Nuvi 3597LMT (Lifetime Maps) showing "Map Update Available for Purchase" in GE

Can't help with your problem but can you visit https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?228952-Change-User-Name and follow the instructions for when your sign in name is showing as unregistered? Thanks.

I suspect your problem is with the account associated with that device so the Express team should be able to help.

thanks, followed instructions.

Am I posting in the correct place regarding my issue? Thanks.

Yes. This is the correct forum.

if it helps...

here is what garmin express looks like:

http://i.imgur.com/TpirOUu.png

and here is what the device looks like under my garmin account:

http://i.imgur.com/IpvTVhm.png

thanks

davedogcaddy

I used a test device to mimic your nuvi 3597LMTHD and Garmin Express offered the City Navigator North America NT 2015.40 map update. Have you tried it since fully registering the device? If so, delete the device from Garmin Express and add it back.

What should I do if I'm having issues with the Garmin Express client?

If you continue to experience problems, contact Product Support by phone for further assistance.

Lisa

davedogcaddy

I used a test device to mimic your nuvi 3597LMTHD and Garmin Express offered the City Navigator North America NT 2015.40 map update. Have you tried it since fully registering the device? If so, delete the device from Garmin Express and add it back.

What should I do if I'm having issues with the Garmin Express client?

If you continue to experience problems, contact Product Support by phone for further assistance.

Lisa

Yeah - that's probably because I already fixed the issue myself. Found this info on another forum. Turns out there are some reports of some European units being sold as North America refurbs. Looks like my refurb is one of them. Here is information another user posted on what Garmin said to do to fix it:

Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I am sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused you.
In some cases, Garmin Express may fail to provide updates for newly-overhauled (refurbished) GPS devices.
Symptoms include:
• Express offers no available map updates
• Express offers updates for purchase for devices that include nuMaps Lifetime subscriptions
• Express offers map updates for the wrong country or continent
• myGarmin.com incorrectly states "Your maps are up to date"
This issue can be resolved by manually registering the device to a myGarmin account using the link below:
https://my.garmin.com/mygarmin/registration/gettingStarted.h...
Sign in to a pre-existing myGarmin account, or create a new one. Upon signing in, follow the instructions on the site to register the device. Enter the serial number located on the device, not the one shown in Express.
After the registration is complete, remove and reassociate the device with Express:
1. Disconnect device from computer1
2. Open Garmin Express
3. Click Device
4. Click Delete Device from Express
5. Uncheck the box next to Delete the saved backups
6. Click Confirm
7. Close Garmin Express
8. Open Garmin Express
9. Connect device and follow the on-screen prompts to add the device back to Express
The appropriate map updates should now be available for the device.
1Eject the device from the computer first if using a Mac.
Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Source:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/44211
And post on this forum that led to a fix:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/44639

To be clear I had already tried removing/re-adding the GPS to GE - it was that special link included in the instructions above and registering by inputting the serial # manually at that link - and THEN deleting and re-adding that finally fixed it.

Garmin really needs to
A. do some better quality control on refurbs
and
B. make this info on how to fix it EASY to find and readily available so you don't have to spend hours on the internet digging it up.

It's amazing to me that the customer service at Garmin I was emailing couldn't identify this, and I found no info searching the official Garmin forums - and yet a third party site/users had all the answers. Hope this post helps someone.

To be fair though I have owned many a Garmin and never had an issue like this before.