Zumo touch screen and digitizer replacement

FrankS · Nov 28, 2009

After my last ride (in the rain), the screen of my zumo550 developed some flaking, it seems the outer protective film came loose.
While this would have been a perfect excuse to upgrade to the 660, I wanted to see if this is something I can repair. Turns out I can

I bought a new touch screen on ebay for $18, shipped from China. This is not the LCD screen itself but just the touch sensitive layer that goes on top of it. It can be replaced in about 10 minutes.

Screen problems

New touch screen

Using a TORX 7, remove the 8 screws at the back

Unsnap the top cover, no clips holding the shell together, once the screws are loose, the bottom flap is open and the top cover removed, they come apart

Open the latch for the LCD screen (left) and the touch screen (right), slide out the ribbon cables

Unscrew the screen assembly from the front cover, take it out

Remove the silver mounting frame

Now this is the most tricky part. The touch screen is glued to another frame which sits on top the LCD. Carefully pry it off the LCD screen. I used a cutter to bend the black frame a tiny bit outwards so it will unclick from the LCD screen. Be careful, you dont want to cut into the LCD screen

Once separated, cut the old touch screen off the frame. It will most likely break but its the part we want to replace so who cares

Remove the protective film from the back of the new touch screen

Align it with the frame and stick it on, make sure the alignment is okay, you only get once chance.

My new screen is a bit smaller than the old one so I added some sealant to the right side

Put it all back together

Test it, then calibrate the screen (switch zumo on and hold power button until the calibration menu appears (about 60 seconds).

Enjoy

Looks like I pinched the gasket on the right side a little bit, I guess I take it apart one more time and make sure it seals tightly

Regards

Frank

9Dave · Nov 29, 2009

Thanks for this! Great tutorial. Indexed.

The screens were easy to find with an eBay search. Same guys are selling both the LCD screen and the touch screen, as well as some other screens.

Dave

pretbek · Apr 17, 2010

The Zumo 550 GPS seems to have a tendency to have their digitizer go haywire, crazy and bonkers after a few years.
Signs of this are that there seem to be all kinds of phantom screen presses when you don't touch the screen, or it does not react when you do touch the screen (probably because there is a constant phantom screen press occupying the digitizer).

Solution 1: Give Garmin $150 to send you a refurbished Zumo.
Solution 2: Spend $25 on a digitizer from eBay and do it yourself. How-to is shown below.

I bought a Zumo 550 digitizer on eBay for $17 plus shipping. They also sell screens for about $50, you do NOT need that.
I also had to buy a Torx allen wrench ($5 for a pack of four different sizes, including the one I needed) that would be long enough to reach the recessed screws on the back of the Zumo. The Torx inserts that you snap into a screwdriver-style handle are not long enough.
In total I spent about $25.

For safety you could remove the battery, which I did.
Then undo all the torx screws in the back of the Zumo and pop the plastic cap off the top.
After that open it carefully, because the front and back half remain joined by the plastic connection leads of the digitizer and the screen to the PC board.

There is a rubber gasket clamped between the front bezel and the digitizer, It is probably a bit stuck to the digitizer by now, but it is not glued. Carefully take it off and clean it, it is probably dirty.

Undo the 4 phillips head screws that hold the metal screen casing to the front bezel.
Pop the screen/digitizer combo out of its metal casing.
Carefully pull the narrow (1/8" wide) brown plastic contact lead out of its "socket". The wide lead (1" wide) is of the screen, leave that in.

The digitizer is glued to the screen along the perimeter. Cut it loose with a slim, sharp knife like a razor blade. Or a kitchen knife.

After cleaning the glue residue off of the screen with something like Goo Gone, you can put the new digitizer on the screen.

The digitizer comes with a glue line along the perimeter and a protective backer on it.
Center the digitizer on the screen, make sure the contact lead is in the bottom right corner, then have the glue make contact.
Press along the perimeter to firmly adhere the digitizer to the screen.

To put the contact lead back in its socket, flip the brown tab up, then slide the lead in the slot and lock the brown tab down again.

Turn the Zumo on and try it out, it should work fine and dandy now.

Now turn it off again, reassemble and go ride!

