Garmin Nuvi 3597 LMT Battery replacement

How to get it open, what it looks like inside and a couple tips. CAUTION!
Open up from end OPPOSITE the power button to help avoid pulling apart the ribbon wire connection.

[@phanter344]

And nearly 6 years later the video is still helping people! Nice one!

[@digitalbroadcaster]

So, before you people attempt to open your device and then complain to the video poster here that you broke your screen, the detail is in the video. This device in the video above is upside-down, so turn yours around if it helps. You open the end where the screen hole for the mic is first. Carefully lift it up, assisting with the parting of the screen with a prying tool alongside both top and bottom screen edges, working your way along. Then either remove the screen with the connectors, or else lean the flipped open screen against a wall or solid object as you change the battery to prevent ribbon damage. Leading the way on opening a seemingly sealed product is tough enough as it is, so this guy did everyone a favour by doing this. Don’t blame him if you break your screen though, as he was careful. You may not be as much.

[@dablingtime]

Thank you sir.

[@tedbaxter5234]

Thank you for the video! Good information - I love this sleek little unit!

[@dablingtime]

Thank you sir. Getting the thing to ding when you're more than 5 over the speed limit is probably the best thing I got it to do. You get 1 ding when 1 mph over, but when you hit 6 mph over you get a ding every minute. And finally figuring out how to add custom POI data with alarms. We RV so low bridges are sometimes easily missed unless reminded.

[@rgp7777]

Thanks for posting this video. My 3597LMTHD battery is shot and I was thinking about replacing it. At least I now know it is possible. Tricky but possible. Thanks

[@dablingtime]

Be careful, study video, as noted by others make sure you open from correct end (end opposite connector) and prying apart. Do not pry on glass. You must be right next to the silver casing with the thin plastic trim between the glass and the metal casing acting as a buffer for the knife blade. And start by just getting the blade in the crack at the opposite end, then down each long edge. You really don't need to do the end with the connector because it will pivot from that end when it finally opens. Just keep working around that crack with the blade slowly increasing blade twisting force with each pass on the three sides. It might take 15 minutes of fooling with it to get it loose. observe the wire routing as work to get it into a position where you work with it. If you succed write back to give others hope it can be done and include or confirm any tips I've suggested. Good luck and thanks

[@TralfazConstruction]

This would be a last resort for me. I recently acquired one of these from a seller on eBay. When I received it I believed it wasn't holding a charge well but I was in error. I intend to keep it plugged-in for those times I do use the 3597LMTHD. As a side note, in July of 2007 I bought my first Garmin GPS, the Nüvi 680 right before my fiancée and I left on a road trip. That little thing, which I still own, cost $857 in '07! Now, any smartphone can run rings around the 680 (which curiously still functions with the original battery) but I will still use it once in awhile out of nostalgia even though my vehicle(s) have in-dash navigation.

[@dablingtime]

Oh, sorry to hear that. Yup mine was stuck really stuck too. When things are stuck that good my suggestion is steady constantly applied lifting pressure (prying) for extended period of time. It doesn't need to be a lot just what you think it should need and hold it. Might take 10 minutes. a flexible knife will work. Heat can also help break adhesive bonds like a hair dryer.

[@reh3884]

Thanks. And thanks for the video!

[@nancybless1186]

Thanks for the reply. I think you need to splice in a warning at the beginning of the video. BTW, as you suggested, a sharp knife works much better then the plastic tool When I pulled off the wrong end, both of the little wire bundles came loose, & I don’t think I can get it back to gether again. Garmin wants $130 fo open a GPS. This model must be particularly difficult, since yours is the only instruction video available. Also, I bought the New Power99 battery which is oversize and seems to not fit. I won’t buy another Garmin

[@stephaninaustin]

Here is how it turned out: Power99 sent me another battery (although without the tape) that fit fine. To my astonishment, by carefully lining up the right-hand wire ribbon, I was actually able to reassemble the unit and it turned on. So far so good.

