PT stopped working halfway through race...

BeckyH

New owner of a PT SL+, I really am not sure where to start. I have had zero problems with the PT synching with the Garmin 910XT up until Saturday at 40 kms into a 96 km race. A little frustrating since I really wanted to test out my bike fitness, but now I am more concerned with what is wrong with the unit. I did an upgrade to my garmin last week, but it seemed to work fine on all my prerade rides, I did clean my bike pre race and did use some water, but did not drench it and the hub looks all sealed up. Any advice on troubleshooting this? Could it need new batteries already- I've only had it since February.

cgres123

You have to start some where and that is where I'd start replace the battery and go from there.

robin sarner

 Yes should be replacing batteries more often

coop6

I don't know, but mine did the same thing during a race last month. Never did get around to changing the batteries, and it's been fine since. I've had it since last July, original battery.

Steven Ford

Was it acting funny at all during race before it pooped out? Like crazy high watts or low watts?

BeckyH

Nope, was working fine. I think I'm going to go ahead and track down some batteries, just to have them, and ride this week to see if it happens again. Is there any way interference from other PMs out on the course could have done it? I did hit the 'search' button a few times but nothing came back. In the car on the way home just for kicks I tried again, and it was able to pair up.

robin sarner

 Yes interfernce from other bikes can be a problem.       My quarq trumps my wife's powertap.

Replace the batteries!     I do every 2-3 months.       And before every major race.           

BeckyH

Tracked down some batteries last night, and with the help of the awesome Youtube video I am back up and running. so relieved it's nothing major!! Thanks again for the responses.

cwhyte

Just an fyi regarding batteries, I've probably owned at least 6 PTs over the last 8 years and I've never once had to change the batteries less than one year.

Thanks, Chris

BeckyH

So.... I was out riding on Saturday, and the PT quit on me AGAIN... the only thing I can think of that may have caused this was I fell to the side of the road while waiting for my riding partner, crashed into the ditch but did not see any visible dmage. The PT worked for the next 15 minutes where we had a stretch break, then about 10 mnutes into the second half of my 6 hr ride it stopped working. I stopped about an hour later to wait for my partner again, and the PT paired back up and I had no issues the rest of the ride, or on my 1 hour ride this morning. Any ideas? Should I be concerned that I wrecked something- 2.5 weeks out from IMC...

Joseph Lombardi

 You're scary the heck out of me!....

I have had a PT for about the same amount of time (April 2012)...I have had only time/issue where/when it did not synch...that occured at Mooseman Oly in June...it rained like crazy...drenching downpours while the bike sat in the rack...when I got out of T1 it wouldn't synch...it synched fine after the race!...

Since then I have never had an issue with it not synching...I have fallen a number of times including a fairly bad crash a month or so ago...

 

If anything I think it is water/dampness related more than battery...I hope I do not have to be changing the batter every 3 months...

 

I have IM Lou in 3 weeks...and I sure want to make sure when I come out of T1 it is synched and working properly.....

 

 

 

Michele Cellai

Becky-
I have had nothing but problems from my new PT that has carbon fiber inserts in the hub (I forget which level it is: Pro, SL+, etc.) My old PT has NEVER been a problem and it was bottom of the line.
The problems you are having seem identical to mine.
Cyclops said that I got water in the hub the first time. I didn't argue but knew I had not done anything that would have allowed that to happen. Then at Vineman it crapped out again. I have gotten so used to this that I didn't screw my race. But afterwards, my DH called Cyclops and laid into them and demanded a new set of wheels. Answer was that they wouldn't look the same as the new design does not have the CF inserts. My guess is that those inserts saved weight but were not sealing and allowing moisture in. This is my opinion only. But I am getting ready to mail those wheels back and get a new set.
This one also seems much more susceptible to interference from other riders.

Good luck. Be sure you can ride on PE just in case.

BeckyH

I phoned their customer service and the guy said it might be crappy batteries, which I planned to switch out pre race anyway, but also that I may have a faulty battery harness, they're inexpensive to replace (~$10) and that this is common. He also said to take some silicone grease or dioelectric (?) grease and to rub that onto the tab that inserts into the hub unit, this will help protect it from corrosion and improve the contact point. So I have ordered a new battery holder and will hunt me down some silicone grease... can't hurt I guess. Fingers crossed this fixes it, this really ticks me off that you pay SO much for a gadget, IMO it should run flawlessly.