Touch screen cracked - can
Okay, first post was just a test to see if I could post before typing all this out.
This is for a Garmin Nuvi 760
First, you can find a new touch screen on E-bay for about 10 dollars.
The LCD+touch screens are about 60. If you just cracked the screen but
the display looks fine, you can just replace the touch screen.
Now, for do-it-yourselfers. To open the back of the case, there are 2
small torx (star) screws on the back to remove. If you don't have a
torx driver, sometimes just the right size eye-glass screwdriver can
fit but be careful not to strip the heads. Once those are out, you
need to seperate the back casing from the front. I used an old credit
card to pry gently with all the way around until it pops off. Don't
force it, just be patient, it will come off.
Next, I recommend unplugging the speaker and battery so you can put the
back aside for more room. There are 4 more phillips screws on all 4
corners of the circuit board. Take those out and the board comes out
relatively easy. Don't force it. Once it is loose, there isn't much
room to play with because of the ribbon cables. The large one is the
LCD, the 4 pronged one is the touch-screen. There is a lever that
lifts up and secures them in place. I got away with leaving them
connected, but they are fragile and easy to tear. Next is separating
the silver plastic part of the case from the black front that goes
around the screen. I pried a bit with an eye-glass screwdriver around
the area where the earphone jack and memory card go in. Again, using a
credit card to pry all the way around is best that it won't leave
scratches. Don't force it, just be patient.
Once you have that off, remove the screen from the case. I did it by
pushing with light-moderate pressure all around the edges massaging it
out. The touch screen and LCD have a rubber/leathery thin tape going
around the perimeter. On the front, I got under it with an eye-glass
flat head screw driver and slowly worked it around until it was free,
being careful not to tear it. On the back, I used a razor-blade to
un-stick it from the LCD, but be very careful not to damage the LCD
screen if it's still working. The goal is to get this off in one
piece. Once you have that off, there is the LCD and touch screen with
double-back sticky black tape holding them together around the edges.
I used a razor-blade. VERY CAREFULLLY separating them. Once that was
done, I carefully scraped the remainder of the tape off the LCD which
was un-reusable. I didn't know what to use for putting the new screen
on since I didn't have that special type of tape, so after raiding my
tools, I found some rolled butyl rubber for installing windshields. I
cut small pieces of this off and put them around the perimeter of the
new touch-screen (VERY THIN) in the same place the old one was, as if I
was installing a real windshield. This took much patience, but in the
end it worked great. Before putting the new touch-screen on the LCD, I
blew it off with some compressed air, being careful to never leave a
fingerprint on it while working on it. After putting it on, I pressed
softly but steadily to get the rubber to even out so there wasn't any
high points. Then, I replaced the same sticky tape that went around
the perimeter of the 2 screens the way it was. It wasn't as sticky,
but I made sure it was in place and it kept there by the pressure on
the sides of the screen casing. Make sure you get it on right, because
I think it's there as a shock-absorber so that the screen doesn't break
as easily if dropped or jarred. I plugged back in the LCD screen into
it's corresponding place on the circuit board and closed the tiny lever
that secures it in place. Then comes putting everything back the way
it was in reverse order. Be careful and go slowly, I ended up
accidently pulling the ribbon cable out for the LCD and Touch screen
and had to go back and reconnect them. This is a good time to attach
the battery and turn the GPS on to see if you have all your connections
made securely before everything is fully together. Put everything back
together in reverse order, remember, if you have to force it, then
don't. Don't forget to hook the speaker back up.
When it's all back together, if the new touch-screen doesn't tap where
you tap it, you can calibrate it. This can be done by turning the unit
off, then turning it on, then IMMEDIATELY switch it to the right(lock)
position before it boots up and hold your thumb on the screen for about
30 seconds. There will be a callibration routine that will tell you to
push dots on certain parts of the screen. If you do this with a
stylus, it will probably be more accurate.
Now hopefully, you will be more careful and not drop your nuvi again. I hope this helps.
ect ect.
