HRM battery replacement troubleshooting

Hi! I just got the HRM-Fit, and I absolutely cannot open the battery casing. I tried using the screwdrivers I had at home, no dice. I used coins, and nope. I took it to the local Home Depot and got a bunch of employees to try every type of screwdriver they had, nothing.

It has a battery in there now, but what do I do when the time comes to try and replace it? Has anyone had success opening the unit? What did you do? What did you use?

Thanks!

Simone

0 Dr Phil 24 days ago

The instructions on the manual seem pretty clear - https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-F5B2BF3A-C6BB-4C9F-98D2-C0CB99E0B4AC/EN-US/GUID-92F6AD82-7CBD-4973-BD89-56C8C19C9253.html

If you're struggling perhaps take it back to where you bought it from and have them look at it. If that's not possible take the instructions and the strap to a jewellery shop. It dens;t look too complicated.

0 saskia_madding 24 days ago in reply to Dr Phil

Have you ever tried it? I'm hoping to hear from people who have done this successfully. I totally understand that this SEEMS like a cut and dry thing to do, and I read the instructions and watched the Garmin video multiple times, I swear. HOWEVER, that doesn't change the fact that neither I nor any of the home hardware professionals using all the variety of screwdrivers and coins they had on hand could not accomplish this. All that happened is we stripped the hole.

0 Data 24 days ago in reply to saskia_madding

It may be over-tightened, and a case for Garmjn Support. I haven't done this myself but cooling or warming the device (within operating limits) may help to expand or contract materials and make things losen up.

0 saskia_madding 24 days ago in reply to Data

That is a great idea. I've never tried warming it up, but maybe after a run I can try to open it. Thanks so much for the tip!

I did call garmin support and all they said was, if I can't open it, I can send it back and they will offer me a replacement. That will be good to know when the battery dies and I still fail to open it, but I'm hoping not to do that quite yet.

0 anderson328 11 days ago in reply to saskia_madding

The screws aren’t normal Phillips heads. They use a miniature star drive. I had to buy an inexpensive set of very small bits to open it. The set of 25 bits was maybe $10 from Amazon.

0 saskia_madding 11 days ago in reply to anderson328

I wish! That would be amazing. I'd happily do that. But the HRM-Fit for women is a flat head, and I just can't open it. Arg. I guess I'm just going to make sure I return it before the year mark, and hope that gives me an extra year to figure it out. :/

0 Dr Phil 10 days ago in reply to saskia_madding

saskia_madding said:
But the HRM-Fit for women is a flat head, and I just can't open it.

Take it to a jewellers or watch maker. Perhaps they can help.

0 Sai Roberts 10 days ago

I just replaced my battery, i used a coin to turn the lock cap, you only need to turn it a quarter turn anti-clockwise and then push your finger nail or a knife point gently against the circle to flip it off. like this www.youtube.com/watch

0 saskia_madding 9 days ago in reply to Sai Roberts

I watched that video many, many times, but I simply cannot get the lock cap to turn, at all. But this is good data to have - the problems I'm having seem to be isolated.

I think I'm going to take it to a jeweler or watch repair place and see what happens ...