Garmin 5215

[Jim and Jackie]

Turned on the chart plotter for the first time this season. The Garmin logo appeared and then shut down, no error messages just a blank screen. Turned on the auto pilot and it came right on.Turned on the chart plotter and again after the logo it shut down and also shut down the auto helm.

Garmin thinks it may be corrupted software or a power problem. They are sending the latest update.

Did turn on the VHF and it worked. However, didn’t turn on the chart plotter to see if it would turn off the VHF.

Another suggestion, from Garmin, it is a potential power problem. Where is the input power cable to the 5215 wired?

One other piece of information, the house batteries died over the winter (long story) are were replaced two weeks ago.

Any suggestions?

Jim Demerest
2010 R29 Chessie

 

[knotflying]

I don't have any answers for you, but the 5212 is considered an old unit at this point. Garmin will have little support, if any and would probably tell you they won't service it. I am pretty sure all of your other equipment will work with a new unit. I would check with Garmin before I went that route, but a new unit may be the way to go.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

fellow 5215 owner. I doubt it would be a software problem unless the unit had never had a software update and if that would be the case, you would have had an issue long ago. I purchased my 2911 R29 and it had not had any updates until I updated the firmware in 2018 and it ran fine except for an issue with the GPS antenna which was corrected with the update. I had great tech support for the 5215. Garmin was tech support was very helpful even though it's a legacy unit. I haven't traced the power for the NEMA backbone but I suspect it's supplied through the 5215. It you haven't disconnected and reconnected you power cable behind the unit, I would try that. The good news is that you could probably find an old 5215 for sale online for a decent price.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

I would check voltage levels on the batteries and cabling before tackling the unit. also reseat the SD card. perhaps even try booting without the SD card in the unit.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

personally I would avoid installing a new update as it was working before until you have figured out the root cause.

 

[Jim and Jackie]

Thanks for the replies. Everything is working. Waited for the rain to leave the area before troubleshooting. Had suggestions pointing toward a power problem. The easiest was to check the voltage at the unit. Read 13.1v. Reconnected the power cable and tried it again. Magic, it and the autohelm, radar, vhf and sonar all worked. Figured the disconnecting and reconnecting acted like a reset. Still want to trace the power path I’m told the fuse is in one of the fuse blocks behind the helm, but not necessarily labled. Guess it might be the GPS Display, it’s the right size fuse. Would have done it today, but had to leave and pick up my granddaughter.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Jim Demerest
2010 R29 Chessie