V3 drop outs

Thanks t_smit, have done as suggested with existing batteries and will test tomorrow

t_smit, I've sent a FIT file via PM. I would appreciate it if you could take a look and see if you can see why this happened.

I have ~1 month old pair of V3 dual side Vectors and they have given me problems many times now. They had new battery doors as I bought them (other keeps batteries OK and on the other batteries are very loose and drop easily during door removal from the body) I've now run out my 1st set of batteries and during battery change yesterday I cleaned and baby-oiled the contacts and still dropouts today. Can the reason be seen from the .fit file? This is from today, drop-outs in the 2nd 20min set: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3216447701 This ride some time ago was really bad with drop-outs and non working measurement for some time: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3161328835

Any help would be nice, thanks in advance.

I see two instances in the newer file where there are power dropouts, at 45:40 and 47:38, but the data indicates that Vector worked normally through there (i.e. the power accumulation field in the data indicates you kept up your power through those gaps). Usually that indicates interference from some other sensor or the environment, that knocked out reception on your Edge for a few seconds. But overall your reception is quite good so there is not a lot to go on.

I see two instances in the newer file where there are power dropouts, at 45:40 and 47:38, but the data indicates that Vector worked normally through there (i.e. the power accumulation field in the data indicates you kept up your power through those gaps). Usually that indicates interference from some other sensor or the environment, that knocked out reception on your Edge for a few seconds. But overall your reception is quite good so there is not a lot to go on.

Thanks, good to know. Indeed it was an indoor ride. Next step at least for Zwift events would be to turn off WLAN radio which is quite far from the training room but could be the issue.

I recently purchased a pair of Vector 3 pedals, and am frustrated with the same drop outs that others have mentioned. I have attached 3 files to see if you can tell anything from the data. One is from an outdoor ride, and recorded on a Bolt, and the other 2 are from different spin bikes, recorded on my phone. On 13 Dec I was in the spin room alone, with no other interference and no devices other than my HRM. The batteries are new, the firmware is up to date, and I have the newer style battery covers. However, I also have an additional symptom. When I wake up the pedals, they frequently show alternating red/green flashes for 30-45 seconds, despite the firmware having been up-to-date out of the box. Usually this will be followed by the 20 green flashes, but not always. I have ordered the CR1 batteries, but think Garmin needs to add a gram or two back to these pedals to increase the durability and reliability of connections. Help! Thank you

The red/green flashing is an indication that the two pedals are transferring a configuration file. This could be a result of any change in pedal settings (such as crank length), or the cycling dynamics settings.

Unfortunately the Bolt (and the phone) does not record the Vector 3 diagnostic messages so it is not obvious what exactly is going on. You could clean and re-lubricate the battery contacts on spec to see if that improves your experience.

Wish I could say I am a proud owner of a new set of Vector 3 pedals.... Sadly, these $1000 pedals, having a wonderful set of features, require very special care and handling, in the form of $0.02 worth baby oil applied to the batteries or else disconnects and resets are abundant.

People are saying it: THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!

Why would a $1000 product perform so miserably? Why wouldn't Garmin publicly acknowledge the issue, inform us of their intended action, and offer a refund to those interested?

I expect the pedals to perform %100, on each ride (less H/W malfunction, which should be rare), until the battery runs out. Haven't spent that much so that I can babysit these pedals... Am I to accept this expectation of performance level falls outside the Vectors 3 spec?

Edit: In the meanwhile, Garmin Connect can be updated to eliminate erroneous reading surrounding these disconnects (2 seconded before and after each disconnect.) Vector 3 F/W can be modified to identify these disconnects, and refrain from emitting excessively high readouts (There is a limit to the rate with which a human can ramp up output power...) Head units F/W can be be modified to address this issue similarly: data sanitizing will eliminate my 14KW (!) power output - a data validation routine that should be in place anyhow.

Vector pedals have an anti-fretting lubricant applied to the contact surfaces and between the battery shells, at the factory

From the article posted:

Lubricate the contacts so that even if they do move relative to one another, the fretting wear will be minimized, hopefully beyond the expected life of the product

I expect my Vector 3 to perform adequately for a number of years, not a number or rides (and a small number of that.) I did apply the magic oil... and had to re-do it, and then again... Surly, the battery compartment can be designed so as to eliminate the possibility of the batteries moving? My GARMIN cadence/speed sensors have ZERO issues, and they suffer much the same fate as my Vector 3 pedals.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!

Sorry.