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GPSmap 62s shuts off during start up.

Former Member over 13 years ago

I have an ongoing issue with the 62s series that I wish to bring to Garmins attention.

I am now on my forth 62s in a year and a half. All 3 previous units have all failed in EXACTLY the same way at some point. All had to be returned to Garmin for replacement after extensive troubleshooting by Garmin tech support representatives. Simply, the 62s shuts off during start up.

Has anyone else had this same experience with a 62s? If so, please post here so Garmin has a record of it.

Here is what happens. The unit operates properly for a few months of usage. Then at some point, the device fails to start up. It starts loading the tracks and waypoints, and before it gets to the copyright screen, the screen fades and it shuts off.

At this point the device can start up only if a usb cable is connected and I select Yes to the Mass Storage mode prompt. However, if I select No, it immediately shuts off. It is not a power or battery or SD card or corrupt GPX file or map issue nor an issue with any other files I may have loaded. It is not a firmware version issue as the problem spans every version since my first 62s which I bought shortly after it was released. How do I know this, well, after many many hours on the phone with Garmin Tech Support specialists, I think every conceivably option was explored each and every time, and they could not reset the unit and it is Garmin that determines the problem can only be fixed by replacing the unit.

Reiterating, this has happened with 3 separate 62s units that I have had. All failed the same way. All had to be returned for repair/replacement. I have met 2 other 62s owners who have also had the exact same experience and had to return their units for replacement, both more than once. All shut off halfway through the boot up.

I am posting here as I have been told Garmin does not research any other forums nor will they even Google a problem. Unless it is posted in these forums, the problem does not exist from their stand point.

I just received replacement number 4. I am hoping this one lasts longer than 3 months and does not succumb to the same issue as many others have previously.

If anyone else had had this same issue, please post that information here so Garmin will know about it.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

I had (have) similar problem, but seems to be the SDRAM card that get corrupted in some way.. If you take the card out, it starts up fine.. Put card back in, and shutdown during startup.. I formatted card from PC and downloaded map again.. twice now.., and always during holiday in some hotel wifi which takes ages.. Now i'm sitting on a hotel.., downloading the map for the third time.. on a new SDRAM card, because I can't format old one anymore.. I don't know if this is a cause of bad memory card or a bad GPS.. This is my 2nd 62S, and I had same problem with the old one..

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

I have been having the same problem. The first time it happened it was the SD card with my maps on it. Once I removed it the unit worked fine. Formatted the card, reloaded the maps, and it worked fine. For a while. The next time it happened I couldn't get it to do anything. I totally wiped the unit clean, installed new software, then did an update, and it worked fine for a few days. Met with the Garmin reps at MOGA this year and they said they have never heard or seen anything like this. One of them took my email and said they would check into this and be in touch. Never happened yet. I did 3 master resets that weekend just so I could use the thing. Now I do at least 1 to 2 master resets a week. The odd thing is I have been removing all the files from it when not in use and it just sits there on the desk for a few days and it locks up. Not real impressed with this gps although I do like it when it works and a few friends have the same gps with no problems to date. Makes a good paper weight on the computer desk though.:mad:

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Replacement number 4 just died. Exactly the same scenario. All that is different from my usual procedure of loading gpx files is this time I loaded two at the same time. 62s shut off half way thru file transfer. Will not start up unless it is in USB mode.

As mentioned I have met 2 others who have had the exact same problem and had to have their units replaced.

Will be contacting Garmin tomorrow as this one only lasted 55 days.

0 raymondox over 12 years ago

Master reset solved it for me

I got the same problem while on holiday over the last couple of weeks. I replaced my batteries and my GPSMAP 62s loaded half way, ie. until the bar at the bottom was about half way across, hung up and then the screen just faded.

I expected it to be a data error caused when I changed the batteries (I wasn't sure if I turned it off when I changed the batteries.) I tried deleting all the user data but to no avail.

I sent a support call into Garmin but in the meantime I scanned the forums and found out how to do a master reset.

I tried this and the unit burst back into life. I had to setup a lot of info again but its all back to normal now.

Garmin eventually got back to me and asked me to do a master reset as well.

Hope this helps. Just make sure you back up all your data before you do a master reset. It doesn't delete everything but its better to be safe.

0 RJBLOOM over 12 years ago

Same thing happened to me with my 62s. Fades out when progress bar is about halfway across. Was able to connect in USB mode to my PC after that a couple times, but then that started failing. Doing a master reset seems to have fixed it, but it took me three times to do the master reset, it would shut down before I got a chance to answer the question about deleting data. The third time I hurried up and answered Yes to the question about deleting data, and it worked. Now it boots fine. I think I recall this happening to me once before and a master reset solved it. I'm glad this hasn't happened to me in the field. Except for this issue and rarely another issue where the range gets "stuck" I'm very happy with this GPS. Fortunately both are rare issues for me.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

I have the same problem, but with an eTrex 30. I have removed the SD card, so it's not that. Would like to try a master reset, but it shuts off before it gets to the question.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

I have also experienced this shutting down issue during start up and after several attempts it eventually started up. I am quite concerned given the price of this unit and it's less than 2 months old. The screen also periodically freezes during navigation and has to be shut off and restarted to continue navigating. I suppose I will need to contact Garmin.

0 JaVaWa over 11 years ago

It could be caused by a corrupt GPX file; a master reset doesn't delete any files. Use JaVaWa Device Manager to check your device: http://www.javawa.nl/jdm_en.html

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Add me to the list of users with this exact issue. I've found what works for me is plugging the 62S into my computer and running the Webupdater software from Garmin. Even without any available updates, running through the webupdater fully usually brings the unit back.

I've wasted many hours and have done everything listed in this and other forums with no solid results; the unit will work one day and not the next, with the same settings and waypoints on it.

I am disgusted that, as a long time Garmin user, I no longer trust my gps for anything except as a toy. Even for geocaching; I still need to confirm it will work before every outing.

Where has Garmin been on this issue?