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Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 Altimeter issue

geordieanth

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a sanity check and some advice on an issue with my Epix Gen 2 Pro.

My altimeter seems to have failed, giving massive elevation readings on flat routes. I’ve cleaned the sensor ports and recalibrated multiple times, but the issue persists.

I ran a flat 5-mile route parallel to a river.

Recent Run (Faulty): 119m Elevation Gain. In this part of the run it says I climbed 40m in approx 1/4 mile - this is a flat route. 

Previous Run (Correct): 24m Elevation Gain (Same route, same watch, before the issue started).

In addition to this, I've run with several friends recently and the elevation on mine is always much higher than theirs. My friends wear a mixture of Garmin (Forerunner, Fenix, Epix) and Coros watches. Some of these have barometric altimeters and some don't, but my readings are consistently higher than everyone else's.

I sent this data to Support, but they replied stating the device is "working as designed" and that the drift is just due to GPS ping accumulation. Specifically, they said:

"The only time we'd consider things unusual is if the elevation graph in the activity as well was wildly inaccurate, but the example you've provided indicates normal readings, so in this instance the Total Ascent feature is working as designed."

To me, a 400% difference on identical terrain looks like a clear hardware fault (barometer sensor failure), not normal GPS drift.

Has anyone else experienced this specific behaviour? Garmin are known for their good customer support, but I'm not feeling it in this instance.

  • 0

    I have the exact same problem yes. Try everything to fix it.e nothing works. Do you swim or wear it in the shower at all? I feel like mine might have stopped working properly after I started using it for swimming 

  • 0 in reply to 1860780

    Same problem. The elevation gain is consistently overestimated. I’ve compared it with my Edge 1030 bike GPS, and every ride shows an overestimated elevation gain on the Epix. This one is correct on the 1030, as verified by other apps. I had the watch replaced under warranty, but the problem persists with the new one...

  • 0 in reply to thelonious69

    They should really verify Altimeter against the map elevations maybe to combat this problem? 

  • 0 in reply to 1860780

    Yeah, I wear it all the time and swim occasionally. Garmin support were incredibly unhelpful too...suggesting it was normal for me to climb 30 metres up in a few metres along and also for me to be 60 metres below sea level when running along a river. 
    I need to pick it back up with them...I ended up not bothering after I escalated the ticket and the person it was escalated too seemingly new less than the person I'd escalated against. 

  • 0

    Same.  I don't wear my watch in the shower.  I will randomly get 8+ floors of elevation in a route that has barely one, or the opposite; I will run a hill with 15 floors of elevation and it will not log any of it. 

    Seemed to start a few software updates ago. 

  • 0

    Hi, last week, out of the blue, I start having these nightmarish problems, doubling or more the added elevation...ruining my stats, as I do mostly trail running these days...
    What is happening? What changed?

  • 0

    I partially solved the problem by soaking the watch for 10 minutes in pure descaling liquid and cleaning the sensor holes with a soft-bristled toothbrush. I think that over time, sweat and dust can cause the altimeter to malfunction.

  • 0

    So I never wear my watch in the shower. Soap and potentially dirty water rinsing off my skin can get trapped where these sensors are. A few people in my run club would argue about this, but they are the ones that also complain about altimeter and barometer issues. Coincidence? Now I did help a friend out by soaking his watch in distilled water for 15 minutes then flushed with a gentle flow of rubbing alcohol (rubbing alcohol disperses water). Finally, I rinse with a gentle flow of water and wiped down with a fuzzy microfiber.  So far they claim the altimeter is working.

    My routine maintenance: After each run I wipe the watch with a fuzzy microfiber cloth. Each week I wipe the the watch (and rubber strap) with rubbing alcohol, then rinse under low pressure water and dry with a fuzzy microfiber cloth. Never have skin issues and my sensors seem to behave as expected.

  • 0 in reply to Splat

    I see the same on my epix Pro. after a restart or reset the altimeter shows about -125 m, if I do an activity, e.g. playing Golf, it jumps to correct 15-20 m, after that being home, it jumps somewhere in the evening back to round -125m ...

    I checked the little openings and they are free. 

    I live in the Netherlands, so Altimeter is not important for me.

  • 0 in reply to Gerd_NL

    The openings can look clean(outside); inside residue can build up. Soapy water can get inside (especially from showering with watch on) and dry in the cavity of those holes where the sensor resides. Soap will cling to dirt so have dried soap inside can collect all sorts atomized particulates. Garmin states not to use brushes or compressed air in these holes. So soaking with distilled water helps break down soap residue and hopefully flush out debris too.