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Garmin Varia RTL 500 light shutting off mid ride

My Garmin Varia RTL 500 light shuts off mid ride for some reason. I dont know exactly when it shuts off but when my ride is over, its off. Folks that I ride with also says it just shuts off.

My head unit is a Gamin 520. All the software is updated as well. I googled the problem and I saw that people from 3 years ago were having the same problem. Was hoping that in 3 years, Garmin has a fix for this. Whats the purpose of having a rear taillight if it just shuts off.

Any ideas on the problem or solutions???

thx

Top Replies

oo0M0oo over 3 years ago in reply to oo0M0oo +1

Just to update.

CS told me to reset the Varia, by holding down the on/off button for 8 seconds.

Link for the 510: https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/variartl510/EN-GB/GUID-64F8DF7B-1440-4FA8-AFA8…

All Replies

0 oo0M0oo over 3 years ago

I've had similar problems with the RTL510 and the Garmin 830 recently.

The problem is the pee poor updates they kept pumping out without fully testing them.

The only way to fix it (in my opinion), is to factory reset your Garmin 520 (keeping your data) and add the radar again. It worked for me today.

It is possible to backup your user settings. See this page: https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/edge-830/228642/downgrade-firmware

Remember, you're restoring the file, not the backed up folder to NewFiles. Reboot device after copying over.

But you might find that restoring the backup files again doesn't fix the sensor problem. It didn't work for me, only a "proper" reset worked.

0 digitalash2 over 3 years ago

I’m having the same problem. How can you trust a light that randomly deactivates in the dark?

0 digitalash2 over 3 years ago in reply to oo0M0oo

Did this help? Curious before I kill all my settings...

0 oo0M0oo over 3 years ago in reply to digitalash2

A full factory reset helped for a few weeks. i.e. the light remained on during rides. But I still have problems with the light modes keep altering on their own.

In the last few days, the RTL510 has started to switch off/on and random intervals again (Garmin 830 v6.20 FW).

So a factory reset hasn't really helped with the radar problem. But it did cure other issues.

I've contacted Garmin CS to ask for their advice. Just waiting for a reply now.

0 oo0M0oo over 3 years ago in reply to oo0M0oo

Just to update.

CS told me to reset the Varia, by holding down the on/off button for 8 seconds.

Link for the 510: https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/variartl510/EN-GB/GUID-64F8DF7B-1440-4FA8-AFA8-6E3290DBCE9D.html

And also removing and re-pairing it to my device.

I tested it today for the first time on a 1.5 hour ride, I didn't have any problems with it shutting off/on or changing light modes automatically.

0 digitalash2 over 3 years ago in reply to oo0M0oo

Thanks I’ll try it on my 820 !

0 oo0M0oo over 3 years ago

Another update.

The Varia has been perfect for the last few days.

But on a 1.5 hour ride today. The radar kept disconnecting and the light had switched off for the last 30 mins of the ride.

0 digitalash2 over 3 years ago in reply to oo0M0oo

Yes. The fix worked for the first 40 minutes of my last ride before starting to send disconnection messages.
I’m starting to suspect that the battery may be reaching end of life after only 3 years.

0 blogcycle over 1 year ago in reply to digitalash2

Same conclusion I have come to. My radar is about 3 yrs old, and it keeps shutting off, despite being fully charge. I am using the Garmin Varia RDU2 head unit and it goes red, then it shuts off after the radar has shut off.

I can turn it back on, mid-ride, and it will connect again for a few seconds, then shut off again.