9Dave · Apr 18, 2010

Merged into prior replacement thread

Dave

Squelch · Apr 24, 2010

This is awesome. My Zumo just started going wonky, and I was about to pull the trigger on a 660. Now there's no need for that - why spend $600 when I can spend $30. Thanks for both the tutorials!

davenoseyparker · May 22, 2010

Guys, Without the thread I am sure I would have had a chisel and mallet to hand but follow the thread enabled me to replace the Digitizer screen.
Note, To be honest you need not take the Black frame off the LCD, using a craft Kife carefully around the edges of the screen is enough to release the digitizer from the LCD.
Also my 8 screws were of Alan type not Torx but at that size little matters.
All the same thanks for having a go in the first place.

Knees in the breeze

Squelch · Jun 12, 2010

It worked for me - and my screws were a number 6 Torx, not 7. Thanks for the walkthroughs!

tok-tokkie · Jun 13, 2010

Mine has packed up so I Google it & come right here. Was also thinking I would have to buy a 660. Much appreciated.

BikePilot · Jun 13, 2010

Nice work!

GS Addict · Jul 26, 2010

Just did my 550, all works well again!

Too bad the screen is slightly smaller, but the price was right!.
My screen did not come with adhesive on the back, I had to add my own.
I have ordered a spare from another supplier - we'll see if the same size & if adhesive is supplied.

Waco · Jul 26, 2010

tok-tokkie said:

Mine has packed up so I Google it & come right here. Was also thinking I would have to buy a 660. Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

From what I've read, the 660 sounds like a downgrade.

Jamie Z · Jul 27, 2010

Do they have this for the 2610?

GS Addict · Jul 27, 2010

Jamie Z said:

Do they have this for the 2610?
Click to expand...

Search thru Ebay for 'Garmin Digitizer'

Waco · Jul 27, 2010

Is this a small percentage problem or a they-all-do-that problem?

Twohondas · Jul 27, 2010

Waco Kid said:

Is this a small percentage problem or a they-all-do-that problem?
Click to expand...

Have no idea on the %. However mine finally crapped out after 3.5 years. Being doing a lot of dirty/desert stuff of late and have been scrolling the screen to find the end of the road etc. I will use the hard buttons more in the future as it eliminates touches and saves screen wear. Most likely I will use a screen protector film too.

A good cleaning helps. Make sure to get in the edges with a Q-tip or soft toothbrush. I carry a Q as an emergency cleaning device.

GS Addict · Jul 27, 2010

Waco Kid said:

Is this a small percentage problem or a they-all-do-that problem?
Click to expand...

Seems like a time related thing that eventually happens to all. Go to Zumo Forums and search the related threads. Also interesting that Garmin has a flat rate repair program.

GS Addict · Jul 27, 2010

Update:
2nd screen arrived (from another supplier)
It too is slightly undersize and does not come with adhesive.
My spare for the future.

tok-tokkie · Jul 28, 2010

I got mine from <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRALPHM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRALPHM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRALPHM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>  </style> http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Garmin-aera-Zumo-550-Touch-Screen-Digitizer-/190404170597
= Realm electronics in Hong Kong. The tab lead with the 4 connectors is miles too wide so they send some hair thickness wires to solder into place & instructions on how to do it.

GS Addict · Jul 28, 2010

tok-tokkie said:

I got mine from <link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRALPHM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRALPHM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRALPHM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><style>  </style> http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Garmin-aera-Zumo-550-Touch-Screen-Digitizer-/190404170597
= Realm electronics in Hong Kong. The tab lead with the 4 connectors is miles too wide so they send some hair thickness wires to solder into place & instructions on how to do it.
Click to expand...

Yikes, that link says 'used but in perfect condition'
I'd be a bit leery of that one, especially since the connector does not plug right in.

ranbush · Aug 1, 2010

First off, guys, thanks again for taking the time to create and post these tutorials.

> I bought a Zumo 550 digitizer on eBay for $17 plus shipping.

This message above was posted in April '10. I'm looking today and seeing multiple 550 digitizers on eBay selling at $22 - $30, plus $10 shipping.

Does anyone have a vendor they'd suggest (besides "Realm")?

Thanks.

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