The charging cable has 4 spring loaded pins to contact the 4 charging posts in the watch. The spring action is designed to maintain contact to the posts so a snug fit is not necessary to charge. Occasionally…
The charging cable has 4 spring loaded pins to contact the 4 posts on the watch. The spring action is designed to keep contact even when the charger fit is not snug. Occasionally, a pin will stick and…
Unfortunately, I bought 2 of these for my kids. Both have charging issues and it is clearly a bad design and/or construction on the connection between cable and device. I have many Garmin devices including…
Bought an inexpensive charging cord for my VA3. Worked fine for about 6 weeks, then wouldn't charge at all. Thought it was a failed cable. Bought the "flat" disk type chargers (2-pack); the first worked fine for a few weeks, then wouldn't charge - same symptoms. Used a toothpick, cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to clean the contacts on both the charging cable ports and the watch and "cycled" the spring-loaded pins in the charging cable with the toothpick, all cables returned to operational. Noticed a good bit of discoloration on the cotton swab after wiping the watch contacts; thinking the film that was removed might be the source of the problem. Installed the little rubber cover that came with the flat chargers onto the watch charging port - maybe that will help prevent the problem.
I'm having the same problem with charging my Vivoactive 3 Music. It's frustrating! I guess I will try the WD40 and see if it works. Glad I found this forum. Hopefully Garmin takes note of the issue because I'm sure there are others unreported with the problem
I'm having the same problem with my Vivoactive3 It's so frustrating. It's hard to get it to charge and the battery drains quickly. I have 2 different cords-both Garmin and having problems with them both. I've wiped them with alcohol but am afraid of spraying WD40. do you spray it on the ports of the watch?
Somewhere in this thread i left a contribution saying that mine had stopped accepting a charge completley just out of the warranty period. I cursed the Garmin name and shook a fist at the sky. Just last week I took a cotton bud dipped in hand sanitiser alcohol and dabbed at the contacts on the watch and on the Garmin plug. No grime or dirt came off but to my surprise it's now started taking a charge again.
So it might not seem worth it but give the contacts a clean with wd40 or alcohol or something before you condemn the VivoActive 3 for it's poor design and you might be surprised.