20 Most Recent Garmin nuvi 250W GPS Receiver - Page 4 Questions & Answers

Welcome to FixYa!

To update your Garmin device, go to this link https://my.garmin.com/maps/chooseDeviceType.htm?

• Select your device type.
• It will request to install the Gamin Communicator Plug-in.
• Make sure that you connect your Garmin device to the computer before proceeding to install.
• After the installation, it will automatically download for an updated map.

Note: Sometimes, there are no available updated maps and the update service will simply freeze. I'm not quite sure if this issue has already been fixed in Garmin's website.

To confirm if there are available maps, contact Garmin:
Monday - Thursday: 8 AM - 6 PM, Friday 8 AM - 5 PM Central Time (closed holidays)

US: 913-397-8200
US Toll Free: 1-800-800-1020

Canada: 1-866-429-9296

Thank you for using FixYa.
Have a great day.

Unless the vendor supplied it, you cannot operate a locked Garmin and you cannot bypass the code.

The following is cut and pasted from my existing FixYa Tip and deals with your precise problem:-


You have Garmin Lock activated on your nuvi: there are only two ways you can unlock it.

1. Enter the PIN code (but you clearly don't have it or you wouldn't be reading this).

2. Take the unit to the Security Location you chose when activating Garmin Lock: it will then unlock without the PIN code and you can then either reset the PIN or disable Garmin Lock. The Security Location should not be the owner's home address, but many owners ignore this recommendation. Many owners choose their workplace or a close friend or relatives address for this purpose.

If neither option works then your unit is useless unless you send it to Garmin with proof of first purchase. Garmin charge for the service and if your maps are not up to date then it's really a waste of money as the investment would be better spent on a new unit with current mapping.

I hope that you manage to either fix your problem using my advice or at least can decide whether to abandon the unit and buy another.

You may read advice elsewhere advising you to use a secret menu to erase all user data. This is done by starting with the nuvi switched off and then pressing and holding the bottom right corner of the screen and then, whilst still pressing the bottom corner, turning the unit on. Please note that although this erases all previous user data, it does not bypass Garmin Lock. There is NO bypass for Garmin Lock except by taking the unit to the owner's security location; it would be a useless theft deterrent otherwise.

You need to connect the USP cord to the unit and connect to your PC. Go to the Garmin web site and click on update maps or update firmware (whichever it is you are trying to update) and follow the instructions explicitly.

Does it show a picture of a satnav connected to a computer when plugged into the car charger? Sometimes this happens because the charger plug is not fully pushed into the back of the satnav even though it feels like it is. Pushing it in further may solve the problem.

Welcome to FixYa.

To upgrade and/or update your Garmin GPS, do the folloeing:

Welcome to FixYa!

• To update your Garmin device, go to this linkhttps://my.garmin.com/maps/chooseDeviceType.htm?
• Select your device type.
• It will request to install the Gamin Communicator Plug-in.
• Make sure that you connect your Garmin device to the computer before proceeding to install.
• After the installation, it will automatically download for an updated map.

Note: Sometimes, there are no available updated maps.

To confirm if there are available maps, contact Garmin:
Monday - Thursday: 8 AM - 6 PM, Friday 8 AM - 5 PM Central Time (closed holidays)

US: 913-397-8200
US Toll Free: 1-800-800-1020

Canada: 1-866-429-9296

Thank you for using FixYa.
Have a great day.

Have your tried restarting the Nuvi 250W with the SDCARD inside? If there's something on there (like a map or custom POI's) it comes with a question if you want to install it on your Garmin GPS.

If nothing pops up - the card could be empty. To check that connect your Garmin to a PC/MAC. It should go into PC communication mode.

Then the SDCARD shows up on your computer as removable storage. Click on the removable storage drive (which is the SDCARD) and see if something is on there. If its empty it would explain the behavior you describe.

If there's a Garmin MAP on there it be detected upon startup of the Garmin and should start the installation process after asking you.

There's a fuse in the plug that goes into the lighter that may be blown.

Try a soft reset by holding the power button (when powered off) for at least 20 seconds till it restarts.

If nothing then try a master reset - clearing all user data - reverting back to factory state. From power off press the right bottom corner of the screen and then push the power on button. Wait till the question appears to clear all user data.

It's only free to download the latest maps if a new map comes out within 60 days of your satnav first accessing satellites or if you have a satnav that comes with lifetime maps. However you can buy lifetime maps. The lifetime map of Europe costs €85 and you get updates every 4 months or so for the lifetime of the satnav.

