Oops... GPS + Spin cycle!

[ColonelPanic]

I was washing my clothes a couple of hours ago, and all was well until I went to put the stuff in the dryer. Come to find out, my trusty GPS (Garmin Geko 101) was in the washer. Out of curiosity, of course the first thing I did was turn it on. The thing fired right up! There were little water droplets on the inside of the LCD lens, but other than that, it was dry. Nothing even in the battery compartment. Pity, I think I goofed when turning it back on. Should have yanked the batteries and let it dry out. So now, the thing won't even power on. Anyone know where I can get very, very tiny torx screwdrivers? It's got six small screws that hold it together, thinking of taking it apart. Or maybe, it's time for a new one. I have to get another Gecko though, since I have the windshield mount for this thing. I'm kinda freaked out, I don't know if I can find my way around without a GPS anymore. (removed)!I guess the moral to this story: If you're a big geek such as myself and have to carry tons of electronic gizmos around with you at all times, please remember to check the pockets. I thought I did, but apparently I missed some article of clothing.. lol

[Mr. Poopypants]

Sounds like a tough little piece of hardware. Do you like that GPS? I am going to be getting one but I'm not sure which one to go with.

[Sputnik]

I got my bf a GPS for Christmas two years ago. He loves that thing. It was really cool driving up Mt Washington with it because it shows the altitude. He's got a Meridian one.

[JohnC]

Well it is advertised as being water proof...We have the Garmin 12 (an antique in GPS years), we use almost every weekend for finding new hiking,jeeping and quad trails. It is also alot of fun Geocaching with it. If you can't fix it...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...=WDVW

[MadBill]

Your mistake was skipping the dryer, Colonel! That would have baked the moisture out and all would have been well...

[Kari]

According to the eBay link JohnC posted, it's supposed to be waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of water, so hopefully a 38-minute washer cycle (or whatever it may have been) with intermittent water didn't harm it. Maybe just a couple of days to dry out? Or else check and see if it's still under warranty...since it *is* supposed to be waterproof...

[ColonelPanic]

Well, it's now apart. Found a screwdriver set at radio crap... It wasn't too terribly wet inside.I can get it to turn on now, but the power button is screwed up. You have to hold down on the thing to get it to stay on. I guess I'll let it dry out for a while and see what happens.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by JohnC »Well it is advertised as being water proof...We have the Garmin 12 (an antique in GPS years), we use almost every weekend for finding new hiking,jeeping and quad trails. It is also alot of fun Geocaching with it. If you can't fix it...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...=WDVWMy friend and I just hit a cache today. It is in Busy Run Battle field. If you are ever out this way, I would recommend a visit, very nice park, and interesting to take a walk through.

[ragingfish]

CP:Give it 24 hours, might work like new. That happened with my cell phone once. A day later, all was as if nothign had happened.

[ColonelPanic]

Success! Patience is a virtue fellow GenVibers, yes it is true. Although the Colonel has none. I got home today, put it all back together... And luckily even found one of the screws I had misplaced when taking it apart. Fired right up. I was thinking I would have to input all of those waypoints again, but even those remained intact.Haven't tested it yet outside to see if the antenna part works. But I'm guessing it will, it did yesterday.... It doesn't pick anything up here in the house. I found a secret diagnostic mode of some sort here recently, everything passed and I do see a value for the signal change as I move it around. So I think that it will be fine. Poopy, if you're looking for a GPS to get you started, and this thing still works once I take it outside, I would recommend this one - I have to say I've really grown to like this little gizmo. It's only about $80 most places. Haven't done much outside with it as far as geocaching or the like, but it makes one hell of a nice trip computer. Speed, average speed, trip odometer, distance and time to your destination, etc. And with the windshield mount I have for it, it makes a nice "heads up display." Pretty good for the basics, I guess. The guy I carpool with has a Garmin Etrex, it's huge compared to thing, but it makes up for it with a much larger screen. It has just about the same features.... Plus sun and moon data as well, which mine doesn't have. I think it's around $100.I'm glad this thing works again (or at least looks like it's going to work.) If it was lost, I would have bought another in a heartbeat. I hate it when I lose, or almost lose my geek toys. Update: It's working fine... The thing does alright, although it did lock up once. But a qick removal and reinstall of batteries took care of that. Let's hope that doesn't persist...