Help! Garmin 1490T locked up

[stgolfer]

My 1490T is locked up. Stuck on a screen. Nothing happens when I push any buttons, including the power button. Nothing when I hook it to the computer either. I can't take the battery out because it's a sealed unit.

What are the chances it might work after the battery dies? I have everything programmed in for my trip and now it dies??

Any help would be appreciated. I really don't want to buy a new one before I go.

*****Issue Resolved****** It unfroze itself after 1-1/2 hours.

 

[wjbertrand]

I have a 1490 as well, nice unit. No lock ups to date. I wonder if there's a combination of button and or touch points that will effect a master re-set like you can do with a zumo 550? Unless it was still under warranty I would have explored opening the back and disconnecting the battery. It must snap open or unscrew somehow? On a related note I fixed my super-duper smart Braun razor that way. It was locked up, wouldn't turn on and would just run continuously when placed in the cleaner stand. Took it apart (something the design clearly discouraged the consumer to do), disconnected the batteries, counted to 10, reconnected them and it's been working perfectly since.

 

[John]

I have a 1490 as well, nice unit. No lock ups to date. I wonder if there's a combination of button and or touch points that will effect a master re-set like you can do with a zumo 550? Unless it was still under warranty I would have explored opening the back and disconnecting the battery. It must snap open or unscrew somehow? On a related note I fixed my super-duper smart Braun razor that way. It was locked up, wouldn't turn on and would just run continuously when placed in the cleaner stand. Took it apart (something the design clearly discouraged the consumer to do), disconnected the batteries, counted to 10, reconnected them and it's been working perfectly since.

Darn computer chips!!!

My company vehicle is now displaying all notices in Spanish. It is amazing what a "re-set" will accomplish. Someday I will pull the positive cable on the battery and set it right.

 

[sherob]

Master reset for future reference....

Note: A master reset will erase all waypoints or favorites and will restore your unit to the default factory settings.

1. Start with the device OFF and unplugged from the power source.
2. Press and hold the bottom right corner of the touchscreen.
3. Power the device ON while continuing to press and hold your finger on corner of the touchscreen.
4. After the device powers ON, you will see the message: Do you really want to erase all user data?
5. When this message displays, remove your finger from the touchscreen and touch Yes.
6. The device will now go through the Reset.
7. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your n?vi.

After the n?vi is set up, if indoors, please go outside to allow the device to acquire the satellite information. Ensure that the device has a clear line-of-sight with the sky. Allow up to 45 minutes for the first GPS fix.

 

[Partsmonkey]

I too own a Garmin 1490T. I have had the same problem multiple times. It will lock up so bad that all you can do is walk away. I have had the unit stay on anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before it decides to play nice again.

It has not locked up on me in awhile. Now, its latest trick is to randomly turn itself off without warning, then reboot and work correctly for awhile longer.

Sherob posted some good advice, I'd also recommend connecting to your computer and backing up all you data, favorites, routes, way points, etc, before doing a master reset.

The only long term cure that I'm aware of is to connect your unit to your computer every month or so and check the Garmin site for the latest software updates. Most of the updates are good but once in a while you'll get one that seems to cause these problems. I have serious doubts that Garmin does any through regression testing of their latest updates before pushing them out to the public.

If, after you perform an update and the unit is working well, I would actually recommend not running anymore updates for a very long time. Unless you have to update to a newer map version. Like the saying goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

[Stump]

I bought one before heading out on a long cage trip. Had it lock up hard once... I did the 10 second hold on the reset / on button and now problem since.
I'm not a fan of quick updates through Garmin until I've read a few reviews of the updates just because of Garmin's horrible QC on update files.

 

[the_gr8t_waldo]

i have had similar problems with touch screens on other idems. the problem i've encountered is dirt that gets traped under the touch screen. ( i think it gets traped between the screen and the touch sensitive maytrix under tha)t... and the only thing that fixes it is to actually take it apart and clean. to be fair it's really dust and unavoidable.