[@dablingtime]

Stephan Bless , that's awesome, nice work!

[@stephaninaustin]

Correction. The touch screen doesn't work. That must be controlled by the wire ribbon, and I see no way to get it to register properly, since it appears flat with just a tape overlay.. Is there a trick to this? I looked around youtube for similar assemblies but did not see any.

[@thekaiser7555]

GREAT info. Do you think a single-side razor blade would work to pry?

[@tadeuferreira8155]

Could you show how to separate the glass from the screen on the Garmin 3597?

[@lukepo9535]

HI Dablingtime Thanks a lot for this video. Mine is still giving me a 71% charge when I am pressing and holding pressure on the screen where the battery appears at the right top of the screen. You will see all the tech infos on the unit . The problem is the battery charge doesn't hold for long after a few minutes it drops to 40-50%. At what charge level should I try to replace it : 1- Replacing the battery 2- Is the new battery better or worse than the original one ? Regards Luc

[@dablingtime]

Yes, I think that's what mine was doing. Seems I was learning to use it in demo mode and it would die after 15 minutes or so. Please be careful, I just tired to do my phone and blew it and as you can see others have had problems. Make sure you're not prying between glass and plastic, get between case and plastic. Once you get it broke loose from frame carefully start looking inside. Make sure you don't break those flat cables loose if possible. That's where I hosed my phone. Just take your time. I suppose another option is to send it to Garmin but I don't know if they do that. At least they have had experience doing it. I should have done that with my phone. These are great units. The new battery seems to work fine as I played with it for 30 minutes or so and It didn't drop much, never checked actual percentage. The battery will really be stuck good. As stated, a little heat will help loosen its grip. Write back if you have more questions and let me know if you succeed. Good luck

[@velhotuliosgt]

Hi friend, could you put link to buy this battery? Thanks a lot.

[@lorsconsultingllc1651]

BE CAREFUL with the smaller ribbon cable. As is the video, the larger cable came unplugged when I inadvertently pulled on the cable. That was OK, because although tedious, it can be put back. HOWEVER, the smaller cable does not pull out - instead, IT BREAKS/TEARS when you inadvertently pull on it. After that, the touch screen no longer works. So, either be extremely careful not to pull on the smaller cable, or carefully unplug it. To unplug it, removed the tape. Then flip up the black latch that goes the width of the cable side of the connector. After the black latch has been flipped up and opened (like a door, away from the cable), then the cable will slide out.

[@dablingtime]

LorsConsulting LLC , so sorry that happened! Was it still reparable? I think I was very lucky to achieve success when I did it with no guidance and made this video to try and bridge the gap. Thanks for watching and adding a great cautionary tip.

[@coyote5735]

My battery connection was really tight, it took some effort to pull it out, I looked at the battery connector under a microscope and it looked partially melted. Waiting for a new battery but not sure if this will work as my unit browned out before failing completely. Screen brightness dimmed to be barely visible and the unit got really hot at the back.

[@dablingtime]

Oh that doesn't sound good, mine simply would shut off if unconnected for more than 30 seconds, good luck

[@coyote5735]

Update: received a new battery fitted it but unfortunately I have to announce my Sat Nav is officially dead. The unit was 4yrs old, but it did get used every day.

[@dablingtime]

That sucks, FYI, if you look for another, at that time this was considered a top of the line prestiege model. I think the magnetic mount was brilliant and only available in the top of the line models. There were a lot of other key differences to look for on the next one. This was nice article on the 3497 which was similar. Cheers www.cnet.com/roadshow/auto/garmin-nuvi-prestige/review/

[@bastje]

Ok i tried it as this video demonstrated.. my screen broke.. and the touch functionality also doesnt work anymore.. thanks.............

