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Fenix 5X Plus not charging correctly

Hi all,

I've been noticing in the last few months that my Fenix 5x Plus no longer charges correctly. Sometimes when I plug it in it wont charge, but if I flip the charger cable around it will start charging. I've cleaned the contacts and it works for a bit then goes back to not charging after a few days. Is this a known issue at all? I know cleaning the contacts seems to fix it, but doing this every week or so will eventually grow quite annoying, and I'm more worried about a failing watch.

I know not every device will last for years, but its about 2 years old so concerns me.

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0 Narziss over 4 years ago

It's a known issue and it happens to me every so often: you can easily fix it with a new cable. You find cheap ones online on Amazon or other stores.

0 RunR over 4 years ago

Sometimes it helps to compress the contacts of the cable with pliers. Apart from the tip with the new cable, use a charger with a high capacity, not the USB port of a computer and let it charge 1 or 2 hours longer, when it reached 100%. Switching the watch off and on again after charging can also increase battery life.

0 Squidy666 over 4 years ago

THanks both, incredibly relieved to know its only the cable and the fix will cost me $40 max

0 Narziss over 4 years ago in reply to Squidy666

On Amazon you can find them for less than 10$, for 2...

0 RunR over 4 years ago in reply to Squidy666

Where do you buy? You can even get the overpriced Garmin Cables for 21,99$ on Amazon (26€ in Germany).

0 docau over 4 years ago

On the recommendations of others I bought the two-pack of these - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N18DX6Y

My previous 3rd party cables were basically never working, and my original Garmin cable was very hit-and-miss, but these ones work about 90% of the time. I still need to be careful to check it's actually charging after I connect it for that 1-in-10 times it doesn't work (if it's not then a few small movements will get it to start working) but it's far better than my original cable is.

0 Squidy666 over 4 years ago

Well, I got a new Garmin cable and its still the same issue. Charges rarely, so this leads me to believe its the watch that's dying already. Not good.

0 Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to Squidy666

Contact Garmin Support.

0 5135968 over 4 years ago

I have a similar problem with my Fenix 5 Plus, bought brand new in the UK in April last year.

I have 3 cables, 2 original Garmin and 1 3rd party charging puck - none of the cables charges the 5 Plus when plugged into USB mains chargers, or will charge using power sockets with embedded USB ports or my laptop. Strangely, one of the cables is able to charge ONLY if it's connected to an Acer C720 Chromebook - nothing else will charge it! One of the pins on my charging port looks corroded - the pin nearest the Start button.

I can workaround the problem for now using the Chromebook to charge, but I think this is one for Garmin Support longterm. Or I may go direct to my retailer, John Lewis as they are much more responsive (Garmin Support takes days to reply - if they do at all)

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

For any watch that won't charge or do USB data transfer; if you replaced the cable and cleaned the contacts with no effect, and have warranty: contact Garmin support and have it replaced. The Fenix 5 Plus is not the same as the Forerunner 935 of course, but it seems very similar to an issue I had with the FR935; I had three watches replaced because they stopped doing USB data transfer, then stopped charging. According to Garmin a known issue at the time, internally broken USB port.