Garmin DriveSmart 55 EX Won't Turn on

If your Garmin DriveSmart 55 EX won’t turn on or respond, the steps below will help you restore power and get the device working again.

If your device is not turning on even after being "charged," the charging cable may be faulty.

1. To test the charging cable ensure you have a working outlet to supply power, attempt charging the device. A battery indicator light should turn on when the device is charging even if it is dead.
2. If no indicator light appears, test the charging cable using another device with the same USB power input as the charger.

If the charging Cable works with another device the issue most likely the battery on the Garmin device.

If your device is not turning on and displays a red battery sign when attempting to turn on or remains a black screen, the battery may be discharged.

1. A discharged battery can be identified as the issue if the device only turns on when it is connected to your vehicle. If this is the case, the battery is most likely discharged, requiring a soft reset or an extended charging time.
2. Keep the device connected to the vehicle to perform a soft reset by holding the power button for 30 seconds until the screen turns black.

If the device remains unresponsive when disconnected from the vehicle, a battery replacement may be necessary. This battery replacement guide provides the steps and equipment necessary to replace the device battery.

If your device does not respond to the power button but responds when connected to external power, the power button may be faulty.

1. If the device will not respond to the power button, try plugging the device in with a working charger.
2. If the device responds to an external power supply, such as the charger or car cord, the power button flex cable may be loose or disconnected.

If the device will not turn on or respond to an external power source, this may be due to an internal circuit failure on the motherboard.

1. Perform a soft reset by holding the power button down for 20-30 seconds. If this is unsuccessful, try updating the software using Garmin Express using this Garmin Official link.

If the device still will not respond, a replacement of the motherboard may be necessary. Follow this motherboard replacement guide on replacing a faulty motherboard.

A damaged screen can be visibly identified and may be causing an issue when attempting to power on the device.

1. If the display does not respond to any attempts at powering on the device or charging it, attempt a soft reset on the device by holding the power button for 20-30 seconds.

If the display does not respond to the reset, there may be an internal display failure due to screen damage. Follow this screen replacement guide on replacing a damaged screen.