I figured I would share some of the updates with my Garmin Vector 3 pedals that I own. I for starters have had mine since the beginning of December and never really had any issues with them - I however have read all the issues other users were having and was always worried about the accuracy or if they were going to give me grief.
Garmin IMO released a product that was not 100% ready for in field usage but has since released software update 3.50 that fixed a lot of software issues and also solved legacy head unit issues. They have also released battery doors after discovering that a lot of the software/battery and other issues were being derived from the door issue.
I do own a lot of Garmin products, so yes I am well vested in the company but not supported by them - I think that they have handled this issue very well (my current employment deals heavily with on-site manufacturing) and although the situation is negative I always received great customer service and decently quick responses from Garmin.
It is easy to talk about something when you are upset than when you are happy and Garmin being one of the largest manufactures in recreational sports more than likely has the most units out to be criticized.
Anyways - I wanted to share some photos of the new doors that I received yesterday, so far they L/R balance is perfect and power seems to be spot on. I have not gotten any outdoor or long rides on them yet but everything about the redesigned door is better (including how it locks/screws onto the pedal body).
The customer service was always great for me! My problem was the inferior product. With that being said i still support Garmin and have ordered a new head unit even though i sent back the pedals.
I got a fancy e-mail from Garmin today with a special discount code to “buy” my new Vector 3 battery doors. Each door is normally $30 each (which is insane), but with the code, the $60 purchase was free. It says I’ll get them in about 3 to 4 weeks.
In the e-mail was also info on two other major issues they are having with Vector 3’s. One is a loose spindle bolt, which you can fix yourself by taking the whole pedal apart, and the second issue is a separated pedal body and this error requires calling Garmin for servicing.
I got a fancy e-mail from Garmin today with a special discount code to “buy” my new Vector 3 battery doors. Each door is normally $30 each (which is insane), but with the code, the $60 purchase was free. It says I’ll get them in about 3 to 4 weeks.
In the e-mail was also info on two other major issues they are having with Vector 3’s. One is a loose spindle bolt, which you can fix yourself by taking the whole pedal apart, and the second issue is a separated pedal body and this error requires calling Garmin for servicing.
I received this same email this morning and was not aware of the loose spindle issue - I wonder if that is for the really early models as I did not experience this issue. I didn’t see anything about the pedal body separating (unless they are referring to after the spindle becomes loose and then it separates).
I am going to tear mine apart tonight to verify if the hub/shaft is loose.
For anyone looking to review the service advisory you can do so here;
What? ‘Huge’ props to Garmin for making useable a dodgy substandard product that has caused hundreds if not thousands of people frustration and anxiety? Really? Man peoples expectations must be set so low these days.
How about giving props to the other manufacturers that actually quality control and test their products before releasing rubbish to the market…
I got a fancy e-mail from Garmin today with a special discount code to “buy” my new Vector 3 battery doors. Each door is normally $30 each (which is insane), but with the code, the $60 purchase was free. It says I’ll get them in about 3 to 4 weeks.
In the e-mail was also info on two other major issues they are having with Vector 3’s. One is a loose spindle bolt, which you can fix yourself by taking the whole pedal apart, and the second issue is a separated pedal body and this error requires calling Garmin for servicing.
Ugh. I received the same email this AM and promptly requested my new door(s). Problem is I didn’t think to enter “2” as the quantity. Just went back to order a second door and the code doesn’t work now. Balls.
I got a fancy e-mail from Garmin today with a special discount code to “buy” my new Vector 3 battery doors. Each door is normally $30 each (which is insane), but with the code, the $60 purchase was free. It says I’ll get them in about 3 to 4 weeks.
In the e-mail was also info on two other major issues they are having with Vector 3’s. One is a loose spindle bolt, which you can fix yourself by taking the whole pedal apart, and the second issue is a separated pedal body and this error requires calling Garmin for servicing.
Ugh. I received the same email this AM and promptly requested my new door(s). Problem is I didn’t think to enter “2” as the quantity. Just went back to order a second door and the code doesn’t work now. Balls.
Off to call customer service.
Don’t be me.
That is funny and had no idea as I processed mine on the phone!!!
If anyone has a pair of Vector V3 and did not receive the email I would encourage you to call Garmin - I will forewarn though the wait time is usually like 1-2hrs!!!
I just hit the call me back button and go on with my day and wait for them to call me back - which they always did.
I got a fancy e-mail from Garmin today with a special discount code to “buy” my new Vector 3 battery doors. Each door is normally $30 each (which is insane), but with the code, the $60 purchase was free. It says I’ll get them in about 3 to 4 weeks.
