HRM sensor stops working due to water leaking inside

I had 3 HRM run with my Fenix 3HR. First one broke after 1 year, 2 one about after 1 year, and replacement one after 6 months... Seems they all share as I just found out a chronic disease or rather a bad design/manufacturing quality from Garmin. Indeed they all have a crack in the body of the sensor located exactly at the same place - top right corner, circling close or around the screw hole. This thin crack line let's the water in during cleanup (or swimming if using a swim version). I checked and found many people with the same issue on Youtube or elsewhere. It is just amazing that Garmin would let its reputation impacted by such a bad quality in production. Anyone else experiencing this ? Check your HRM sensors by removing the cover to the battery.

0 tj44Fenix3 over 3 years ago

0 tj44Fenix3 over 3 years ago in reply to tj44Fenix3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=62wb7rmt-LI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5K9nGOrHQc

0 tj44Fenix3 over 3 years ago in reply to tj44Fenix3

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-935/171305/hrm-tri-battery-is-empty-after-couple-days

0 seilogramp over 3 years ago

tj44Fenix3 said:
Anyone else experiencing this ?

Yes. I went through 2 of these. Finally ended up going back to my vintage 2010 Garmin Premium HRM paired with a Polar WearLink+

0 tess over 3 years ago

tj44Fenix3 said:
Anyone else experiencing this ? Check your HRM sensors by removing the cover to the battery.

I have a HRM-Tri that I've been using for the past few years. I rinse it after every use and do a thorough cleaning once a week where it's submerged in water. No issues other than the battery dying. First I heard about this issue and I'm definitely going to check before I use it again.

0 tickerguy over 3 years ago

I had two HRM-Runs die like this; I now have a TRI which doesn't appear to have the same problem, as I've yet to have it get contaminated and short out after a couple of years. The issue isn't so much water getting in during cleaning, it's the salt in your sweat that gets in there over time and shorts it out.

0 philipshambrook over 3 years ago

tj44Fenix3 said:
Anyone else experiencing this ? Check your HRM sensors by removing the cover to the battery

I am still using an HRM-Run (the one with the running man logo on the removable pod) after many years. It shows no sign of any faults after many battery replacements and much use including swimming as part of triathlons. I’ve had an HRM-Dual that I’ve used for the past three years and no indication of failing. I now have an HRM-Pro and that is showing no signs of failing.

The screws on the covers are very tight, secured with Loctite I believe. I noticed this with my first chest strap, the hard plastic one. Ever since then the first thing I do is remove the screws and put a small dab of silicone grease on them and do them up tight but not overtight. I wonder if part of the problem is people replacing the screws too tight after changing the battery.

tickerguy said:
The issue isn't so much water getting in during cleaning, it's the salt in your sweat that gets in there over time and shorts it out.

The solution to that is regular cleaning as per the instructions and separating the module from the strap if removable.

0 tj44Fenix3 over 3 years ago in reply to philipshambrook

The picture on top shows the replacement one that stopped working this week. Never opened before, no battery replacement, was brand new from February. Since it stopped working I opened it to find water in and noticed the same exact crack as on my old one, and on others reports. For me it is not people tightening too much. These are all on the same right side/up corner. For me it is a serial defect, not user induced. Might actually be a machine causing it or a mold badly conceived, it is for sure a manufacturing issue.

0 ChristophBackhausen over 2 years ago in reply to tj44Fenix3

Hi, I use the HRM pro and have the same problem. It is just 8 months old now. I never opened the HRM until it stopped working. Then I just went to change the battery and found a drop of water on the battery. I have not noticed a crack yet, but will look closer now.

0 -- over 2 years ago in reply to ChristophBackhausen

While replacing a HRM-Tri battery I noticed a small amount of clear liquid (a drop) inside the battery compartment. It wasn't watery but gel-like and it did not evaporate. It turned out to be some kind of clear sealant. Nevertheless, the Tri was defective, but probably not because of water ingress (more likely the pads were worn). Still prefer ancient HRM-1G.