[@dablingtime]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. When I attempted this I was well aware I could fail but at that point the unit was useless anyway so I had nothing to lose. I've seen videos of folks replacing glass screens too and considered it but after taking this apart and having only one connector come apart I now realize I'll never be able to do something like that. I have also broke a couple screens on other devices and realized this is probably the most delicate step. The tool kit that came with the battery I could not see getting that screen loose being only plastic and flimsy at the tips. And as stated I initially thought it wouldn't come apart but I kept going around the edge jamming that blade in there and twisting ever so slightly and in 10 minutes I could see it was beginning to move. The next problem you would have had was getting the battery unstuck while trying to not break the connection. They use an extremely sticky tape. I thought I was either going to bend the case or battery in two. Once again I am so sorry it didn't work for you. If you do buy another and want to find a comparable unit I believe they call this a "Prestige" unit. I think at the time it was the only one that came with the magnetic mount.

[@reh3884]

Do you have any advice on getting the battery out easily? Mine was stuck down so tight with the two-sided tape, I had to damage it to get it out.

[@digitalbroadcaster]

Hair dryer set to hot. Warm the area of the case on the other side of the battery to soften the adhesive for about 30 seconds. Battery should then pull off easily. You're welcome :o)

[@g2145cal]

the 3597 is not listed on their website...what is the model number of that battery...i have the same gps and need a new battery and screen...do both at once.

[@dablingtime]

g2145cal I googled it and came up with this Rechargeable Li-ion Battery 361-00070-00

[@dablingtime]

Yes, that is the part number from the video but NOT the model number that is just above it.

[@dablingtime]

Ok, here is the battery info Model: CS-IQN395S Part: 361-00070-00 Rating: 3.7 VDC = 1100 mAh 4.07 Wh

[@g2145cal]

found it on ebay...thanks

[@dablingtime]

Remember to start at the end opposite the power button so the connector stays connected.

[@BrianMackey2010]

why dont you show how you got it open?

[@dablingtime]

Hi Brian, That's a really good comment. I guess after opening it, was when I decided to start making the video, and didn't want to start over. However if you think about how you would go about prying something up and out of the metal case it's kind of obvious. I really never thought I would achieve success and would probably break the screen or something so I just applied some real patients and kept at it. The key is getting that blade between the metal and the plastic, not the glass and the plastic. It really looks like nothing is happening as you keep working around the edge but it is ever so slowly working itself loose. After this. I would never attempt to replace a phone or iPad screen. If you do go for it be very careful with that wire tape connection. I'd give you a 50/50 chance of getting it back together correctly if it comes apart. In my case I had nothing to lose, except the cost of the battery, in trying, as it was worthless without a good battery. My apologies again, good luck.

[@BrianMackey2010]

No I am not going to try LOL

[@dablingtime]

I'm so sorry, I love this unit. Are absolute sure that the wires that came apart are actually a very tiny connector. I have seen guys taking other electronics apart and talking about connectors but for me looks like something solid. basically they entail a strip clamp where you slide wires under a tiny flip up clamp and then close the clamp down. I think you could literally slide the wires out if you pulled hard enough without opening the clamp. Just saying check it out before ditching it. Something like this. goo.gl/images/8AwuSP

[@stephaninaustin]

WATCH THE WHOLE THING BEFORE YOU START. Halfway through he realizes he opened it backwards. Which is what I did. This is really an irresponsible posting!

[@dablingtime]

Stephan Bless thanks for the feedback, I'm guessing you pulled the connector wire apart? How can I edit the vid to explain this clearly. Take apart the end with the ??? first to avoid pulling connector apart. Thanks

[@dablingtime]

Stephan Bless BTW, I'm sorry if I lead you astray, please consider I had NO instructions when I did it and was extremely careful not knowing exactly what I was getting into. I will edit to correct with your advice, thanks again.

[@hanu720]

I cracked my damn screen

[@dablingtime]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I recently wrecked my phone trying to change that battery after the success with the GPS.