leaky streetpilot 111

[Austin]

I recently picked up a 2nd hand Garmin SP3 from Kitped of this forum. Its great except while in Scotland I left it out in heavy rain for 1/2 hour or so. I thought it would be alright as its supposed to be waterproof to IPX7 (or whatever) and I have used it rain while moving previously but water seemed to have got in this time - screen went misty on the inside and it got more and more difficult to acquire satellites or it kept loosing reception. I have dried it out over the last few days of sunshine and it seems OK now, but a motorcycle GPS that you can't use in the rain seems a bit pointless.

The plugs that seal the various connection points are in good condition and I had the power lead securely fitted and the battery compartment seal seem good.

Any tips on resealing it or where to look for leaky spots gratefully received. Also any ideas of a way to keep it dry while on it Touratech handlebar mount but keep the screen easily readable - other than wrapping it all in a pastic bag.

[Yeti]

Word of advice. Make sure it is WELL dried out. I had the same with mine. Started with a bit of misting and then the screen started going multicoloured pixelated nastyness. The gps was still working in the background but the screen was caput. It would come back after an increasing amount of time being turned on until it eventually gave up and just looked like a 'magic eye' picture. It seems to be more linked with humidity rather than direct water ingress.

I think the rain and engine heat coming up past the forks did mine whilst stationary with bike left running. I had previously used mine in all conditions for years with no problem. The day it packed up it was particularly wet and humid. It was in fact the day SteveC went for his whoopsy if I remember correctly?!?

For what it was worth I have had a good number of years out of mine so sent it back to garmin for a refurb (£120 inc P&P) and you get a new unit if they can't (be arsed to) fix it (or at least mine was as I had to re-register it and get new free keycodes off them once I got it back.) I am hoping that I will get another good few years out of this one too.

Long and the short of it is if you don't want to fork out for latest tech then they are almost worth getting re-furbed for what it/they cost. Maybe not so much so if you have only had it for 6mnths and it dies. ? ?

Fingers crossed and good luck with it. Hope it keeps working.

[Austin]

Thanks Yeti, thinking about, the leak was caused when I put the wet unit in an ali pannier overnight and it dropped quite cold soon after, so probably condensation inside the unit rather than rain getting in - hope so anyway. I dried it on a sunny windowsill over 2 days and the screen seems totally clear now and operation is back to normal.

I might get some silicone seal and put a on thin bead to reseal the battery compartment and anywhere else I think might be suspect though just to be on the safe side. If its bust though its bust and as I paid bugger all for it it will be replaced with a Zumo or similar.

[Yeti]

I'd avoid sealing the unit any further as if any moisture vapour gets in its never getting out again!

[allyw71]

While it still works, stick it on ebay and put the proceeds towards a zumo

[Austin]

Originally Posted by allyw71

While it still works, stick it on ebay and put the proceeds towards a zumo

I like your thinking, do you want to buy it?

It's my birthday soon and my wife innocently said "its OK, I will buy you a new one for your birthday, one of those bike specific ones you looked at" Bless her, she doesn't know they are about £500. Shall I make her stick to her promise.

Yeti, I am confident it is dried out - 2 days on our conservatory windowsill is enough to dry up lake windermere. I will try putting it in the fridge for an hour and see if I get condensation. If not it will be OK.

[allyw71]

Originally Posted by Austin

I like your thinking, do you want to buy it?

It's my birthday soon and my wife innocently said "its OK, I will buy you a new one for your birthday, one of those bike specific ones you looked at" Bless her, she doesn't know they are about £500. Shall I make her stick to her promise.

Na, Ive got a Zumo 550 already

If you shop around you can get them much cheaper than that, I paid £350 for mine last year from ukdigitalcameras, if I remember correctly

[Kymmy]

Just remember IPX7 is only a limited waterproof (mainly designed to stop water ingress for a limited amount of time if you lets say accidently dropped the unit into a stream and had to fish it out) officially it's 30 mins at 1m depth.

Fully waterproof is IPX8 rating

[Austin]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Just remember IPX7 is only a limited waterproof (mainly designed to stop water ingress for a limited amount of time if you lets say accidently dropped the unit into a stream and had to fish it out) officially it's 30 mins at 1m depth.

Fully waterproof is IPX8 rating

yes, but IPX7 should be OK for use on motorbike in the rain. I know a drop of rain at 70mph is going have a bit of pressure behind it and possibly more than the pressure 1metre, but in a sheltered spot behind a screen it should be OK and shouldn't leak should it.