Re: Garmin 178C Connector
Connectors that are molded onto a cable to which they are attached are not replaceable nor is the connector on the back of that unit. The connector is part of the printed circuit board inside the unit and the average person would not have the knowledge or equipment needed to replace it. The fact that you may have the knowledge and equipment does not mean Garmin would stock the part since it is part of a higher assembly. Your options are: 1) pay Garmin, 2) buy a new unit, or 3) buy a junk unit (E-bay/Craigs List), remove the connector from that unit and yours, and install the replacement. The trick is to do the soldering without damaging other adjacent parts. A fourth option is to buy a mating pair of connectors from Radio Shack or an electronics surplus store. Remove the connector from the head unit and extend a short cable outside the housing to which you attach the new connector. Cut the molded connector off the other cable and attach the new mating connector. The obvious trick with this is making sure pin-outs are kept correct.
