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Pedal Reset Battery Cover Warning!

If you goto reset your Garmin it tells you to remove and replace the battery cover, but it doesnt tell you to limit the tightening of the cover to 3 or 4 turns like it does when the manual describes replacing the batteries. A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE MANUAL.

I learned the hard way. Called customer support and made them aware of the issue. They want $55.00 to replace the $2.99 (my estimate of the real cost) plastic cover which will hopefully fix the issue. I shared my dissatisfaction with the manual and asked them to cover the cost but was refused. Pedals are 6 weeks old.

Garmin, if you are reading this.....IM NOT IMPRESSED.

Michael King
Forerunner 235
Edge 820
Vector 3's
Nuvi's (circa 2007)
-and who knows what else Ive bought from them....

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

oh dear god, one more problem to the list! while my vectors currently work, i have such a constant uneasy feeling about them, i'm afraid it'll never pass

0 revord62 over 7 years ago

No - mine was replaced as well - just this week. More details abot my story here

And I'd like to raise my concern once again: the whole battery housing thing is really fragile. And as I write in my link above; this will sooner or later become a problem for Vector 3. Just wait until everyone (some are still wating for delivery) start changing their batteries..!

In my perspective, the Vector 3 would have been a perfect home-run if they had rechargeable batteries, charged from usb, in a completely sealed housing. This would have made them super tough and sturdy and easy to use in daily riding.

Admittedly, with the current design, I'm actually afraid of the next time I have to change batteries. Will they break again? What about after 4-5 times battery change...?

Garmin

You need to take a closer look on these flimsy battery covers. Imagine if V3 get the reputation; oh they look absolutely nice, but they only last until battery change...!

I'm not trying to be an a*s here. My intention is to add in real life experience. I really want to love my V3, but it's doubtfull at the moment...

The problem with having a sealed re-chargeable unit is you won't be able to service the bearings easily and is one of the reasons a switched to Vector 3's. I was using Powertap P1 pedals but I had 2 pairs fail in less than a year due to bearing problems before a requested a refund. The ability to service bearings yourself is essential but I agree there does seem to be a fragility problem around the battery housing.

Unfortunately I'm having problems with my Vectors which I had to return in less than a week due to drop outs and wild power readings. That was in January and I'm still waiting for a replacement from Evans Cycles.

0 DarinWestphal over 7 years ago

So I bought the Vector 3's a couple months ago and started to receive the low battery warning on my 920 about 2 weeks ago. So I bought some replacements (I couldn't find LR44's so the guy told me that 357's were compatible and lasted longer). I swapped them out last night but couldn't get the pedal to be recognized. No light nor would my 920 synch with it, just kept searching. So I swapped back in the LR44's and was able to ride successfully last night. But I need to replace those batteries, just can't find a store that carries them! Can anyone tell me definitely if the 357's are NOT compatible? I know after reading this thread, I'm petrified to over tighten that cap! Had I known that earlier, I may not have went this route.

0 t_smit over 7 years ago

The 357 should be a silver-oxide chemistry battery. Energizer and Duracell use the 357 designation, some other manufacturers use SR44. These types are compatible replacements to the LR44 type, as long as you use them in pairs of the same kind.

I would suggest that you try the replacement again. Be sure that both batteries are properly oriented, and that the plastic insulating tape on the inside of the battery holders has not moved out of position. When you go to thread in the door, make sure that the door is square in the opening and that the threads are aligned as you turn the door in. The door should turn about one and three-quarter full revolutions with relatively little resistance and then become snug.

0 DarinWestphal over 7 years ago

Thanks t_smit! I retried it and really paid attention to how tightly I tightened the cap and it lit right up and synched right up to my 920 so alls right with the world once again! I'll have to really pay attention to not over tighten that cap as I think that might have been the problem!

Thanks again!

0 Winnabageo over 7 years ago

At this point, numbfeet, I'd be happy to see 40 hours of usage. My set didn't last 10 hours before getting "Right Pedal Sensor Missing". Checked the batteries last night with my Fluke. 2.75 volts for the stacks of 2 batteries. Brand new set measures to be 3.1 volts (or 1.5x volts per battery).

or 1.37v per battery. thats all i got out of mine too with 30 to 40 hrs max on them. the CR1/3N might last a bit longer. waiting for my shipment to come in.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I am here to report the same issue as damado and danen1973 internal housing threads stripped. Has Garmin commented on this issue?

0 damado over 7 years ago

I am here to report the same issue as damado and danen1973 internal housing threads stripped. Has Garmin commented on this issue?

polleyoo, I sent an email to Garmin Asia with pictures of the unit and connect data since I am located in the Philippines right now. Been 3 days and “no reply”. Ever since I bought Vector3, not a single day passed with zero dropouts (Indoor and Outdoor). Riding it on the road is totally useless as it drops continuously. Finally I clipped my left pedal last Sunday and the cap litterally flew out with the batteries and all! Totally stripped the inner thread of the housing.

The problem is the housing because the housing thread is much softer material than the battery cap which is metal (seems like aluminum?)

If they don’t reply soon, I will be sending a demand letter.

Here are some pictures: have of it is stripped and the other half is intact.ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1332668.jpg

0 DerDembo over 7 years ago

Just want to report that I changed my batteries without issues. Tape looked solid and I still applied some baby oil just to be sure. When putting everything back together I closed the battery compartment by hand only to make sure everything is threaded nicely. Only after I couldn't close it down further by hand I used a torque wrench to tighten things to 2Nm (as recommended here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp-81hBT4AI). So far everything is working perfectly (as it used to).

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Update on my Vector 3. Garmin replaced them last week with a brand new pair. Eyeballing them they seemed to be exactly the same, and needless to say straight out of the box, power dropouts, spikes and cadence irregularities. Im really at my wits end with these pedals that clearly have a critical design flaw. After bringing it to their attention yet again, i received a reply saying they are aware of the issue, working on a resolution but have " no timeframe for it to be completed as yet". Extremely vague and not acceptable for a 1000 euro product.