Activities (cycling, running, swimming) stop recording prematurely

Recently my Fenix 5 stops recording activities prematurely: multiple activities (Running, Cycling, Pool Swim). Despite locking the buttons, the activity stops mid activity by itself. I look down at my watch and it shows the resume menu. I then need to click Resume in order to continue the activity but the data is lost for the period between it stopping by itself and me happening to notice it is stopped and clicking resume. The watch does not alert me that it stopped recording the activity. The watch is up to date, and I have performed the Master Reset using these instructions but the issue persists.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=wxPmdnWsev1xGRUf58oDC8&productID=552982&tab=topics

Software: 20.10

GPS is up to date.

I have attached a sample cycling activity file that illustrates this issue.

Any ideas?

B8R64255.FIT.zip

0 Former Member over 3 years ago

solved

0 4880677 over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi, thank you so much for helping!

Answers to your questions/comments:

is this the spot in the example you experience ? (screenshot)
- Yes 37 minutes into the activity is when I estimate watch stopped recording the activity.
suggest you check the workings of start button
- Ok, how do you suggest I perform this check?
check for a log file in the DEBUG folder
- Attached Debug folder, the ERR_LOG.BAK files contains this text:
  - 2796 (fenix 5 APAC) SW ver: 2010
    Build Type: RELEASE
    Commit:6824b57095a4ba7fae9f27be065a8bd306101cc3
    ESN: 3945311119
    08/26/21 23:19:00
    AP
    PWR RST CTRL: 0x00400028
    POR
wait for a good GPS fix before starting an activity
- Noted. However the early part of the activity seemed fine and I almost always wait for strong GPS fix prior to starting
also time for a backup/cleanup procedure when ACTIVITY folder contains many fit files
- Noted
when non of these apply do a Hard Reset: hold down your top left button until your watch shuts off, then let go
- Noted
or delete the ACTIVITY folder and restart (backup content first)
- Noted

One more question: what does the Power Up record mean?

DEBUG.zip

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to 4880677

solved

0 4880677 over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi unfortunately yesterday during my jog the watch stopped recording again. This time the watch appeared to be restarting when I glanced down at it. I have attached the fit file Activity was Running. (I use a mac so can't analyse the file myself, the FitFileRepairTool appears to be windows only).

Regarding your questions/suggestions:

a) Test buttons: the buttons appear to work fine when I am using them during normal operation (starting and stopping activities etc.)

b) Any CIQ parts installed? I am not sure what that is, so I guess not.

B8TH0705.FIT.zip

0 JiangJunyu over 3 years ago

Recently I have had this problem too.

0 4880677 over 3 years ago in reply to 4880677

Sorry for the long delay. It appears this issue has not gone away completely but is manageable following the procedure you outlined. For about two months the watch worked flawlessly. However I note that to achieve this, I synced with my computer once per week and deleted the activity files. But then I forgot to clear the activity folder and activities started to accumulate there. It was at this point that during activities the watch started stopping recording the activity prematurely. The activity just pauses by itself showing the resume screen, no notice is given to me when this happens.

So if I notice this issue recurring, I follow the procedure outlined below and then the watch starts behaving itself again:

1. Sync watch using Garmin Express 7.9.1.0 on Mac (Monterey OS)

2 Mount Garmin in USB mode and manually delete contents of ACTIVITY folder (fit files)

3. Disconnect watch from Computer

4. Perform a Hard Reset: hold down top left button until watch shuts off, then let go

This procedure seems to reset the watch so that it works reliably again for a few weeks until I need to perform the procedure again.

I note that my watch is an APAC version (I stay in Singapore where I purchased the watch). Perhaps there is a software bug in the APAC software running on the watch that causes it to go corrupt after a few weeks?