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Fenix 3 stuck in test boot mode

BTMo
over 4 years ago

Hi guys.  I realize this is for the Fenix 5 plus but there is no longer a page for the Fenix 3.

My Fenix 3 was working perfectly until yesterday.  There was no 'incident' that caused this to change - it was low on battery, I figured that was why it did this at first.  

The first symptom was the buttons stopped responding.  It was under 10% battery so I thought maybe this was a battery saving thing.  I plugged it in and it still wouldn't respond to any buttons, so I held down the power button and it turned off eventually.  When I rebooted it, it makes a beep and continually starts in test mode, as seen here: 

https://imgur.com/Rg56CVu

I also noticed the light is on, as if the button is being held.  That being said, HOLDING the light/power button is the only button that gives any response (just not the proper one, ie bringing up the power menu when ON or a normal boot when OFF).

If I try to do a factory reset (hold the back button, hold start, hold back button until reset menu comes up) it just goes to a strange pattern of expanding coloured squares (seen here): 

https://youtu.be/_kF75YNNaLY

None of the buttons respond during either the test boot screen with the data in the image, or during the test pattern square screen.  The only thing that will do anything is holding down the power button until it turns off... and then if you boot it will repeat.  Holding the power button for a second or two brings up the test boot screen with data, attempting to bring up the factory reset screen brings on the square patterns.

Today I tried taking the screen off and using canned compressed air to clean the buttons, worked them with the screen off to see if I could see any problems, it didn't do anything.  

If anyone could please help, it would be immensely appreciated as I'm not quite ready to replace it...

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    My Fenix 1 died in a similar way after 3 years and I also could not revive it. You might try to connect it to the computer and try to reinstall the operating system. I remember a site where this was described, maybe you search for that. For me it did't work and finally I bought a new watch.

    As you are already in the Fenix 5 plus Forum, I can really recommend this watch, especially because the GPS is better then the one of the newer devices (F6, Venu, Vivoactive 4).

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to RunR

    I may just have to do that!  I can't get the computer to even detect it unfortunately.  The computer makes the sound as if I have detected a device, but the Garmin app doesn't see the device.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to RunR

    do you have any info on the sensor being better in the 5 than the 6? also, is it better than what is in the 3?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to BTMo

    As I switched to the F5+ from the F3, I can say that it is slightly better in some cases, but this would not be a reason to upgrade. When it comes to the F6, there are endless debates in the forums and those guys who deliver real data, show the issues (others only state that their watch is great). When I compare my tracks with those of club mates (F6) and my kids (Venue and Vivoactive 4), I don't want to have a watch with the newer Sony chip!

    This comprehensive video might be helpful:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr-uPuvdSGw

    When I switched from the Fenix 1 to the Fenix 3, all my standard courses became a bit shorter, although the GPS-quality of the F1 was quite good in the end (and worse than my Forerunner 110 when I bought it). Luckily there was no additional reduction when switching to the F5+!

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to RunR
    RunR said:
    there are endless debates in the forums and those guys who deliver real data, show the issues (others only state that their watch is great).

    Let me correct this:

    “there are endless debates in the forums [for all devices] and those guys who deliver real data show that it works [for them at least] while others usually only state their watch is crap "

    However, in fairness there are posts with data from people with and without problems. Somehow, you have to sort the wheat from the chaff in a forum that is heavily skewed towards people with problems. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    The expanding squares-screen is one of the test mode screens that you get to by pressing Back while in test mode. Disclaimer: can't test myself - (stupidly) sold my Fenix 3. In test mode, the backlight is on by default. There is a good piece of information about test mode here  (it's a Facebook link but you can read the article in full). Based  on that, I guess that the Down button may be stuck. If compressed air doesn't do it, maybe cleaning with isopropyl alcohol does the trick.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I just have exactly the same behaviour with my Fenix3. Finally did you solve it?

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to plf31

    It’s busted. Garmin obviously is used to it because when I emailed Garmin support they just said sorry, here’s a discount code for another Garmin product or you can buy a cheap refurbished Fenix 3. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Have you tried the garmin webupdater tool, since windows does a sound the unit seems to connect to windows. It might be in some production/loader mode and webupdater can talk to a lot of units even if it is in non-standard mode. Worth a try.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Mathias.Bjorklund

    I don’t even know what that is. I bought an Apple Watch to replace it already but I WOULD fix it if I could and sell it if it’s working properly. What’s this tool?