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Random Quote: Work only gets in the way of fishing
could have sworn mine were plastic, but boat is wrapped. at a minimum, they should be aluminum. are you sure it is rust and not some crud? i would call garmin directly.
Those are magnetic latches, so rust is a possibility. Bummer. I though putting a magnet on a helm was a particularly bird-drained idea. It must have come from a SENIOR engineer!
__________________ If it ain't broke, I haven't played with it.
Those are magnetic latches, so rust is a possibility. Bummer. I though putting a magnet on a helm was a particularly bird-drained idea. It must have come from a SENIOR engineer!
we sure they are mags? i know they snap shut, but wouldn't a mag directly next to a memory card be bad mojo?
I posted on this several months ago. If your unit is under warranty, they will exchange your entire unit. If not, you have to pay $$$$$ for what should be a 30 cent part. Those idiots designed the steel plate in the cover where it can be exposed to salt water. My card cover got destroyed and so did my card reader. I was able to take the unit apart and clean all the corrosion and rust out of my card reader and got it working again. Garmin still hasn't offered to send me a new cover and when asked several times about it, they said that they didn't even have a part number for it so they couldn't even order the part from the third party supplier. Now my reader works but I have to keep the slot covered with electrical tape. Lousy customer service. Watch out because there are people working for Garmin on here that will tell you that they are the bee's knees.
Yes, I have. Garmin replaced the unit under warranty. If yours is out of warranty, I suggest you put a piece of tape over the slot. As an emergency measure, if the unit is not reading a card, take a Qtip, take some of the fuzz off of it so it will fit in the slot and dip the Qtip in alcohol to clean out the slot. This procedure is probably not recommended, but it worked for me in a time of need. The door is plastic with a magnet and I wonder how anything could rust (but it does) as theoretically it can be submerge to a couple of feet for a short period of time.
I hadn't heard of this before, but I don't doubt your word. As for the comment on Garmin's customer service, I doubt you are satisfied with anyone's service. I'm a long time loyal customer because their service is the absolute best. They are entitled to an opinion about what they owe me that differs from mine!
__________________ If it ain't broke, I haven't played with it.
Thanks for everyone response. I contacted Garmin, and they want me to send the unit in to have it replaced. The issue is that the door with the metal that rusts is designed poorly. This chart plotter is in a salt water environment. This door is an Achilles heel on this unit.
Someone at Garmin should take the bull by the horn and address and redesign this flaw. At the very least, they should offer a replacement door without the metal plate. I have had no other issues with this chart plotter, and I really do not want to send it in. Who knows what will go wrong with it if I get the same one back, or worst yet, if they replace it with an abused refurbished unit. If they do not replace these doors with a material that will not rust, or imbed the metal in a plastic sleeve that will not allow it to be exposed, it will occur again when the unit is out of warranty. The flat repair cost quoted by Garmin for the 5212 is $620.00. A bit high for a resin door with a cheap metal plate that will rust again.
My experience with Garmin’s service has always been superb, but they are dropping the ball here by not correcting this design issue, and retrofitting a different door on both new units, and the units presently owned by loyal customers.
Garmin customer service, step up and do the right thing.
e123, you made it sound like Garmin is going to charge you $600 to replace the door. That's not true, is it?
If you don't get the same serial number back, you WILL get a better unit, with updates, and all your data intact, (but keep a backup anyway) I have NEVER regretted sending a unit in for repair, and I have sometimes been the reason the repair was needed.
Just for grins, have a buddy send his Raymarine in at the same time. Any bets on which one comes back first? Don't try this with a friend's Navico whatever. He won't be a friend then!
__________________ If it ain't broke, I haven't played with it.
Sandyda, the $620.00 is a flat rate to repair anything on the 5212 according to the Garmin Rep. They did ask for a copy of my reciept. If its under the 2 years, then it will be covered under warranty. As for your statement that you will get a better unit, what will be better if it still has the same door that will rust? This unit I have has been working fine otherwise, I do not want to replace it or exchange it, but I do want a redesigned memory chip door. Not much to ask for what I spent on this unit.
Thanks for everyone response. I contacted Garmin, and they want me to send the unit in to have it replaced. The issue is that the door with the metal that rusts is designed poorly. This chart plotter is in a salt water environment. This door is an Achilles heel on this unit.
Someone at Garmin should take the bull by the horn and address and redesign this flaw. At the very least, they should offer a replacement door without the metal plate. I have had no other issues with this chart plotter, and I really do not want to send it in. Who knows what will go wrong with it if I get the same one back, or worst yet, if they replace it with an abused refurbished unit. If they do not replace these doors with a material that will not rust, or imbed the metal in a plastic sleeve that will not allow it to be exposed, it will occur again when the unit is out of warranty. The flat repair cost quoted by Garmin for the 5212 is $620.00. A bit high for a resin door with a cheap metal plate that will rust again.
My experience with Garmin’s service has always been superb, but they are dropping the ball here by not correcting this design issue, and retrofitting a different door on both new units, and the units presently owned by loyal customers.
Garmin customer service, step up and do the right thing.
This is the Internet and anyone can post anything they want. We have some self taught electronics engineers here who should perhaps start their own marine electronics manufacturing companies.
You can send the unit back for a replacement or you can keep what you state is a defective unit. It's your choice. At this point, it's under warranty. Later, it will cost you big money. Which do you think is a better option?
Do I really deserve a response directed at me from you in that manner?
Is this really Necessary ?
This is the Internet and anyone can post anything they want. We have some self taught electronics engineers here who should perhaps start their own marine electronics manufacturing companies.
You can send the unit back for a replacement or you can keep what you state is a defective unit. It's your choice. At this point, it's under warranty. Later, it will cost you big money. Which do you think is a better option?
e123: Beligerance doesn't work. Garmin isn't going to redesign the door for you and one other person who has rust. If anyone else here had the issue they would have mentioned it. Your defiant posture suggests to me that you may have contributed to the problem somehow. Your assumption that a replacement unit will rust suggests to me that you intend to continue doing what you suspect caused the damage. I recall a post here from someone who removed the magnet and replaced it with a spot of velcro, but I can't imagine how he could do that and get the door to seal. If you send it in, and you have a receipt from an authorized vendor that is less than two years old you will be returned either your serial number or a replacement (not necessarily a reman) with all your data intact. At least, that has been my experience. If you bought it at an online auction you will have to pay the $600.
Garmin doesn't come here. I have never seen anyone claim to be a Garmin representative. You are beating the wrong horse. I do know that Jim at BOE and West Marine stand by the products they sell and I believe that either would give you a replacement if you bought from them. But as far as presuming to dictate how Garmin deals with this presumably rare occurance, you are over the top. and SOL.
__________________ If it ain't broke, I haven't played with it.
Garmin Chartplotter Rusted Memory chip door 
