Related

955 Freezes

zepinho86
1 month ago

All of the following happened in September 2024.

My first 955 Solar (7EG015180) worked fine for 2 years until barometer sensor failed. According with Garmin Support Spain it was due most probably to chlorine damage during swim activities (I swam for 4 to 5 times per week last year). Consequences were that altimeter displayed values all over the place like -7000 meters with me at ~1000 meters high, no calibration or hard reset fixed the problem. I got a replacement after an RMA.

My second 955 Solar (7EG052027) after RMA had problems since day one, compass very laggy, HR not working for much of the time, by the end not even vibration was working when alarms were triggered. BMX / WHR / Sensor Hub showing versions 0.0.0 / 0.0.1, strangely sometimes it recovered by itself, versions were displayed correctly and sensors would start working for some time (hours maybe). After update 20.29 problem continued so another RMA.

My third 955 Solar (7EG052041) arrived yesterday. It looked fine, responsive, watch updated to 20.29 using Garmin Express as soon as I received it followed by Hard Reset to start fresh, connected to Gamin Connect in my Phone everything was looking fine. I woke up this morning, tried to check the time by clicking backlight nothing happened, turn on bedroom lights to realized watch freeze at 01:29am. After a soft reset by long pressing top left button I would say battery dropped by at least 30% between 1:29am to 8:00am. 

This is frustrating, maybe I am getting reconditioned (bad) units through RMA which could justify why the watches are having problems since the start.

Long term Garmin customer FR405, FR610, Swim, Fenix 2, Fenix 3, Fenix 5, FR945, FR955 Solar (besides Edge 810, Edge 840, Rally RK100 and maybe something else I'm not remembering).

  • 0 1 month ago

    New updates...

    Sunday I got out of battery, 0% so watch shutdown. Was charging for one hour after which I unplugged it and went outside, soon I realized watch was not turning on. Initially I thought watch did not charged but when I returned home as soon as I connect it the watch turned on and was 100%.

    Stayed on and apparently working fine but, it froze during the night. I have video evidence of the watch not responding in the morning showing 22:56. After soft reset watch turn on apparently OK with 46% battery (battery drain while frozen pretty sure), after a few hours realized watch was shutdown, tried to power it on and it is in boot loop. It boot loops like 10 times maybe more and then stays off and I am not able to start the watch pressing power on button.

    I was eventually able to turn on the watch with either when I plug it to the charger or USB in my laptop or / and if I long press power button for a while and then press power button again to start. Unsure which steps actually made the watch start.

    Tried to look for some log file in the watch file system and found one saying "RTL Trap" around the time watch last boot loop / shutdown. Maybe related I do not know.

  • 0 1 month ago

    Found this meanwhile after watch "ended" boot loop and stayed off.

    And this the "RTL Trap" I found before.

  • 0 1 month ago

    Decided to hard reset the watch yesterday to see if I get any improvement.

    A few minutes ago watch was off when it still was supposed to have maybe 30% battery. Tried to power on didn't work, tried to plug to PC no response, unplugged and long pressed power on button and eventually it started booting up. While booting up, unexpected restart, second time it was able to finish the boot.

    Will call support again. Going for a fourth 995 solar it seems.

  • 0 1 month ago

    Silly question: what are you using to charge the watch?

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 5407156

    Original Garmin cable connected either to Laptop USB or Apple wall charger.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to zepinho86

    Given that you've had three watches go bad, the probability is shifting to it being a problem with something you're connecting them to.

    I know a smartphone I had about ten years ago was broken subtly by a fake charger. It worked perfectly on 3G but stopped working on 2G. One of the chips inside didn't like the out-of-spec power and stopped working. Thankfully it was repaired within warranty.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to 5407156

    First watch damage was on confirmed by Garmin Support it happens due chlorine damage on barometer sensor. I swim multiple times per week makes sense.

    Second watch problem existed since I got it out of the box before even I connected it anywhere. Others reported same problem here in the forum, they are not using my charger.

    I used the same charger over 2 years on my first 955, my girlfriend used the same charger currently on her 2 Garmin watches no problems.

    Thanks for taking the time for trying to help. I appreciate it Thumbsup

    And also, each watch manifested different problems so the root cause being the same (the charger) is unlikely.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to zepinho86

    OK. Best of luck with your next replacement watch!

  • 0 1 month ago

    So another update. Since we recently got the 20.31 update I decided to give it some more time to see if my problem goes away.

    It did not. At this moment the watch freezes every time I fall asleep, I know it looks crazy Joy . It happens even if I take a nap in the afternoon ... When I wake up it is freeze with the time that I fall asleep. Since now it is happening every day I was able to pinpoint the most probable moment it happens with some certainty.

    Tomorrow I will call Garmin Support hoping the next watch is a good one.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to zepinho86

    Man... What are the chances... I just clicked enter on previous comment and I got 20.32 version notification in the watch... I clicked stat to install... It froze 

    Force shut down and now I am struggling to make it start. It's frustrating