Related
Options
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Back button & light button not working (reopened)

galmiklos
3 months ago

Hi all,

There was a discussion 2 years ago with the same subject, but it's closed, so I reopened it as a new discussion.

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-7-series/323634/back-button-light-button-not-working

Because I have the same problem, and had been having the same problem for 3 years almost exactly.

I had my Fenix 7x solar pre-ordered in January 2022, and got it in April. I had it replaced 4 times, the last time in June last year. I was told the 1 year warranty resets every time I get a replacement, but this last time, I was told I would have to pay a $230+shipping "exchange fee". I was also offered a 20% discount to buy a new one! :-( Obviously, I declined, and expressed my feelings about the buttons not lasting even a year. The associate didn't budge, so I am left with a Fenix 7x solar with a broken "up" button.

Are there others out there with the same problem still? Or am I the only "unlucky" one?

I have also been a faithful Garmin user, like many of us, for years (or has it already been decades?), but I now have second thoughts about upgrading to the next Fenix. This one, with the 4 exchanges, lasted 3 years, while my Fenix 5 still works and has no problem with the buttons. Apparently, Garmin is going the wrong way, as much as quality and reliability goes...

Thanks for listening.

  • 0 3 months ago in reply to galmiklos

    Well done getting it fixed! You've given me to confidence to access it from the display now as I've always just removed the back. It actually looks easier!

    Also very interesting that the contacts has worked their way inwards to the point they were touching. Awesome find and something I've never seen before. I wonder if a small insulator could be added to the middle to stop them from coming together again.

    meuhbat said:
    Have you looked at how the sealing is made around the button? Do you have pictures?

    It's a tiny gasket around the button which sits behind the small circuit board, but I'd be very reluctant to disassemble it given the tolerances. I'm pretty keen on seeing how the Fenix 8's buttons are assembled now Smile

  • 0 3 months ago

    @2529455, it is not that the two contacts were shorted, it was that the two contacts didn't make contact with the edge of the main board. I had to bend them towards to main board, so that when the board was put back, they were snug, and pressing against the edge better.

    @meuhbat, here's a picture of the bezel and the housing, you can see the blue O-ring, that would sit on the rim of the housing.

  • 0 3 months ago in reply to galmiklos

    Got it. Excellent troubleshooting!

  • 0 3 months ago

    I just wonder why is it always the up or the light buttons affected only? All buttons are the same. And these are the least used buttons, in my opinion, so these two should show metal fatigue the least. Although, this "metal fatigue" theory may be incorrect, as the contacts don't move, they just press against the edge of the main board. For now, I'm OK, the next time one of the buttons stops working, I'll take a closer look at those contacts. I don't want to open it up again. I thoroughly cleaned the rim, and applied a thin layer of O-ring silicon lubricant on the O-ring, it should be good as new now.

  • 0 3 months ago in reply to galmiklos

    These are the two buttons that people are going to long press, likely with some force.

    • Long press back button to return back to the watch face.
    • Long press light button to get to the timer, alarm, mute etc widgets.
  • 0 3 months ago

    How true! And in my case, it was the up button broken, since I haven't used those functions with the long press of the light button lately. The up button, yes (going into settings to enable HR broadcast). I guess one thing to keep in mind to not press the button with force when doing the long press, it is not necessary, I guess it is just natural reaction of our mind thinking you have to press hard, if you press long.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to galmiklos

    I tried this on my Enduro 2. Menu/Up button gave in. My repair was unsuccessful. So Im posting here as a warning. When bending that small little plate back outwards - BE VERY CAREFULL. Your should be moving it very gently, like 1/2mm - 1 mm only (maybe not even 1mm). Very easy for that small plate just to break off almost instantly. Both of the small plates on my one button went. So now there is no recover from this.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 8693322

    Your post couldn't have come a better time, my left middle button became inoperable again. So, with the new knowledge, I took the watch apart again, and was very careful bending the tab. But I broke it, nevertheless. :-( Gaaaaah!!!!

    However, I fixed it... ;-)

    It will be hard to remove the main board, if I ever want to change the battery later, but this button WILL NOT GO DEAD AGAIN!!! :-)