I was convinced my watch was broken after replacing the battery, until I thought, "wait... what does 'short pads to reset' mean?" After a quick search I found this video and used a bent staple to short my watch and viola! Thank you so much! My Timex Command Urban has been discontinued and I really didn't want to have to replace it with something new.
Thank you so much for this video! My watch was dead prior to replacing the battery, and continued to stay dead after battery replacement. It hopped back to life after shorting the terminals! Thought it was bricked! Thanks again!
I refused to pay the jewelry to replace my battery and take the risk! Your video is the top notch. I just replaced my timex expedition battery and ready for a mission trip overseas.
Digging through electronics recycling I found a Ironman HRM with no display. A new battery got it going with no need for a reset, but your video is gratefully received.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for talking about shorting the watch. I replaced my battery, tested it first, 3.34V. And watch was not working. Went back to google, looked for reasons watch TW5M19200 would not work after a batter replacement...and there you were, telling me why. Fixed it, I used Scissors, gently. The paper clip would not work, junk paper clip. Thank you, thank you. - E in San Diego
Glad it’s working again. You may want to add some silicone lube to the gasket. If the gasket’s too stretched out, the watch may fog up when you sweat or take on water if you swim. I’m excited that my other half just handed me 4 men’s watches she stopped wearing 10 years ago. She was cleaning out her jewelry box. I’m going to get them running again. Ha!
Wow! This video is soo awesome! My son is smiling, it worked so perfectly!! I just had to comment at how professionally awesome this video is. We need you to teach youtubers how to do clear concise videos. Your audio and annotations were incredibly clear and easy to follow. My son was thrilled with the information contained in this video. But, I was impressed with the delivery of that information! Thank you and God Bless you!!
This worked really well. I tried to get a jeweller to replace the battery and he arrived back in the shop with my watch with a black screen and no clue. I came home, folowed the video instructions and now have my watch functioning correctly.
Thank you so much for this instruction, Sir! 😊 I replaced the battery in my TIMEX Triathlon watch last year and was thoroughly disappointed when it did NOT come back on. I assumed that it needed to be "Reset," but had no idea how to do it. TIMEX of course, was ZERO help. They obviously hope folks will just buy a new one. I really wanted to keep my watch. It is the best looking and best engineered watch that I have ever owned. 🥰
Regarding 3:26 tightening the screws, the screws should be tightened in a diagonal pattern rather than in a circular pattern. Tightening in a diagonal pattern ensures that the waterproof O-ring gasket receives even pressure whereas tightening in a circular pattern can cause lopsided pressure and thus potential leakage of moisture into the chamber. Tightening in a diagonal pattern is standard procedure for flange assembly as well as mounting lug nuts onto the wheel of a car.
First, let me say for the record that Popular Mechanics magazine gave me the 2023 award for “least mechanically inclined person in the world” for the third year in a row. So that gives you some idea as to my competency level. 😆 Second, thank you so much for both of your videos - - the one where you replaced the battery and then this one where you focus on the shorting of the two discs. I’ve always been a little intimidated to get into the back of these watches and figured it was just easier to buy a new Ironman T200. But with your focused and well paced video I was able to get my old watch running again and saved $70 in the process. You run a great tutorial. 🙏
Thank you so much for this video! Like a lot of the comments here, I recently replaced my watch battery and was very disappointed when the watch still wasn't working. Finally came across this video and my watch is now working perfectly again. Thanks for explaining it so well, appreciate the effort you put into this video. 🙂
This thread is kinda old, but I guess someone may come along and find this useful. But first, nice video and tyvm for posting it. Now regarding the watch just turning off after being reset, here is what I did that worked. My watch has a different metal strap to hold the battery than the video had. Mine was about 1/4" wide and screwed down on one side and clipped over on the other side. The side with a screw has a metal bit that is meant to touch a contact below the screw. If you unscrew that side completely to change the battery, it may get a little twisted and not make that contact when you screw it all back together. If that happens, you won't have any battery connection. It will still seem to reset, but when you take away that jumper it will just die. Solution for me was to carefully twist the strap and also bend the contact down a little bit. When I got it to make contact after being screwed in everything worked just fine. BTW, if you have a metal strap like that, don't take the screw out. You can loosen it a turn, swing the strap away and take the battery out. After replacing the battery, screw it back in tight and then snap the strap down on the other side. Fixed two old Ironman watches with dead batteries this way. (Wife was an Ironman employee for a long time and we had a big box of all their different watches.) Hope this finds someone who needs it!
After you changed the battery, did the display come back on before trying to short the pads or was it blank? My recommendation would be to male sure the battery is in correctly (positive side up), clasp is securely in place, sticker is replaced and over battery, and that the back plate is not upside down. Before putting in the screws, hold the back plate on and check that the display comes on (in case the new battery is dead). Then short the pads if the time is not correct. Shorting the pads can be tricky because the contact has to be perfect between the posts. It usually takes me a few tries before I make contact between everything.
