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Garmin 498 Display - HELP!!!!
57j2olds	#1  Posted on 07/05/08 - 4:54 AM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/05/08	Yesterday my Garmin 498 was working great. I docked my boat and went in for 3 hours. Got family back on boat and went to turn my Garmin 498 on and the screen (display) is only gray dim light. No words...pictures or anything. The unit turns on, but only a gray blank screen. PLEASE HELP!!!!
Phil T	#2  Posted on 07/05/08 - 6:31 AM
Administrator Personal Page Personal Album Project Albums Posts: 6994 Comments: 6 Joined: 03/26/05	Is it possible that you set the contrast very low? Check the manual for setting it. 1992 Outrage 17 I 2019 E-TEC 90, Viper 17 2+ 2018 Load Rite Elite 18280096VT
CapnJs	#3  Posted on 07/05/08 - 6:55 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 135 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/21/07	If you left the unit out in the direct sun or under a dark cover in the sun the display may have faded or darkened. It should come back after you cover it up or get it out of the sun. But it shouldn't have lines if heat was the cause. Jack Edited by CapnJs on 07/05/08 - 6:57 AM
57j2olds	#4  Posted on 07/05/08 - 6:55 AM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/05/08	Thanks for the reply. It was working fine all day. I did not touch anything but the on/off button. Turned it back on and nothing but gray lines....... I am going back to the boat later today to see if I have a loose connection. Have you heard of this happening before? Thanks
57j2olds	#5  Posted on 07/05/08 - 6:57 AM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/05/08	JACK, Good point. I did leave it in the boat for a few hours during dinner, but I had the cover over it. I never did this before. I'm just angry that its happening over the holiday and we are to have great westher all weekend. Just my luck!
ioptfm	#6  Posted on 07/05/08 - 2:17 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	The sun will make those displays go crazy sometimes. Hopefully when it has cooled down you will see it working normally again. Tom 1979 Sport 15'
57j2olds	#7  Posted on 07/05/08 - 5:02 PM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/05/08	Well I tried it again after hours in the cool weather and same thing....grey screen. Is it possible that my screen died? Yes...it's 2 years old but only 20 hours on it.
ioptfm	#8  Posted on 07/05/08 - 7:11 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	I doubt the screen has died, but if it's any comfort, I have had to send 2 things back to Garmin in the past 5 years and they have a good tech dept. YOu need to go online for tech live chat and get them to give you a return authorization to send it to them. It was remarkable how fast they got it back to me too. Tom 1979 Sport 15'
57j2olds	#9  Posted on 07/06/08 - 6:39 PM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/05/08	Hi Guys, Just for the heck of it I took the Garmin out today one last time before I call Garmin in the Morning to see if it may work. When I powered it on it was in the gray screen. Then as we were heading to sea my screen came back!!! It worked all day until I was ready to come in then it went out again and has not come back on...only gray screen. I'm wondering if I may have a bad harness???
gorji	#10  Posted on 07/06/08 - 7:09 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 31 Comments: 3 Joined: 05/06/05	Hi: May be a software loading issue. I would take it home and hook it up to the PC. I would reinstall the software if it was an option. Make sure its not a contrast issue where for some reason it defaults to dim or grey. If after all this there is a continued problem, I would call Garmin. If you purchased with a credit card, your warranty may be in effect but from the card side of things. Its painful and disappointing but these things happen with electronics. Keep us updated please. Edited by gorji on 07/07/08 - 3:37 AM
ioptfm	#11  Posted on 07/06/08 - 7:27 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1533 Comments: 3 Joined: 10/28/06	It could also be an intermittent power connection problem and when it is getting the lower voltage it's not enough to power the screen up fully. Check all of your connections and make sure they are both clean and tight........also check the fuse holder to make sure there is no corrosion. Tom 1979 Sport 15'
gorji	#12  Posted on 07/07/08 - 3:36 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 31 Comments: 3 Joined: 05/06/05	I agree with ioptfm as well. And thats why I state to bring it home and hook it up to the computer. There you should have good power and if the problem does not replicate, the issue will be someplace on the boat. I leave my 276c and 178 in the sun all day and have not had this issue (yet!!).