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Fenix 5 connector corrosion

Has there been any solid guidance on how to prevent the charging connector from corroding? Ive had my Fenix 5 for ~ 2 months, worn it maybe 20 times, never had it in water, never really got it that sweaty and the connector is already so corroded im having issues getting it to charge. Im wondering if swapping the connector with a q-tip after every use might help...but really i don't see how this thing is going to last me 6 months much less a year.

0 Ocean5 over 5 years ago

Nothing you can do. Reach out to Garmin support for replacement watch.

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-5-series/158149/fenix-5-corrosion-on-charge-port-pins?ReplySortBy=CreatedDate&ReplySortOrder=Descending

Cheers

0 Matthew1985 over 5 years ago

Absolutely nothing you can do. I had two models before I gave up and asked Garmin to stop wasting my time and give me my money back.

The model is defective. It’s a sports watch so this absolutely should not be happening.

I would be asking for a refund while still under warranty and giving this model a wide berth.

0 danlorek over 5 years ago in reply to Matthew1985

I received a warranty replacement and it is already exhibiting the same issue. I own a VAHR, VA3, and have owned countless other Garmin devices that never had this problem. This sounds like pretty solid advice to me.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to danlorek

I am on my 3rd Fenix (after returning first 2) and after 2 months my Fenix5 is showing signs of corrosion on one of the charging connector pins. 3 are shiny and the 4the is looking a dull matt grey.

For this to happen there must be a big issue with quality control.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

my second pin was very dull when I got the watch, I wondered if it had been refurbished. It hasn't got any worse though. three shiny and one very dull.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

I have returned 3 devices with the same issue, and after that, they offered me a fenix 5x for free which has golden pins.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

So my 4th Fenix5 has now been returned and thankfully I have been given a full refund. No questions were needed after I showed photos of the corrosion on the charging pins. This was after light use, never been swimming or near the sea, washed in cold water and left to dry and then charged only when down to about 20% to minimise the use of the charger.

The UK retailer that I bought it from, has stopped selling Garmin.

I am very relieved to have got rid of this.

0 Rafdesipris over 4 years ago

Just had my F5 second replacement due to pin corrosion. Garmin Greece replaces it with a refurbished one. No chance of a refund. I even asked for an upgrade offer to a more recent model, but they can't.

0 carleson over 4 years ago

At lease they have solid guidance on short term fixes. In Garmin support pages for Fenix 5 "Power and Charging" the cleaning technique is described, they even have a video from a previous generation showing how to use a qtip and alcohol.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=pVTReaJt0Q5FfLf9AjxGY7&productID=552982&tab=topics&topicTag=region_powerandcharging

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to carleson

Qtip and alcohol has always worked for me. Swab both on the watch and the charging cable pins.