diamondaviators.net

Hello,
We have a broken HDG knob on our MFD. It looks like the only way to fix it is to exchange the whole MFD.
Did Anyone have the same problem ?

Yes. We just sent ours in for repair. Took about a week to get an exchange. I'm waiting to hear back on how much it cost, but expect at least $2000. We had a bad GIA as well.

I have been quoted 1800€ + worktime. That’s expensive considering the value of the broken switch.
Garmin has a monopolistic position.
Glad to see contenders like Dynon reaching certified aviation.

Yeah, that sounds about right. It's very frustrating, I agree. We only did it because we were already going in for our GTX-345 install and absorbed the cost considering the whole plane was getting ripped open anyway.

Can't consider just the knob and labor to install it. I suspect that when Garmin does this kind of repair that they completely test the display and related hardware. Seems they must make sure that it is 100% before sending it back in even if the complaint is just a contact.

BRS wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2019 2:35 am Can't consider just the knob and labor to install it. I suspect that when Garmin does this kind of repair that they completely test the display and related hardware. Seems they must make sure that it is 100% before sending it back in even if the complaint is just a contact.

Yes, but if the knob were available from a vendor, the owner could fix the problem quickly and inexpensively, without even removing the display from the panel. Replacing a knob isn't rocket science...

Steve

Steve wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:55 pm Yes, but if the knob were available from a vendor, the owner could fix the problem quickly and inexpensively, without even removing the display from the panel. Replacing a knob isn't rocket science...

Steve

If it's just the plastic bit that's broken, you can order a replacement from Garmin for ~$300 or so. However, the mechanism itself is not user serviceable as it's encased in the MFD. You must take apart the entire MFD to replace the mechanism. Even our avionics shop wasn't comfortable doing that themselves, and sent the unit to Garmin.

Well, that is just poor design/engineering. After all, no one could possibly anticipate that instrument panel knobs in an aircraft would be subject to hard use and breakage...

It’s not the plastic knob but the rotating switch that’s broken, so you need to remove the screen and open it. But I don’t believe that replacing a rotating/pushing switch would take more than 1 or 2 work hour for a technician. I still find that pretty expensive.

Jean: I misunderstood. I thought it was just the knob that was broken. Replacing a rotary switch would be more involved for sure.