Quick Fix For Garmin Nuvi Broken Mini Usb Connector Repair Guide

Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

5

Time Required

                          15 minutes            

Sections

1

• Quick Fix for Garmin Nuvi Broken Mini USB Connector
• 5 steps

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What you need

Step 1

              Engineered obsolescence!               

• Garmin’s mini USB connector is what I call “engineered obsolescence.” Any competent engineer knows that it’s a big NO NO to rely on solder to fasten any mechanically-stressed part, especially one that is subjected to vibration, because solder is brittle, has almost zero tensile strength, and has essentially ZERO fatigue life!

Garmin’s mini USB connector is what I call “engineered obsolescence.” Any competent engineer knows that it’s a big NO NO to rely on solder to fasten any mechanically-stressed part, especially one that is subjected to vibration, because solder is brittle, has almost zero tensile strength, and has essentially ZERO fatigue life!

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Step 2

              This is why Garmin could afford to offer "lifetime" map updates.               

• Two tiny screws or rivets, costing perhaps fifty cents, would have provided many years of life to the connector. But by simply soldering it to the motherboard, they were able to guarantee that it would fail not longer after the warrantee was up.

Two tiny screws or rivets, costing perhaps fifty cents, would have provided many years of life to the connector. But by simply soldering it to the motherboard, they were able to guarantee that it would fail not longer after the warrantee was up.

Step 3

              Here's a "quick and dirty" fix that has served me for three years.               

• The repetitive stress is in the downward direction, so the solder at the top of the connector failed in tension. The solder at the bottom of the connector is in compression and is still holding. Use quick-set epoxy to fasten a flat-bottomed mirror mount to the unit, then apply a strong rubber band. You’ll need to replace the band every few months.

The repetitive stress is in the downward direction, so the solder at the top of the connector failed in tension. The solder at the bottom of the connector is in compression and is still holding. Use quick-set epoxy to fasten a flat-bottomed mirror mount to the unit, then apply a strong rubber band. You’ll need to replace the band every few months.

Step 4

              Applying the fix before it breaks would probably prevent the break               

• Make sure the band pulls on the connector only and doesn’t block its insertion. I also wrapped the first inch or two of the cable with electrical tape to stiffen it and reduce fatigue on the cable-connector junction. This fix, if applied when you first obtain the unit, would almost certainly prevent its eventual failure.

Make sure the band pulls on the connector only and doesn’t block its insertion. I also wrapped the first inch or two of the cable with electrical tape to stiffen it and reduce fatigue on the cable-connector junction. This fix, if applied when you first obtain the unit, would almost certainly prevent its eventual failure.

Step 5

              When all else fails, you can disassemble the unit and re-solder it.               

• This last resort requires a fair amount of skill, using a fine-tipped soldering iron and copper-mesh solder wick or a solder-sucker to get just the right amount of solder on the four solder-mounting points without shorting the nearby connections. A good tutorial is on the big video site. Web search: “garmin nuvi how to fix connector failure.”

This last resort requires a fair amount of skill, using a fine-tipped soldering iron and copper-mesh solder wick or a solder-sucker to get just the right amount of solder on the four solder-mounting points without shorting the nearby connections. A good tutorial is on the big video site. Web search: “garmin nuvi how to fix connector failure.”

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                    Tracy Hall Jr                     

Member since: 06/21/2021

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