Excellent video! I also did not need to do the "RESET" function. I just changed the battery, and followed all your other steps (other than resetting). All is well. You are SUPER!
Me too. So I guess it is safe to skip the " _after battery insertion short pads to reset_ " step if the watch appears to be working (i.e., 12:00 showing up on the face) after battery insertion.
I have a Timex Expedition Tide Watch & I replaced the battery (CR2016) & it didn't start. So I looked up your video & it was similar to my watch. Written inside the watch was: Reset & Start? I used a paper clip to get inside the tiny holes & jump start. It worked! Thanks!
You saved a watch from being thrown in the garbage. Thanks, cause this watch is great and does a super job! I put in the battery, but no action.... So, this further action was required.
Thank you, thank you...a million times, thank you! Earlier this evening, I replaced the battery in a cheap (Timex) Marathon watch, but I was perplexed why the display was working but none of the buttons responded. This set off a multi-hour odyssey, as I removed and replaced the new and old batteries several times. I searched Google and read a bunch of articles that didn't help. Next, I searched the Marathon website, but didn't find a user manual for my model. I even contemplated buying another watch like it and bookmarked one on Amazon. All of this for a cheap watch that I paid around $20 at Walmart about two years ago. (Now, $31 on Amazon.) The time and energy exerted on this boondoggle, when all that was needed was to short the pads. How absurd! At one point, I was so irritated that I was in position to catapult the stupid watch across the room and then go outside and crush it under the heel of my shoe. But, luckily, I didn't. Someone at Timex needs an atomic wedgie. Again, thank you! 🏆
Endless gratitude!!! Was redirected here by your generous link in a comment you left on a your Battery Replacement tutorial. "Short pads" had me confused initially.
The shorting out part had me scratching my head on my watch. I have replaced watch batteries a number of times for analog wrist and pocket watches. I changed the battery out on my 7 year old digital ironman (with original battery), and the display not coming on had me through a loop. Once I did the short, the watch reset itself. Mine is a T5H971 Ironman Triathlon.
Glad it worked out. Love my old Iron Mans… although my other half got me the Iron Man R300GPS, which is great (And much less expensive than an Apple Watch)! No more running with a phone to track mileage. 👍
Thanks, I just replaced the batton an old Timex ironm triathlon I ad from the 80s and hadno idea why it turned on but the clock wasn't running I just started touching gold parts and the back of the battery with some tweezers for 3 seconds at time until one of them worked lol
You make it look so easy....when I got up enough nerve to try changing my battery it took me hours....I hate batteries and would gladly take it to a shop but can't find one.
I hear you. I used to take my watches to a shop until they lost one of the screws in my ironman classic. They replaced the lost screw with the wrong one, which ultimately fell out and caused my favorite watch to take on water. After that I decided I'd maintain my watches myself.
If you're in the U.S. try Batteries and Bulbs. They had the battery (which isn't hard to find, I learned) and did replace it for no charge while I stood & watched. Ha! "Watched!" I made a funny! Anyway, when I saw how easy it is I've done it myself twice since then as I have 2 of these excellent watches. I did tip the guy $5.00 & suggest the same for others. My larger model of the Triathlon has beeps that are too quiet & don't/won't wake me up.
had the battery on mine replaced by a jeweler a year or two ago and ever since the beep was super muffled and unusable, but thanks to the back plate hint in this video I figured out that the back plate and the thing with the clasps had been mounted the wrong way around... pulled a quick switcheroo and voila - beep beep thanks!
Thanks, this worked on my Timex tw2r45000, there was the word reset with an arrow written on the plastic pointing to a piece of metal, and there was a target looking thing nearby on the plastic I touched where the arrow pointed to and on the target with a pair of tweezers for three secs and the watch fired right back up. I think when I put it back together I didn't have everything aligned in the case 100% and the second hand kept getting stuck!!! I took it all back apart and tried to make sure everything was straight and then all was well. On my watch, a case-back opener wouldn't open it but a small screwdriver twisted in the slot opened the case-back no problem. Couldn't get mine closed by hand, I needed a case press.
Great Vid thank you so much ! A month ago my Timex Expedition battery died, I changed it and 2 weeks later it randomly started to reset on its own. Took it to the repair shop and they silicone lubbed the buttons in case they got jammed. The guy asked if i had reset it, I said yes. Thinking he meant set the time. Looked up the symptoms and stumbled on your video. Problem solved!
