Vyper "frozen" - help!

[Virgogirl22]

During the middle of teaching an Open Water pool class yesterday, my Suunto Vyper appears to have gone crazy. Maybe it was getting tired of doing so many 8ft dives in a row.... Normally it switches on automatically when it gets wet, and the battery screen flashes once to show how much power is left, then is goes to the main "dive" screen. It had been working fine all morning until one time when the battery screen flashed, it stayed there all the way through the dive, back to the surface, out of the pool... and it's still frozen today. I have no idea what's wrong with it. Has anyone else seen such a thing happen? I imagine replacing the battery will solve the problem (though the battery screen has still been indicating full power lately) but my bigger concern is that it will crap out again while I'm in Mexico a few weeks from now! Any advice out there??

 

[Bob3]

I'd dump the battery, it never hurts to have a spare along if that one is still good. Get the kit, has new o-ring, etc.

 

[larrandall]

Did you consider trying the Suunto Help Desk? http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/index.jsp

 

[miketsp]

As already stated, whatever happens you're going to have to take the battery out and and put it or a new one back in.
If you have access to a full kit then change it.

The important thing is to do a good inspection of the open compartment, preferably with a lens, look for any sign of moisture, terminal corrosion, dirt etc.
Inspect the battery also for any sign of finger-prints left by the previous installer.
Also check for corrosion spots where the terminal makes contact.
When putting the battery (back) in give it a good polishing with soft tissue and avoid touching it with your skin.
Ideally just use a plastic (not metal) pair of tweezers.

 

[Damselfish]

I had something like that happen to my Vyper last summer (fortunately at a fairly ok point in a trip.) Popping the battery out and in solved it, no problems since. Guy at the shop did it for me, that was one hard little bugger to get back together.

 

[Virgogirl22]

thanks guys, I'll swap out the battery and hope that does the trick.