Power adaptor problem

[puglet]

fyi

I recently had to send my beloved Ique 3600 (it really is a fantastic product) back to GPS city. The reason?

That little power socket at the base of the Ique for the power connector happened to simply pull out when I was switching from the Ique to the Cradle (I didn't know it at the time). I unknowningly plugged the AC power source into the Cradle unit -- only to have that little wire that was orginally in the Ique, become lodged in the cradle power socket. I later tried to plug the ac adaptor into the Ique and the plug would simply fall out. And when I tried to plug the AC adaptor into the cradle, it wouldn't go in all the way. I couldn't recharge the unit either way.

Bottom Line: Beware of the fragility of this unit -- especially that troublesome cradle and power input plug on the Ique itself.

Cheers

Edward

[lycestra]

let me describe what happened for me, so i know we're on the same page.

The AC adaptor is one of those normal portable equipment AC adaptors, with a coaxial connector. The iQue has the male connector, ie, has that pin in the middle. About a day after getting my iQue, the pin in the iQue disconnected or broke off into the AC adaptor while i was unplugging it or something. so the iQue cannot charge directly from AC, and the AC adaptor is useless because the hole in the middle is plugged by the pin.

You can still charge your ique if you have a standard USB cable, which supplies power from your computer thru the cable. I don't think the standard Garmin stuff supports this, but i am not sure. I haven't tried it. (if they don't, it might be to ensure that the voltage is correct, as i hear USB isn't as fixed a standard as something like IEEE1394, so little diversions might make for wierdness. but i don't know what im talking about. USB is still good stuff. and cheap too)

Mine shipped out today. Not sure if it counts as a waranty repair or a defect. Those pins in other devices are very durable. I hope this isn't a common issue.

Good luck.

[poortom9]

Yes, I too today have just sent my iQue back to Garmin because the AC power plug's center pin ON the iQue itself broke off inside my AC power adapter. It wasn't pulled, stretched, tugged or anything... just came out with the power plug when I unplugged it.

So be careful.... because like puglet said, this unit is very fragile.. esp the connectors.

Hopefully Garmin won't keep it too long....... :rolleyes:

Chris

[CougerofEQ]

Mine broke on the second day of use - I still have the broken one even though I have an RA. I have a new job and need it to find my 41 new stores. Not sure when I will be able to send it back.

I wish Garmin would send me a new one and then let me return the old one so I wouldnt be without it in my time of need.

I may just ask for a new power supply(old one has the pin stuck in it) and keep the broken iQue as I dont plan on using the ac plug regardless.

[lycestra]

looking in the sync cradle, you can see that the pin comes out of a solid metal source. very sturdy. Not sure about the iQue, but I recall that mine actually had a recessed hole in plastic where the pin was. So maybe the pin was only in there, held by a solder joint behind a plastic shell?

I'm curious as to if Garmin has a permenant fix, or a quick replacement for these problems. If one of you get yours back soon, take a look in there. See if it looks the same, or has reinforcement like the cradle does.

BTW, yeah. I agree. the iQue really kicks ass. Does have its share of [fixable] problems I hope get addressed. It was kinda neat showing friends where the nearest ATM was from a restaurant on an out-of-state trip. :D

[ForeverYoung]

i had the same thing happen to me this weekend. i've yet to call garmin, since i think the shock hasn't worn off yet. i'd read about this happening on this board, so i was being extra careful not to have my precious iQue fall victim to the same fate.

i failed. now i'm trying to decide whether or not to send it back. i was very careful with it, and it broke. if they just give me another one, i don't see how i won't break that one, too. that, and i don't want to spend a week without it.

by the way, this is my first post. i've been reading for a solid month. thanks to everyone for all the great info thus far!

[toneman]

Mine broke off less than a week after I got my iQue; funny how Garmin customer support was joking around with me, saying how I must have broke the pin after pulling the connector out a bit too harshly. In any case, what they'll do is resolder the pin back in place...j/k.;)

What they'll really do is ship you a brand-new one, complete with MapSource City Select CD and a new unlock code, which you will need since it's apparently tied to the serial number of the iQue; the really nice thing about all this is that since they'll send you a replacement unit instead of repairing the one you sent in, turnaround time will be really quick, assuming they have replacement units in stock (I addressed the concern of replacement units beforehand, as I didn't want to send mine in, only to find out that they didn't have replacement units set aside for warranty issues immediately available)--they sent me a new one via FedEx next day air upon receipt of my original unit, IIRC.

[Last Mrk]

Are the failures occurring with Garmin power adapters or with other mfgr's adapters?

It shouldn't happen either way but just wondering.

[lycestra]

Mrk,

This is using Garmin's included adaptor, plugging into the iQue itself, in the jack to the right of the Sync interface. The pin inside this jack on the iQue is what is breaking off, and lodging in said adaptor. Well, maybe not lodging. It's too small to get a grip on it, so i don't know just how stuck it is.

[Last Mrk]

Thanks. That's not real reassuring.

[lycestra]

Don't worry about it too much. If it doesn't happen, great. If it does, its covered. Just a small inconvenience, in most cases.

I honestly hope it is just a rare manufacturing issue. I think Garmin is aware of it now. I doubt its a 'recall' grade.

<shrug> I'm not Re-assurance Man.

[toneman]

Yeah, I'm not surprised that the pin broke, given how thin it is. FWIW, however--unless it was defective to begin with, I'm fairly sure that with gentle and proper insertion and removal of the AC adapter plug into/out of the pin socket, the pin shouldn't really break off that easily. I would also think that if one were to somehow manage to drop the iQue (or if it fell off the dashboard) while the adapter was plugged directly into it, the pin might break off and thus get stuck in the adapter plug itself. Don't ask me how I know this...;)