Shorting the pads is more intimidating than difficult. 😃 A frequently asked question I get on the battery changing video is why I didn’t show how to short the pads after inserting a new battery (as noted on the sticker). The answer is I’ve done multiple battery changes on my Shock and Classic without shorting the pads and my watches have worked fine. One commenter said I’ve just gotten lucky and perhaps that’s true. I did the shorting the pads video for folks who want to see how it’s done. If your watch functions normally after a battery change, why bother sticking things into it that could potentially damage it? 😃
Display segment drop outs can be a number of things from corrosion to broken connections between tracks and the strip, or poor connection between the tracks and strips; however, trying to fix the segments is a delicate job and it requires opening the “brain.” Should you attempt it, there’s a high possibility the watch will never work again. I know from experience… I tried doing it with another watch and as I was cleaning the tabs with contact cleaner, I heard a small spring go flying of the back of the brain (never to be seen again). Didn’t matter because I can’t solder things that delicate anyway, but it bricked the watch. 🥲⏰👍
Thank you, Your video helped me inserting the battery of my Timex Ironman Thriatlon M075 but I did the same procedure to short pads as you did and can not reset it. A message shows: firm ware version and then turning off in 3 secs.
You may find this helpful too... Mark Permann recently commented, "For those whose watch turns off after shorting - try holding a button down. On my Ironman Sleek 150, what happens when you short the pads is a firmware message, then "Turning off in 3, 2,1" and it goes off. When I held a button down a bit, I then saw a new message: "Turning on in 3, 2,1" and my watch was on."
For those whose watch turns off after shorting - try holding a button down. On my Ironman Sleek 150, what happens when you short the pads is a firmware message, then "Turning off in 3, 2,1" and it goes off. When I held a button down a bit, I then saw a new message: "Turning on in 3, 2,1" and my watch was on.
I just changed my battery with guidance from your other video but that didn't mention shorting the battery. Should I still do this if my watch is working normally?
You don’t need to short the pads if your watch is functioning normally. I’ve never had to short the pads after a battery change. I did the video for those folks who want to know how to do it.
Good video. My understanding from talking to a watch repair guy is that if you don't reset the watch aftet changing the battery it will still work but it will birn out the battery faster... this may explain why you hadnto replace your battery several times.. supposedly these batteries last 7 to 8 years or so I've heard.
How do i fix backlight? After changing battery the backlight wasn't working anymore. I already circuit the AC and all the button was fine the tone and digital was working but the backlight wasn't working
I changed my battery after watching another video, which lacked the detail that yours does, and I must have screwed up the little battery clamp. The watch display works until I tighten the screws, then goes blank, only re-appearing if I loosen the screws again---quite loose! too loose to wear! Have I grounded something? or do I need a new clamp? Thanks for the great video.
My thoughts are either the battery clasp isn’t seated properly or you may have the back on upside down. The battery and clasp may be making contact with the metal back. There’s usually a sticker on the back plate that goes over the battery and a sticker that goes over the battery, which prevent contact between the back plate and battery.
I agree and would think removing the battery would provide a hard reset. I’ve never had to short the pads after a battery change although some folks have commented I’ve just gotten lucky. I did the video for those folks who want to know how to do it.
It should be similar, but I can't say for sure. I haven't used a calculator in years. I use the calculator on my iPhone turned sideways when I need a scientific calculator. Sorry!
@@BruceAlanR no worries seemed like it could be similar idea just don't understand what's going on enough to figure out how to translate the work to a green circuit board. Thanks regardless. video was interesting.
hi, I have a timex expedition with a digital section and hands, but after changing the battery only the digital section it's working. do you know what could be the problem or how to troubleshoot the problem?
I was able to reset the watch a couple times but when i was messing with the buttons it glitched out and I haven't been able to reset it since.. Also last time I tried to reset the pad looked like it had a little spark. do you have any tips on how to fix this? this is a new classic digital. thanks
i must have buggered something up. EVerything is reassembled and double checked and yet i can't get it to reset. Do you have a complete tear down of all the smaller parts. The 3 prong deal came on done on my watch. I have watched numerous videos and it appears I have it in the right spot. Other then that i don't know what is wrong.
I’m actually in the process of putting together a complete tear down of this watch. The rubber gasket in mine has finally dried out so the watch filled with salt water when I went swimming last week. My watch is now drying in pieces and once I find the correct gasket I’ll reassemble it and post. Sea water is pretty corrosive, but these watches are usually pretty resilient.
If you changed the battery and then the indiglo stopped working, the usual cause is the back cover was put back on upside down. Try removing the back cover and turning it around. Good luck!
I wonder if the pads under the indiglo button aren’t making contact with the body. In the pad reset video I show an up close look at the pads. I’ve taken my watch completely apart and put it back together to learn some of this stuff although I don’t recommend it. There are fragile parts insides.
I just replaced my battery a month ago and already it's dead. My previous battery also lasted just a few months. What the hell is the problem????? I never use the glow button at night. Getting fed up changing expensive battery all the time.
