, 2009 at 05:20 PM. Reason: vulgar
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 595
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From: Schuylkill County PA
That's the only real complaint I have with mine. Sometimes adjusting the "shorter distance / shorter time" setting on the fly helps with that. I do a lot of road tripping and my 360 has been invaluable for finding hotels, restaurants, points of interest, etc. along the way.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Fixed. I got a hold of Garmin tech service, and apparently in the Map Info section, the North American Map box was not checked, so it wasn't recognizing anything. I don't know how that happened, but it was an easy fix. Thanks for all the advice. The tech person was cool, and knew right away what to do. Try them if you have an issue.
I got a hold of Garmin tech service, and apparently in the Map Info section, the North American Map box was not checked, so it wasn't recognizing anything. I don't know how that happened, but it was an easy fix. Thanks for all the advice. The tech person was cool, and knew right away what to do. Try them if you have an issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Fixed. I got a hold of Garmin tech service, and apparently in the Map Info section, the North American Map box was not checked, so it wasn't recognizing anything. I don't know how that happened, but it was an easy fix. Thanks for all the advice. The tech person was cool, and knew right away what to do. Try them if you have an issue.
I got a hold of Garmin tech service, and apparently in the Map Info section, the North American Map box was not checked, so it wasn't recognizing anything. I don't know how that happened, but it was an easy fix. Thanks for all the advice. The tech person was cool, and knew right away what to do. Try them if you have an issue.I haven't had to use it often, but when needed, it comes in handy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,894
Likes: 1
From: Farmingdale NY
St. Jude Donor '06
Fixed. I got a hold of Garmin tech service, and apparently in the Map Info section, the North American Map box was not checked, so it wasn't recognizing anything. I don't know how that happened, but it was an easy fix. Thanks for all the advice. The tech person was cool, and knew right away what to do. Try them if you have an issue.
I got a hold of Garmin tech service, and apparently in the Map Info section, the North American Map box was not checked, so it wasn't recognizing anything. I don't know how that happened, but it was an easy fix. Thanks for all the advice. The tech person was cool, and knew right away what to do. Try them if you have an issue. 
I'm glad it was an easy fix!
They're good units. I have a Garmin on my boat too and it holds up pretty well.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Why? Mine works fine now.
As I said ,for some reason, mine wasn't in the proper mode, but merely checking the right box fixed it. That was my issue. I don't know what your issue is, but if you don't have online support, or can't get it resolved that way, try calling them. They were cool with me.
As I said ,for some reason, mine wasn't in the proper mode, but merely checking the right box fixed it. That was my issue. I don't know what your issue is, but if you don't have online support, or can't get it resolved that way, try calling them. They were cool with me.
Race Director
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From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Le Mans Master
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From: Northern NJ