TomTom Go 720 Screen dying...?

[shadamehr]

I'm more and more often having issues with my three month old Go 720, in terms of the screen and touch-screen input.

It's now at the point, where EVERY time I type the number 9 or letter I below it on the full size keyboard, the number 8 gets entered instead.

And in the large numeric keypad mode, every time I press the number 5, instead 4 gets entered (or the other way round, can't recall which).

There is nothing wrong with the appearance of my screen - it is clean, free from dust, grease, etc, and there is zero dust inside the screen itself.

But I cannot under any circumstances, enter a number 9, etc.

This is easy to replicate - I would just hand it to the guy from Halfords and say "Here, you try it, enter me a number 9 please - take your time, take as many goes as you like", and watch and laugh at him.

But what I want to know before I go to Halfords, is is there anything I can try? As realistically, I honestly see this as a Hardware failure myself though.

And my most important question, and reason for the post... how have other users managed to ensure an EXCHANGE rather than agreeing for the unit to be sent off instead for a slow repair...?

Any suggestions, or past experiences on exchanges compared to repair send offs?

[mikealder]

Insert the corner of a sheet of paper in between the screen bezzel and the screen, run it around the edge to dig out any dirt that might have dropped into the void, if this doesn't cure the fault the unit will need either replacing or repair - Mike

[shadamehr]

Mike,

Thanks - I was hopeful, but alas to no avail.

It's quite weird actually, as no matter how careful you are, or how far to the right you 'press' the number 9 button, number 8 lights up instead, AFTER number 9, which is the strange thing, and number 8 gets entered.

As I say, my device is in immaculate condition, with a Brodit or Martin Fields screen protector on it, not a mark, smear, scratch or piece of dust in sight.

I had considered the screen protector itself as the issue, but it seems not.

So it looks like a trip to Halfords.

Indeed I have now established that any press of 9, 0, I, O, P, or L, results in that key lighting up, THEN the number 8 key, and 8 being entered instead. Darn.

Any ideas what governs whether they can insist on a repair, rather than an exchange - as to be fair, as my prior post mentions, it has had an issue since the very first day, it's just seemed to get worse over time - so it's a fault from new, not just now - so maybe that might help me insist on exchange - who knows.

Oh well. And thanks again anyway - was certainly worth a try, and I actually had a feeling it might fix it, but my luck was out it seems.

[mikealder]

If the screen cal has wandered off from the normal there is very little you can do, you could also try the clear flash tool followed by the restore factory defaults (FAQ page #14) I am not too sure this will fix the screen problem though - Mike

[Tomo]

I had the same problem on a One V2, once I took off the screen protector it worked fine. Not sure if it was the protector itself or the fact that when I pulled it off, it sort of slightly lifted the actual screen away from the device.

I never had the same problem again though.

AFAIK, halfords work on a 28 day exchange. After that its a repair. You may be able to plead with them as its immaculate condition and "pretend" you have lost your receipt so they "trust" that you are within the 28 day thing.

Another solution maybe........

Buy another 720 (if you can find them), get the receipt......... use that with your broken one, once replaced (you should retain the receipt) take back the other one for a refund. Explain it was a gift and as its in its sellaphane they wont refuse.

Steve

[shadamehr]

[GPS_fan]

Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment, you may be able to demonstrate the problem you're now experiencing but how can you prove that this has been evident since day 1?

I seem to recall a post by Mike Alder specifically mentioning that screen protectors may cause spurious screen inputs:
Have you had the screen protector in place since the start?
Have you tried the 720 without the screen protector?
How can you be absolutely sure the screen protector isn't at fault?

Also, you're more than likely to be outside the DOA period with Halfords and may be forced to accept whatever the warranty offers - probably repair at this stage.
_________________
Andy
PocketGPSWorld.com supports Help for Heroes - Read here

[shadamehr]

Yup.

Which is why I ask about turnaround times mate.

Because, on a somewhat related, but different device vein, I have been without my proper Mobile phone for over a QUARTER OF A YEAR now (over three months), due to a warranty repair with Nokia, that has took THREE turns sending it to them, to get fixed.

And even now, is STILL with them.

In fact, it's been with them since even before I bought my TomTom, come to think of it.

So whilst the Warranty is such that TomTom can elect to repair, I trust you are in no doubt as to my reluctance to see this happen even though I know it likely will.

Especially after recalling some of the horror stories on here about terrible turnaround times from TomTom on repairs.

So I was just hoping to hear some more positive experiences, if any Andy.

[mikealder]

If you have any screen protection device fitted to the unit (including the one it was delivered with that should be removed prior to use) remove it and try again, TomTom Go devices do not require them, and they often do lead to touch screen problems when fitted - look at it this way, if the TomTom required a screen protector TomTom would sell them as an add on pack - Mike

[GPS_fan]

[shadamehr]

Well the plot thickens (though I'm sure your mostly bored by now )

As I have took the screen protector off, just to make sure...

And now I can't even get INTO my device, as the screen digitizer drift error is MUCH WORSE, and it won't even let me enter my password pin.

And the error now is the first character of my pin, which is an entry over on the LEFT hand side.

So now I can't even get into my device at all.

Sounds like a dying screen to me, for sure.

Mmmm.

[shadamehr]

Thanks for all your efforts to help folks.

Alas, I have given up trying to see if there is anything I can do personally, as it is now so bad, screen presses are registering willy-nilly with no user input at all.

And this got too much for me when it magically brought up the Help Me screen, found a POLICE Station, then CALLED IT without me knowing (as it automatically connects to my phone by Bluetooth).

A humorous (if embarrassing) end to an otherwise sad and frustrating affair.

Ah well, off to Halfords to have it sent off for repair, in the morning.

Time to make use of the three months free Sat-Nav trial I get, but have never started yet, on my Nokia N82 in the meantime - now THAT should prove a nightmare compared to TomTom .

[PaulB2005]

Can the screen not be re-calibrated? Although i suppose someone would have mentioned it by now....

Or even a reset?

[shadamehr]

Hi Paul,

I think it's not possible to do this, but MikeAlder, as well as being a "thoroughly decent bloke" and Ambassador for this site is probably more expert there.

But it's ok (hopefully anyway), as believe it or not, when I went in to Halfords, the guy was great (after a thirty minute wait just to get the sat-nav specialist).

He was happy to exchange, EXCEPT, with the advent of the 730, he had no 720's in.

So he said it could either be a store ring-around to locate, or I could pay the difference and get a 730, or it would be a full refund.

To be fair, this is the same bloke I saw last time my prior 720 died, so I think he remembered this is my second failure.

I asked how much the 730's were, but they were still £329, so way too much for me to go to.

So he rang the branch next nearest to us, and they had five 720's in.

So he is arranging for one to be picked up, and I need to call in after 7pm tonight, in between my jobs, to do an exchange.

I never count chickens until they hatch, but fingers crossed all goes well - if so I'll be very happy at Halfords.

[mikealder]

Makes a refreshing change for the retailer to be so helpful, these days they are often too quick to fob people off with any old excuse.

As for screen calibration data AFAIK it is stored within the device but it is not something a user can alter or reset from the device as such, have a read of This for some information on screen calibration - but don't blame me if this messes up a device - Mike

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