In the e-mail was also info on two other major issues they are having with Vector 3’s. One is a loose spindle bolt, which you can fix yourself by taking the whole pedal apart, and the second issue is a separated pedal body and this error requires calling Garmin for servicing.
Ugh. I received the same email this AM and promptly requested my new door(s). Problem is I didn’t think to enter “2” as the quantity. Just went back to order a second door and the code doesn’t work now. Balls.
Off to call customer service.
Don’t be me.
That is funny and had no idea as I processed mine on the phone!!!
If anyone has a pair of Vector V3 and did not receive the email I would encourage you to call Garmin - I will forewarn though the wait time is usually like 1-2hrs!!!
I just hit the call me back button and go on with my day and wait for them to call me back - which they always did.
Yep. I called and was told they would call back between 45 minutes and 67 minutes.
Also, thanks to NightFend for the post because I guarantee if I had this realization in “3-4 weeks” I would have thrown a big tantrum.
Just got my new doors in the mail an hour ago. There was also supposed to be something called anti-fretting lube which I didn’t see. What is it and how will it make me not fret? Unless it is a six pack of a nice IPA?
Really hoping these new doors solve the problems (of basically being worthless paper weights)
Just got my new doors in the mail an hour ago. There was also supposed to be something called anti-fretting lube which I didn’t see. What is it and how will it make me not fret? Unless it is a six pack of a nice IPA?
Really hoping these new doors solve the problems (of basically being worthless paper weights)
I did not receive any of the lube as it stated that it should have been with it - IMO the anti-fretting or the recommendation of lubricating the batteries was mainly from the doors not being designed right and holding the battery in place and was also at first Garmin’s mistake for not knowing what was happening with the system and found that the batteries rubbing (fretting) was potentially the issue.
If you really want to lube/grease them up stop at any hardware/autoparts store and pick up some dielectric grease and lube those suckers up.
Lube for the batteries. They told me I could just use sewing machine oil, so that’s probably what I will do. Just a tiny amount on the tip of a toothpick.
Just got my new doors in the mail an hour ago. There was also supposed to be something called anti-fretting lube which I didn’t see. What is it and how will it make me not fret? Unless it is a six pack of a nice IPA?
Really hoping these new doors solve the problems (of basically being worthless paper weights)
I did my first battery change last week and used baby oil applied with a toothpick. All good.
The one thing I’d point out (and this is apparently very important according to my call with technical support) is to not strip the threads. According to the instructions linked above, the easiest way to ensure that the parts are properly aligned and to avoid cross threading, is to turn the Allen key (and the door) counterclockwise until you feel the door drop into the threads on the pedal body.
I didn’t use the Allen key at all until I was sure the threads were properly aligned. I did this by putting the battery door into the pedal and gently turning it counterclockwise with a little downward pressure. If you do this, the pedal door will eventually make a clicking sound and you’ll feel it fall into the threads on the pedal body. It did take a little patience and a number of counterclockwise rotations. I then gently turned it with my fingers until it got tight and gave it about a half rotation with the Allen key to lock it down.
According to product support the issue is the battery doors are metal and the threads in the pedal are plastic so they are easy to strip if they are misaligned. I said that seems like a pretty basic design flaw that a first-year engineering student might pick up on and questioned if a newer version that would be metal-on-metal would be released anytime see. He said he was “not aware”.
Vector 3 has a 2-year warranty and I plan on watching my warranty-end period and any new product releases very closely.
I’m a Garmin fan all the way (Nuvi, FR60, FR70, 910XT, 935, Edge 520, Vector 3) but this one is testing my patience. However, if I get the new doors and then just take care when changing batteries to not strip the threads, I’ll be satisfied (although not ecstatic).
I’ve changed my batteries twice and so far so good (even with the old battery doors). But I’m just waiting for them to fail in some way. Bought mine back in December, so I have a warranty for a while at least and a backup Quarq powermeter on my other bike I can use.
Other than the battery life issue (I think I’m getting about 30 hours or so), they have been great pedals so far. No other complaints from me.
I did my first “longish” ride on these last night (after all the updates and doors) - it was a trainer ride and I was using both my Wahoo and Garmin pedals (Garmin on Garmin, Wahoo on Trainer road App) and monitored the power and accuracy etc of the pedals against the Kickr.
I will say right off the bat I am stunned by how quick responding and accurate the pedals are - they were within 5 watts of AVG power to my Wahoo and within 2 watts of NP and they responded MUCH quicker with both power changes and cadence changes than the TR App. I was also messing with it a bunch during the ride by randomly un-clipping and watching the balance change or by playing “dead” leg and just seeing how it responds and it didn’t miss a beat.
