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#1
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Avionics by subscription
During a routine inspection of my Bonanza's Garmin GNS430 back in July
2004, a reputable avionics shop informed me that the unit's localizer and glideslope reception were below Garmin's specifications. Since the unit was a few years out of warranty, the only option I had was to return the unit to Garmin. In return, Garmin would charge me a flat fee of US$600 to completely overhaul the unit, addressing the initial problem and any others they might uncover. Three weeks later, Garmin returned the unit in "as good as new" condition, having fixed the initial problem, updating the firmware, and replacing a knob that had become sticky. I later learned that there was a two week delay in returning my unit because Garmin'd techs could not acceptably address the localizer and glideslope reception problems during their first two attempts. Fortunately their quality control group caught the problem and sent it back to the bench twice before it finally passed QA. I paid the $600 and was again happy. Over the next year I customized the unit to my needs by changing displayed fields on various screens, adding frequently-used IFR flight plans, and adding user waypoints. Exactly 14 months later, or two months after its renewed warranty expired, the glideslope receiver of the GNS430 again has failed. Initial discussions with Garmin have revealed that they want another $600 to repair the problem. Needless to say, this is unacceptable and negotiations are ongoing. The name of this game is avionics by subscription. -- Peter Not looking forward to having to again customize the unit to my liking. ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#2
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Peter,
We had to do the same thing with our 430 when the comm1 board went south. They said they charge $600.00 for the overhaul. I asked if there wasn't anything they could do about the price and they lowered it to $400. :-) My avionics guy said he never heard of them doing that before but I wonder if no one has ever asked for a reduction before. It is kinda like asking the credit card companies if they'll give you a better interest rate (not that I ever pay intrest mind you). ;-) Anyway, we got our unit back in a couple weeks and not only did it work like new it looked like new. They had replaced the display because they said the anti-glare shield was worn and also replaced the plastic bezel because the paint had come off. It has been a year now and everything is still like new. Jon Kraus '79 Mooney 201 4443H @ TYQ Peter R. wrote: During a routine inspection of my Bonanza's Garmin GNS430 back in July 2004, a reputable avionics shop informed me that the unit's localizer and glideslope reception were below Garmin's specifications. Since the unit was a few years out of warranty, the only option I had was to return the unit to Garmin. In return, Garmin would charge me a flat fee of US$600 to completely overhaul the unit, addressing the initial problem and any others they might uncover. Three weeks later, Garmin returned the unit in "as good as new" condition, having fixed the initial problem, updating the firmware, and replacing a knob that had become sticky. I later learned that there was a two week delay in returning my unit because Garmin'd techs could not acceptably address the localizer and glideslope reception problems during their first two attempts. Fortunately their quality control group caught the problem and sent it back to the bench twice before it finally passed QA. I paid the $600 and was again happy. Over the next year I customized the unit to my needs by changing displayed fields on various screens, adding frequently-used IFR flight plans, and adding user waypoints. Exactly 14 months later, or two months after its renewed warranty expired, the glideslope receiver of the GNS430 again has failed. Initial discussions with Garmin have revealed that they want another $600 to repair the problem. Needless to say, this is unacceptable and negotiations are ongoing. The name of this game is avionics by subscription. |
#3
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Jon Kraus wrote:
We had to do the same thing with our 430 when the comm1 board went south. snip Here's hoping your comm1 board doesn't go south again anytime soon. -- Peter ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#4
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Sounds like a got a couple more good months left.
Peter R. wrote: Jon Kraus wrote: We had to do the same thing with our 430 when the comm1 board went south. snip Here's hoping your comm1 board doesn't go south again anytime soon. |
#5
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Jon Kraus wrote:
Sounds like a got a couple more good months left. LOL! A few months to guarantee no warrantee coverage. -- Peter ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#6
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I had to send my out-of-warranty GPSmap 296 back to Garmin because it kept
turning off by itself during flight. I sent a few notes to their service dept, updated the software, then talked to a tech on the phone. The tech was very obliging and Garmin turned the unit around within a week at no cost to me except the original shipping charge. They diagnosed corrupted user data and returned it working properly and with the latest Americas database. Probably partly because of this experience, I chose an Apollo/Garmin SL30 to replace an aging Nav/Com in my Archer. "Peter R." wrote in message ... During a routine inspection of my Bonanza's Garmin GNS430 back in July 2004, a reputable avionics shop informed me that the unit's localizer and glideslope reception were below Garmin's specifications. Since the unit was a few years out of warranty, the only option I had was to return the unit to Garmin. In return, Garmin would charge me a flat fee of US$600 to completely overhaul the unit, addressing the initial problem and any others they might uncover. Three weeks later, Garmin returned the unit in "as good as new" condition, having fixed the initial problem, updating the firmware, and replacing a knob that had become sticky. I later learned that there was a two week delay in returning my unit because Garmin'd techs could not acceptably address the localizer and glideslope reception problems during their first two attempts. Fortunately their quality control group caught the problem and sent it back to the bench twice before it finally passed QA. I paid the $600 and was again happy. Over the next year I customized the unit to my needs by changing displayed fields on various screens, adding frequently-used IFR flight plans, and adding user waypoints. Exactly 14 months later, or two months after its renewed warranty expired, the glideslope receiver of the GNS430 again has failed. Initial discussions with Garmin have revealed that they want another $600 to repair the problem. Needless to say, this is unacceptable and negotiations are ongoing. The name of this game is avionics by subscription. -- Peter Not looking forward to having to again customize the unit to my liking. ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#7
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My King KLN90B developed some weird behavior with the right and left
knob. I sent it in, they kept it 6 weeks and it came back witht the right knob fixed, but the left knob still flakey. Solution? Send it in again. Groooaan!! |
#8
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I had my 430 installed by J.A. Air in 2000. An initial problem with
the GPS a couple of months later resulted in a new unit, no charge. I installed a Wx500 stormscope last year and they removed the old 24 volt unit (and 12 volt converter) and again installed a new 12 volt unit at no additional charge. When I had the JPI EDM fuel totalizer wired into the 430 a couple of years ago, they installed new software in the 430, again at no additional charge. So my support experience has been excellent. Having said that, their labor rates do appear to contain padding for a few freebies. But having said THAT, all of the installations they've done for me over the years have worked flawlessly. |
#9
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Paul kgyy wrote:
When I had the JPI EDM fuel totalizer wired into the 430 a couple of years ago, they installed new software in the 430, again at no additional charge. So my support experience has been excellent. Get back to me when a board inside your 430 goes. :-) In my case, Garmin could only come down to US $300 to repair my failed glideslope receiver a mere 14 months after their first repair of this component. Also, I had to add another squawk to the unit going back: The PROC button was becoming non-responsive, only working every other press or so. I will admit that I am happy that Garmin provides free loaner units while our units are sent in for the repair. However, I am grumbling about the fact that there is no way to preserve the user-changed settings, waypoints, and flight plans when the unit is sent in for repair. Upon return of the repaired unit, this will be the third time I will have to apply my preferred changes. -- Peter ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
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