Garmin Fenix 3 Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Adam Estabrook
  • Comments: 20
Garmin Fenix 3 Motherboard Replacement

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

10

Time Required

5 minutes

Introduction

Even the best electronics die out over time, especially devices used in harsh conditions. This guide will show how to replace the motherboard of your Garmin Fenix 3 if the electronics are showing signs of failure. You will need a T6 Torx screwdriver, a T5 Torx screwdriver, and a spudger.

  1. gFNKTS25ByksjIbN
    gFNKTS25ByksjIbN
    ieYarQMW54mYIDHk

    • Use a T6 screwdriver to remove the five 1.7 mm screws from the watch face.

  2. hGP4TKAUKaHPxtVZ

    • Carefully lift the face off the watch base.

    • Do not yank the face. A ribbon connector connects the face and the motherboard, and yanking could result in damage to the motherboard or ribbon.

  3. YcTiahGxtqjcqb16

    • Use a spudger to lift up and free the screen ribbon cable's press-fit connector from the motherboard.

  4. JaOWBZPorPLZUMdt

    • Set the watch face aside.

    Hi can i replace only lcd because my sapphire glass is ok

    Drazen Popadic -

  5. PW4eDJu2SFb2WBPX

    • Locate the antenna, which is located on the motherboard.

  6. yvSJPkI5DKMbH1Yf

    • Carefully remove the antenna, and set it aside.

  7. w2QXMIXYEBsxhHTE
    w2QXMIXYEBsxhHTE
    qVMgXUFDq2GPGqft
    PF5iYbXIQqOBRbu3

    • Locate the two silver 1.4 mm T5 screws, and carefully unscrew them.

    • To avoid losing or dropping the screws once they are loose, use tweezers to extract them.

  8. wm5UvQMxmIhk5fpe
    wm5UvQMxmIhk5fpe
    Mo2rIALs1hTqcVoU

    • Lift the watch and turn it over one hand. The motherboard should fall out easily.

    • When reinserting your motherboard, slide it in instead of pressing it. The motherboard must go beneath a lip at the base of the watch body.

  9. VdJP63OFDrteWbJN

    • Using the spudger, separate the motherboard from the battery, which are both held together with a mild adhesive.

  10. mebgMgwakGFHj6xZ

    • Motherboard without metal cover

    Where can I buy one as replacement ?

    arnaud.lhote -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Adam Estabrook

Member since: 07/09/18

1072 Reputation

18 comments

Hello,

i’m looking for replacement of start/stop button micro switch. Do you know what is the switch number which i can look for?

Thank you

Jan Stefan -

that's my problem too and i can't find any solution.

Hamidmonti -

How did you remove the metal cover from the moterboard (last picture)

slowrun -

Where can I find a replacement Motherboard ? None of my buttons are responding and I can’t even do a Factory reset.

All that works is switching off and back on.

arnaud.lhote -

I have exact same issue. I sent my watch to official repair service to Split (Croatia) and they said they aren’t able to fix it. I can see only main screen of the watch, buttons don’t respond at all. Would like to know how to fix the issue.

ilija.veselica -

In Italy it’s the same story… impossible to repair ( button START/STOP does not function ).

I’m searching on eBay for a USED low cost Fenix 3 for change motherboard…

At the moment is the unic solutions…

Matteo -

Matteo, this is not the only solution!I’ve bought on ebay the START/STOP button, i’ve just to solder it.

I’m , like you, living in italy. The button comes from Russia, you can find on ebay for about 10 euros shipped =)

Francesco P. -

My buttons are totally broken, seems restart of system works, but when it is on I cannot switch anything. It seems like broken electronics, not really buttons. Any ideas about how to proceed in low-cost mode? Thanks!

Jan Wasilewski -

did you ever find a solution to this issue as i am having the exact same problem

Gearoid Rogers -

I have a Garmin Fenix 3 HR and I have problems both with GPS (any signal more) and HR monitor (erratica data both with or without HRM Tri-band). Do you think that could be a motherboard problem? Where can I buy spare parts for my garmin?

Thanks

Guido Ianiro -

i’m not sure whether i need the motherboard or the display …. i do know that my watch will not power on and prior to that happening the display was hard to see

Eric Marable -

I am having the same issue too - hard reset will work via the light button but nothing else works after this, all I see is the main watch time face

Gearoid Rogers -

Hello,

My comment comes a bit late. Anyway, in case it could be helpful to someone:

My Fenix3 was not responding. After a loooong wake up and then analysis process, i found that the START/STOP switch was dead.

I ordered a mother board (+ i took the opportunity to change also the battery). It took almost 3 weeks to be delivered so I couldn't wait and i purchased a Fenix7X. But for 42US$, I could fix my Fenix3 that is now working as it used to work on its first day.

So, if you get your Fenix3 (or other model?) definitely stuck, don’t throw it away. Just change the motherboard and you’ll get a brand new healthy watch.

Laurent Bonet -

Hello Laurent, I want to know, where you get the motherboard?

alejovalencia -

Hai @laurent Bonet, can i know, where you get/buy the motherboard?

Mohd Azlan -

I have bought a new rear assembly. After removing the motherboard I have a small board with three pins and a spring. This is glued to the back assembly. Can this be removed and transferred to the new rear assembly?

Granterz -

What's the model of the new battery? How do you get it? Thanks.

Mark Chen -

Hello, I am 63 and due to a heart surgery (aortic valve replacement), I have been spending quite some time at the hospital.

This is how I discovered that my Fenix 3 HR Sapphire (acquired in 2017) indicates an incorrect Heart Rate: sometimes it is lower (than what the medical equipment measures) or higher. And this difference can be as high as 20: for instance, once I was getting 103 on my Fenix while the medical device indicated 123 or 83.

This happened whether I was laying in my bed and the nurse was taking my blood pressure, or when I was biking on the static bike under medical supervision from medical stuff with computers (my body was connected to a more sophisticated medical device) that I was doing cardio training to retrain my heart.

Of course, I have switched off then off my Fenix multiple times but this has not corrected anything.

Apart from that, my Fenix 3 is working fine, no issue whatsoever (maybe the GPS has become a bit slower to catch my current position).

JY POCPOC -