subject: Gps - How To Keep Yours Working Longer [print this page] Many of us have made the technological step forward and bought a GPS for our cars. They are, undoubtedly, a great piece of equipment, however, without taking proper care of them, problems can arise. The good news is that the most common problems with GPSs are avoidable. The following is some practical information and advice on keeping your GPS in good working order.
Battery : The battery that a GPS unit runs off is normally not very robust. Any kind of power surge will probably ruin it. You should therefore ensure that your GPS is not plugged in to the power outlet when your start your car. The reason being that a slight power surge is sent through all of a car's power outlets when it is started up. This surge is typically about 15% - 20% higher then your GPS needs to power up. The battery life of a GPS lessens each time it has to endure one of these power surges. At first the battery will absorb the extra power but, as it weakens, the core components of the GPS unit start to be affected too.
Screen : Probably the most common complaint about GPS units is that various problems with the screen arise after using it for over 6 months. People either say that the touch screen is not as sensitive as it had been, or that the screen has lost it's brightness. All screen related problems can be easily avoided though. A screen protector is all that is required. With a screen protector in place, there is no way that the dirt on your fingers can come into contact with either the screen itself or the sensitive touch receptors under it.
Processor : Your GPS processor works whenever the GPS is switched on, even if you are not actually using it. As with any piece of equipment, the longer it is left on, the more time you take off its lifespan. It only takes a second to turn it off when you have finished using it, and those seconds could end up adding years to the life of your GPS unit.
Temperature : When you leave your car, you should take your GPS with you, or at least put it in the glove compartment. During the summer, temperatures inside a car can easily reach over 120 degrees. In the winter time, depending on where you live, the internal temperature of your car can get below the freezing point. Temperatures such as these cause all sorts of problems in a GPS. If your GPS was mounted in your dashboard when you bought your car though, you do not have to worry about this.
