Garmin GPSmap 60CS shutdown

[+cabinetmaker]

I have 2 Garmin GPSmap 60CS units that are suddenly shutting themselves down within a few minutes. I recently had to reload Garmin software as well as map source onto my computer. Right after I updated the software the units started acting up. I did not have this issue until the "reload" of the aforementioned software. I have tried to reset everything I can find in the unit to include resetting "factory settings". Any help would be appreciated!

[+Mineral2]

At what point does it shut down? Do you even fully boot up the device to the menu screen, or does it shutdown during start-up? Have you tried a "hard" reset (usually involves pressing some button combination during startup)?

[39_Steps]

Check the battery type settings, as the shutdown voltage may be set for a different chemistry.

[+Viajero Perdido]

That won't shut it down (I don't think), but using nearly-dead batteries will.

 

I had some rechargeable alkalines that should've worked, theoretically, in my 60Cx, but the unit would die almost immediately after I turned it on. And they were charged. I think those eccentric batteries were incapable of putting out enough current, even though a 60Cx doesn't take much current.

 

Are the battery contacts clean? Are both batteries known to be healthy? (One dud cell could do this.)

 

Make sure you're not on the map screen. I've known certain maps to occasionally crash my unit.

 

I don't think your unit has a removable SD card, but if it does, try taking it out.

 

Try booting up with the USB cable connected. Does that help? (USB provides power; you can do this even without batteries.)

 

Good luck, let us know.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Viajero Perdido

[+cabinetmaker]

Thanks for the replies! I have the battery setting correct for the type of batteries in use. The batteries are fresh and fully charged. (have also changed them out again to be sure) Both units boot up normally and am able to navigate through all the screens as well as use the units normally for a few minutes. I plugged them both into my computer again and it prompted me to the Garmin site and check for map updates. Unfortunately, no updates are available for this unit. It does not seem to matter if they are connected to the computer or not, both units shut down. Sometimes within a minute, sometimes it takes 10 minutes... The units are about 10 years old (an eternity in the electronics world). It just seems strange that both units would fail at exactly the same point in time. Perhaps it is time to go shopping for a new unit.

[+Cardinal Red]

I have 2 Garmin GPSmap 60CS units that are suddenly shutting themselves down within a few minutes. I recently had to reload Garmin software as well as map source onto my computer. Right after I updated the software the units started acting up. I did not have this issue until the "reload" of the aforementioned software. I have tried to reset everything I can find in the unit to include resetting "factory settings". Any help would be appreciated!

 

I saw this post two days ago, and watched the suggestions you were getting. Nothing has helped so far, and you seem about ready to give up on them. I had immediately thought back quite a few years when I experienced a Garmin shut down problem. They might not be in any way related. But who knows?

 

What software version are you running? Is it 4.20 (the last one there will ever be) ?? Is the GPS starting up and everything seems OK till you get an actual WAAS enhanced (3D) coordinate lock? But soon after that it just shuts down? When that happened to me it was a WAAS problem.

 

As I recall, initially there was only one WAAS bird in the sky. That was all the GPS software could handle. When another WAAS bird was launched into space, after the GPS got a lock on the first WAAS bird, the presence of another WAAS bird would crash (and shut down) the GPS. This was a long time ago, but as I recall, turning off WAAS sort of "solved" the problem. Actually what really solved it was a software upgrade to a version that was now programmed to deal with more than one WAAS bird with WAAS turned back on.

 

This might not have anything to do with your problem. But what do you have to lose? And I am curious.

[+cabinetmaker]

I have 2 Garmin GPSmap 60CS units that are suddenly shutting themselves down within a few minutes. I recently had to reload Garmin software as well as map source onto my computer. Right after I updated the software the units started acting up. I did not have this issue until the "reload" of the aforementioned software. I have tried to reset everything I can find in the unit to include resetting "factory settings". Any help would be appreciated!

 

I saw this post two days ago, and watched the suggestions you were getting. Nothing has helped so far, and you seem about ready to give up on them. I had immediately thought back quite a few years when I experienced a Garmin shut down problem. They might not be in any way related. But who knows?

 

What software version are you running? Is it 4.20 (the last one there will ever be) ?? Is the GPS starting up and everything seems OK till you get an actual WAAS enhanced (3D) coordinate lock? But soon after that it just shuts down? When that happened to me it was a WAAS problem.

 

As I recall, initially there was only one WAAS bird in the sky. That was all the GPS software could handle. When another WAAS bird was launched into space, after the GPS got a lock on the first WAAS bird, the presence of another WAAS bird would crash (and shut down) the GPS. This was a long time ago, but as I recall, turning off WAAS sort of "solved" the problem. Actually what really solved it was a software upgrade to a version that was now programmed to deal with more than one WAAS bird with WAAS turned back on.

 

This might not have anything to do with your problem. But what do you have to lose? And I am curious.

 

Cardinal Red,

 

Oh how excited I was to read your post! I got both units out and started looking for the WAAS settings as well as which software version was installed. I knew I had seen this information somewhere within the unit but where? I finally found it and much to my dismay, the setting was already disabled. So I re-enabled and tried it. The unit shut down. SO I disabled it hoping for success. Unfortunately both units are suffering the same fate. Version 4.20 is what is installed. In a last ditch effort, I will get out the map-source software and reload it. I recall a prompt about turning of the unit when transfer is complete... A shot in the dark but like you said "what have I got to loose" Thanks again for your input

[paulcalypse]

Are you using a Mac by chance? I connected my 60CSx to my Mac the other day and it started exhibiting this behavior.

 

One solution I read was to use the program BlueHarvest to delete all hidden Mac files on the GPS. Apparently they mess with the file system and cause erratic behavior. Testing out the fix today.

[+cabinetmaker]

If you are on a mac check the trash isn't full so that there is no memory space left ... this I suspect will cause a crash/shut down. If you've never cleared it then 10 years of use may have filled it all up

 

(as you're using Mapsource chances are you aren't on a mac)

 

I am using Windows 7. Other that deleting all Tracks/Routes/Caches/ect (to free up memory which I have done)I am not aware of any way to free up any memory the unit may have. It just seems so strange that both units would crash at the exact same time.