Suunto Gekko Possibly Dead

[spica]

Recently, I purchased a used Gekko that turned out to do nothing but keep time. I took it for a dive yesterday, two as a matter of fact. Neither time, the unit logged any data. Has anyone run into this issue with this dive computer? Any help would be appreciate it.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[scubafanatic]

Have you been in touch with the person who sold it to you, or is that not an option? They might know if there's something you need to to to activate it before the dive, not all computers turn on automatically when you jump into the water.

 

[Steve02]

The gekko though should turn on automatically.

If you search there have been some noted issues with the component in the Gekko (and possibly others in the Suunto line) that registers the depth (converts the pressure from depth to an electrical signal). If this has gone bad on your computer then I could see why it never recorded the dive.

 

[ti325v]

Hi, i do not want to beat on you, and if you had your tables along and KNEW you were learning how to use the computer, O.K. but if you were hopping into the water without studying the manual, you are inviting trouble....( I speak from stupid experience) I did not bother to learn the ins and outs of my first computer, and had NO idea what to do when it started flashing "HI NITROGEN" I passed it to my buddy ( I was doing my D.M. course) he was a master instructor.....he looked at it and passed it back to me. He was not impressed. He did not bother to give me the advice I am giving you now....a dive computer is a tool, learn how to use it before you stake your life on it.
It took me three weeks to fully understand its BASIC functions, diving 2-3 times a day, and I still sometimes have brain seizures when I have to do gas switches with it.
Yes I know the manual is 300 pages...well mine are. But if you do not understand what it is trying to tell you, you could find yourself in deep doo doo VERY quickly...
The above poster was writing at the same time as I was and I will add, to my knowledge the gekko should turn on by itself, but I think you can disable the feature...If the transducer is bad ( Does happen) you could have this result

 

[spica]

Thank you all for your input.
@scubafanatic - It is an option to contact the seller. He claimed that the computer wasn't his, which I don't think he was being truthful. Besides, I no longer have his contact number.

@ti325v - I have a Suunto Vyper as my primary computer and the Gekko was going to be my backup. The two are practically alike except for a couple of features that are on the Vyper but not the Gekko. I know the Vyper fairly well. But you're right, "KNOW YOUR GEAR". I absolutely agree with you.

As for the computer turning on automatically, I know that when it contacts the water, it should do so automatically. My Cobra 2 and Vyper both do. So, I don't think there's any special feature to enable/disable it on the Gekko.

I certainly hope that I don't end up having a dive computer that only keeps time and ambient temperature.

 

[diversteve]

It should turn on automatically. But you can also push the right button pre-dive to start it. I'm pretty sure you can't turn off the water contact feature.

If you didn't get one, here's a link to the manual: Suunto - Suunto Gekko

 

[ScubaSteve]

You do not say that the unit did not actually turn on....just that it recorded nothing. Did it register everything (i.e. depth, dive time etc.) but not log it? Or was it literally nothing more than a time piece showing nothing more than the time of day? (this next sentence only applies if it in fact showed nothing but the time) Are you certain the computer has not been set to gage mode somehow?

 

[spica]

It should turn on automatically. But you can also push the right button pre-dive to start it. I'm pretty sure you can't turn off the water contact feature.

If you didn't get one, here's a link to the manual: Suunto - Suunto Gekko

Thanks DiverSteve. I do have the manual.

 

[spica]

You do not say that the unit did not actually turn on....just that it recorded nothing. Did it register everything (i.e. depth, dive time etc.) but not log it? Or was it literally nothing more than a time piece showing nothing more than the time of day? (this next sentence only applies if it in fact showed nothing but the time) Are you certain the computer has not been set to gage mode somehow?

The unit did not register anything during the dive and was nothing more than a time piece, unfortunately. As for the computer being on gauge mode, that may be the cause. I didn't think the Gekko had that feature.

Thanks ScubaSteve.

 

[Guy Alcala]

The unit did not register anything during the dive and was nothing more than a time piece, unfortunately. As for the computer being on gauge mode, that may be the cause. I didn't think the Gekko had that feature.

Thanks ScubaSteve.

The Gekko doesn't have a gauge mode. Most likely problem is the depth sensor, as already mentioned. I've had a Gekko work just as it was supposed to, go through its self checks after manual turn on, etc., right up to the point where I submerged. As far as the computer was concerned I'd never left the surface, and it didn't alter its opinion during any of the dives I did that weekend.

I had another one (both were rentals) telling me that I had accumulated something like 999 minutes of dive time and 387 minutes of ascent time, in the shop before I took it with me (I requested another). Suuntos (not just the Gekko) had a period 3-4 years ago where they got a bad batch of depth sensors, and they were failing right and left. The shop I was renting from at the time got so disgusted with the failures and more importantly, Suunto's failure to stand behind the product and fix/replace them, that they stopped using them in their rental program.

Individuals were often able to get a replacement under warranty, but the replacements often showed exactly the same fault after a short period of use, and the original warranty (according to Suunto) only ran from the period of the initial purchase; IIRR they gave you a 90 day warranty on the replacement.

So, it's possible/probable you got hosed by the seller, who knew the unit was bad.

Guy