430w issue: no response to right outer knob

[kwmoore]

I have dual 430w in my Katmai. Recently the right side outer knob on #2 stopped doing its job, at least as judged by what shows (or doesn't show) on the screen. Can't navigate between page groups, can't move the cursor when it's highlighted. I am restricted to the Nav page group and to viewing but not scrolling through the flightplan page. I can use the unit as a Nav/Comm but not a whole lot else except backup map and to view data fields on Nav page 1. Has anyone here seen this before and if so was it a software or hardware issue? :confused:

[JJbely]

I have dual 430w in my Katmai. Recently the right side outer knob on #2 stopped doing its job, at least as judged by what shows (or doesn't show) on the screen. Can't navigate between page groups, can't move the cursor when it's highlighted. I am restricted to the Nav page group and to viewing but not scrolling through the flightplan page. I can use the unit as a Nav/Comm but not a whole lot else except backup map and to view data fields on Nav page 1. Has anyone here seen this before and if so was it a software or hardware issue? :confused:

Hello Kevin,

I would think that your unit should be sent back to Garmin. They may come upgraded. I had two 430 exchanged early in the life of my Cirrus but that was the VHF part becoming weaker, never had that type of mechanical issue. At least this is a common unit and the repair should be cheaper than an avidyne... Hope you have your settings written somewhere.

Cheers

JJ

[kwmoore]

I would think that your unit should be sent back to Garmin.
Indeed it was sent back to Garmin yesterday, hoping for its return before Christmas. Garmin's standard service fee is...$900! :eek: Who do they think they are, STEC? :rolleyes: Combined with $200 round trip shipping & insurance and an hour or so of the local avionics guy's time it'll be well over $1200. Still cheaper than Avidyne I guess but maybe not by much. :(

I'll have time on my next flight down to SoCal to restore all the settings...

[kwmoore]

Indeed it was sent back to Garmin yesterday, hoping for its return before Christmas. Garmin's standard service fee is...$900! :eek: Who do they think they are, STEC? :rolleyes: Combined with $200 round trip shipping & insurance and an hour or so of the local avionics guy's time it'll be well over $1200.

Back and installed today, pleasantly surprised by the fast turnaround. :) I'll fly it to confirm all is well this weekend.

[kwmoore]

I'll give Garmin very good marks for fast service: one week from removal to reinstallation. I flew it this evening and it works fine. :cool: Interestingly, some of the settings were changed: Centigrade vs. Fahrenheit, time offset from Greenwich mean time and a few others. Not sure why but not a big deal.

Still, $900 seems steep to me, equivalent to a full 8 hour day at local SF Bay Area avionics shop rates. Probably 1.25-1.5 days at Olathe KS shop rates.

Of course they can charge what they wish, but I feel this is another one of many small negative nudges in the GA world--yet another reason to ponder whether one's recreational dollars might net more value spent on some other pursuit. For the past two years we've been in a cost-cutting, price-cutting, mostly deflationary economy...everyone except GA it seems. :rolleyes: