My ATP is dead!

[TheCaribbeanDigger]

I'm so sad, this morning I turned on my ATP to check the battery status and it did not detect nothing. No matter what I put under the coil. I have 2 coils and tried them both. But now it won't even turn on. I used it 2 days before at the beach. I used it on dry sand and then dived with it no more than 4 feet snorkeling. When I got home I gave it a good rinse like always and dried it off with a cloth. Like always! Just realized my warranty just got expired last month. B U M M E R! I emailed Garrett and they gave me 2 places to send the defective unit to have it checked. I think probably the machine got water inside? I don't know. Somebody with the same expirience?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[jadocs]

I saw another thread recently about the same thing happening right after the ATP was submerged. My theory is the coil or headphone jacks were not fully seated in the head unit (to the shoulder of the jack), or the lock ring was loose allowing the jack to move enough to let water in.

 

[TheCaribbeanDigger]

I could imagine that but I have been using my ATP for 2 years now and before I go to the water I always checked both plugs. I tighten them always just to make sure everything is good to go! But probably a bad o-ring? The machine is now 2 years old and could probably start going bad now?

 

[jadocs]

Could be I imagine, I guess the o-ring wearing would depend on how often coils or headphones were switched over the years. Was it still a snug fit when the jacks were inserted? On my new ATP I had to give it some effort to get the coil jack to seat up to the shoulder on the jack (before tightening the lock ring).

 

[TheCaribbeanDigger]

Yeah! They do feel kinda hard to push in still. I was about to lube the o rings since they recomend doing it every once in a while.

 

[CoilToTheSoil]

My recent thread suffered the same beach trip fate. Cause on mine? Leaked from the top of the faceplate per garrett. No way to prevent it, nothing I could do about it but shell out almost $250 for repairs. On a detector that's been in the water 3 times. And hunted with only 5 times...

 

[CoilToTheSoil]

Good luck! Send er on in and have your credit card ready!

 

[CoilToTheSoil]

Oh and per Garrett, the connectors are waterproof, but where they mate to the body relies on a seal. The orings are there to protect the contacts. They told me that the contacts are molded into the connectors thus waterproofing them.

 

[BigWaveDave]

This may sound crazy, but try this...
As you hold the detector in "hunt position", take your left hand, make a fist like you are going to knock on a door, and rap the side of the control box, with your "knocking knuckles". Do it hard, not hard enough to break it, just to the point that it knows you're pissed.
This happened to me last year...
After I got it back from Garrett, it showed its a$$ again, I was devastated.... After I whacked it, no problems since.

Do so at your own risk....

 

[jadocs]

My recent thread suffered the same beach trip fate. Cause on mine? Leaked from the top of the faceplate per garrett. No way to prevent it, nothing I could do about it but shell out almost $250 for repairs. On a detector that's been in the water 3 times. And hunted with only 5 times...

Wow seriously? The faceplate? I can't believe Garrett charged you since it's obviously a defect!

 

[TheCaribbeanDigger]

This is so wierd. This is supposed to be a waterproof machine. Ive used mine underwater like 5 times. If I do make the desision to have it repaired then it's obvious I'll never take it to the water again. They should rebrand the machine from saying it's water "proof" to water "resistant".

 

[Sandman]

Evidently no body read my threads about this detector.

 

[Angle Iron]

ATP Anxiety

This may sound crazy, but try this...
As you hold the detector in "hunt position", take your left hand, make a fist like you are going to knock on a door, and rap the side of the control box, with your "knocking knuckles". Do it hard, not hard enough to break it, just to the point that it knows you're pissed.
This happened to me last year...
After I got it back from Garrett, it showed its a$$ again, I was devastated.... After I whacked it, no problems since.

Do so at your own risk....

Dave, I have done the same thing to mine. Started falsing with numbers displaying from 39 to 43 with constant chatter. Gave it a tap and it righted itself. Did this after I tightened all the connections, cleaned behind the coil cover and checked the batteries. Doesn't make sense by have done this two times with success.

 

[MackDog]

My At Pro went bad last year warranty was expired by 70 days, they fixed everything for free. Always used a sealant type grease on your O rings and threads.

 

[TheCaribbeanDigger]

Wow! I just have to say, Garrett is the best at customer service! My warranty was expired for a few days almost a month and I just got my machine back. No charge. No questions asked! A VERY happy customer here!!!!!! I should change this thread to: "It's Alive"!!!

 

[BigWaveDave]

Good to hear! Don't put any stock into others who have a bias towards the Garrett brand. There are hundreds of thousands of us, if not more, who are dealing with a first class company. Now get to swinging!

 

[Normsel]

Sandman I read many of your posts and you are right.. I tried to prove you wrong while hunting many times and never could... I only use my At Pro as a backup or loner now. The At Pro isn't worth the effort to take to a salt beach. It is a good middle of the road detector but there are many more just as good in the same price range... I am not brand loyal and like you like t learn new machines but some detectors can be very trying to learn and get the most out of them.. I am lovin my E-Trac but still use my other detectors as well

 

[Sandman]

Sandman I read many of your posts and you are right.. I tried to prove you wrong while hunting many times and never could... I only use my At Pro as a backup or loner now. The At Pro isn't worth the effort to take to a salt beach. It is a good middle of the road detector but there are many more just as good in the same price range... I am not brand loyal and like you like t learn new machines but some detectors can be very trying to learn and get the most out of them.. I am lovin my E-Trac but still use my other detectors as well

i have had 3 ATP's and only the last one that Doctor Detroit got me was working as advertised but still sucked at my salt water beaches. Ok in the dirt however. But there are better detectors for dirt.

 

[TheCaribbeanDigger]

Well I think I'll keep my ATP for now but definitely get the T2 LTD edition!