Hey everyone, I could use some help. I just bought a dual USB cigarette adapter for my MINI. I bought 2 usb chargers, a iphone usb charger and a mini USB charger for the Garmin Nuvi 200W. For some reason when I plugged in the charger for the GPS, the screen gets locked on a black screen with Garmin's logo and a picture of a computer as if the GPS was connecting to the computer. I tried turning on the GPS first and then plugging it in and it does the same thing. I replaced it with the original car charger and the GPS runs perfectly fine. What's the problem? The GPS? The new mini USB wire? or the Dual USB Cigarette adapter?

 

It doesn't surprise me that the Nuvi goes into external mode anytime it detects power on the USB input. I suspect you won't be able to charge with USB and navigate at the same time.

 

The normal car charger is a mini USB. That's what I don't understand. Is it the wattage difference? Is there a fix for this?

 

Anyone?

 

Well, I guess it's different than my Nuvi 760, which has a car charger that attaches to the car mount. It is not USB. The mini USB port is used for connecting it to my computer for charging and software updates. It mounts as an external USB drive in that case.

 

You can trick it to be powered this way. I didn't feel like buying another cigarette lighter power supply so I decided to use one from an old sell phone.

The trick is this. Power on the Nuvi via battery. When the screen says "initializing" plug in the USB. The unit will get the power but be past the point where is sees if it is connected to a computer. It will then boot normally but be powered via the USB. I use this method in my wife's car on long trips.

It may take a couple of tries to get it, but once you do you will get it everytime. You only have a second or so to plug it in.

 

My screen never says initializing. I've tried it on the logo screen. Then the logo + loading screen. Then the logo + trademark screen. Nothing. It just goes back to that stupid "connected to computer" screen. I might just bring it into best buy and ask for another GPS. This model is discontinued, I have a service plan, and it never seems to find a satellite connection anyways. Blah.

 

Ok guys, so after about 2 hours of researching, I found the answer to the problem. The reason it doesn't charge is because it's not getting the proper power due to the splitter. However there is a way around it. All you have to do is:
-Turn on the GPS on battery mode. (not connected)
-After everything loads press and hold the battery icon on the top right corner. (There won't be any sounds so just hold it for about 10 seconds)
-There will be a test screen. Plug in your USB charger now.
-The USB charger will be detected.
-After that exit out of the test screen.
-The GPS will reboot itself and now it's functional while charging from your splitted-aftermarket USB/mini USB charger.

Voila.

Sticky this because apparantly it's the same for most Garmin Models.

 

Are you using the Garmin USB cord or one supplied with the charger?

I've seen this problem before and it was due to the pin length in the cable. The Nuvi's are very sensitive to this (Nuvi not charging/post 13).

 

Aftermarket USB.