Hi it may simply have been switch off?
Below is a link for your manual, download that and have a look in settings it shows one what to do to enable sound in there... IF however it is enabled, and there is still NO output, then the sounder may have failed or the wire connection may have broken, and would need to be checked internally.

http://www.garmin.com/manuals/nuvi200_OwnersManual.pdf

Hi marthatoserv,

If the speaker of your Garmin Nuvi 250W is completely dead and you don`t hear no sound whatsoever, if you can hear the start up sound but no voice then you will need to send or bring it to repair service. It will require special tools to open the device to see and replace broken parts. Usually the cause for this no sound issue is bad speaker. Considering the constant use, suffers from wear and tear quite quickly. Before considering of bringing it to repair center you might want to consider resetting the unit first to it's default settings. However, this will delete all your data. But if you're interested you just have to push the reset button at the back of your Garmin.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for using FixYa.

Doubloh7, are you using a bonafide Garmin car adapter? Unofficial adapters can cause this to happen. If you are using an unofficial adapter, it may be time to invest in one from Garmin.
Hope this helps..

The problem with trying to put the full map of Europe on the 250 is that it doesn't have enough storage space. You can download the complete map however to your computer. The option to download again is available for approx 30 days. When it's on your computer you can select which maps you want to install to the satnav and install the complete map, if you want, to an SD card. You need a 4 Gb SD card to hold the complete map. To download the map again, to your computer, log into myGarmin. Click on the myMaps tab at the top of the screen. There you'll see the map you downloaded. Under the map name you'll see the word "Details" in blue. Click on "Details" and it will take you to a screen where you have the option to download the map again. When you go to download the map it will by default select your satnav as the destination. Change it to your computer so you get the whole map and you can add or remove maps whenever you want.

You can get more details of how to download the map to your computer at http://www.fixya.com/support/r5628920-update_garmin_satnav_maps

Hello
Soldering onto is the best solutuion. If you fix it with any kind of tape, there is possibility to get it loose. Solder it. You can't place it accurately with fixing it with tape, as it will slip out off. OK.

• I put up a pic to confirm the part you are talking about. This is what you really want to avoid when changing a GPS battery. So if this broke off and the board you have to very very carefully strip the insulation from each little wire back first. The when that is complete you have to soldier them all back onto the board. I have done this before and it is extremely tedious. You don't have a lot of spare strip on there. So make the first time count. If you broke it in the middle there is not much of a fix outside of finding a 250 Nuvi someone don't want and replacing the entire multistrip.

Good luck to you. Regards, Tony

You'll have to load the North American maps into the unit. Go to www.garmin.com and register your unit with the site. You will then be able to purchase the north american maps and download to your unit using the Garmin updater on the site. The maps are all serialized to work with each unit ID, so a North American map on another user's Garmin will not work on yours (it is Garmin's proprietary copy protection system).

Try a hard reset,the Hard Reset procedure has been known to delete your Favorites, so back them up beforehand.

1. From the Nuvi drive, copy '/Garmin/GPX/current.gpx' to a backup location on your computer.
2. After the hard reset, copy your backed up 'current.gpx' from your computer back to the '/Garmin/GPX/' folder on the Nuvi, but be sure to rename it 'temp.gpx'.
3. On the next power cycle, the Favorites will be read from 'temp.gpx' into the non-user accessible memory area on the Nuvi where they are actually stored.

Perform the Hard Reset:

*Note that this will clear all user selected settings on the unit

1. Power the unit off.
2. Press and hold (and continue to hold) the bottom-right corner of the screen while powering the unit on.
3. Continue to hold the screen until the "Do you want to erase all user data?" prompt appears.
4. Press "yes" and the unit will reboot. This resets all your location settings and user preferences

Then make sure the unit is fully charged,then go to the Garmin site and register your product. Then download Garmin Updater and connect your unit with a usb cable directly to your computer and not thru a USB hub. Let the update go directly to the GPS and not a folder. It will take a few hours even with a fast internet connection. I have attached a link to the Garmin site. Thanks for using FixYa

https://my.garmin.com/mygarmin/registrationGettingStarted.htm?productType=auto&categoryType=AUTO

Yes as long as you use the original garmin charger that comes with it. The garmin charger steps down either 12 or 24 volts to match the 5 Volt required input voltage of the satnav.

Take it completely apart and scrub everything with denatured alcohol. This will clean all the corrosion caused by the water. It may or maynot work but it IS your best bet. I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/steven_958e67a4edcc47d5