FYI for anyone else having issues with the beep not working after battery change, two things to make sure are in place: 1 case orientation, and 2 the battery sticker! I threw out my battery sticker and couldn't figure out why the beep wasn't working. I put a small piece of paper over the battery and now the beep works again. It seems that the sticker has a function of insulating the case back from shorting to the battery.
Can we just say that Timex sucks for making such a stupid design to force customers jump through insane hoops to change a simple battery? I had to cut off a piece of plastic on the wristband that covered the plate, then use a tiny needle to open the battery latch, now i have to twist a paper clip to touch 3 parts of metal at the same time to complete the process. Clearly they want you to throw away the watch when the battery dies. Thanks to this video though, maybe fewer people will have to buy more lousy crap from that shitty company (Timex, you suck).
Ha! That sums up a lot. These dumb-watches can take a lot of abuse; however, if you ever have to deal with the warranty or send a watch to Timex for repair, which I had to do with an Ironman smartwatch, it’s a slow and painful process… took months!
I was convinced my watch was broken after replacing the battery, until I thought, "wait... what does 'short pads to reset' mean?" After a quick search I found this video and used a bent staple to short my watch and viola! Thank you so much! My Timex Command Urban has been discontinued and I really didn't want to have to replace it with something new.
I hear you! Glad the video was helpful!
Literally no other video mentions this. I was very sad after my watch still didn't work after a new battery, but now it's working great. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
I thought my new battery wasn’t working anymore until I tried this. You saved me a new battery and a trip to the jeweler. Thanks!
Glad I could help! 😁⏰👍
You really can find anything on CZcams. Thanks for the help shorting the posts!
Indeed! You’re welcome. ⏰👍
Thank you so much for this video! My watch was dead prior to replacing the battery, and continued to stay dead after battery replacement. It hopped back to life after shorting the terminals! Thought it was bricked! Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful!
I refused to pay the jewelry to replace my battery and take the risk! Your video is the top notch. I just replaced my timex expedition battery and ready for a mission trip overseas.
Excellent! Glad the video was helpful. ⏰👍
Digging through electronics recycling I found a Ironman HRM with no display. A new battery got it going with no need for a reset, but your video is gratefully received.
Ha! Good find!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for talking about shorting the watch. I replaced my battery, tested it first, 3.34V. And watch was not working. Went back to google, looked for reasons watch TW5M19200 would not work after a batter replacement...and there you were, telling me why. Fixed it, I used Scissors, gently. The paper clip would not work, junk paper clip. Thank you, thank you. - E in San Diego
Very welcome! Glad the video helped out.
Thanks to you i could repair a timex triathlon i bough in 1997 and since 2005 it was out of work. Thank You.
Glad it’s working again. You may want to add some silicone lube to the gasket. If the gasket’s too stretched out, the watch may fog up when you sweat or take on water if you swim.
I’m excited that my other half just handed me 4 men’s watches she stopped wearing 10 years ago. She was cleaning out her jewelry box. I’m going to get them running again. Ha!
Wow! This video is soo awesome! My son is smiling, it worked so perfectly!! I just had to comment at how professionally awesome this video is. We need you to teach youtubers how to do clear concise videos. Your audio and annotations were incredibly clear and easy to follow. My son was thrilled with the information contained in this video. But, I was impressed with the delivery of that information! Thank you and God Bless you!!
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m glad the video was helpful! 😃👍
@@BruceAlanR you are very welcome!
This worked really well. I tried to get a jeweller to replace the battery and he arrived back in the shop with my watch with a black screen and no clue. I came home, folowed the video instructions and now have my watch functioning correctly.
⏰👍
Thank you so much for this instruction, Sir! 😊
I replaced the battery in my TIMEX Triathlon watch last year and was thoroughly disappointed when it did NOT come back on. I assumed that it needed to be "Reset," but had no idea how to do it. TIMEX of course, was ZERO help. They obviously hope folks will just buy a new one. I really wanted to keep my watch. It is the best looking and best engineered watch that I have ever owned. 🥰
You’re very welcome! So happy to hear the video was helpful and that you were able to restore your watch. 😃⏰👍
Regarding 3:26 tightening the screws, the screws should be tightened in a diagonal pattern rather than in a circular pattern. Tightening in a diagonal pattern ensures that the waterproof O-ring gasket receives even pressure whereas tightening in a circular pattern can cause lopsided pressure and thus potential leakage of moisture into the chamber. Tightening in a diagonal pattern is standard procedure for flange assembly as well as mounting lug nuts onto the wheel of a car.
Thanks for that!
this is the comment i was looking for
Agreed! Very helpful and now I follow that rule when opening my Ironmans.
First, let me say for the record that Popular Mechanics magazine gave me the 2023 award for “least mechanically inclined person in the world” for the third year in a row. So that gives you some idea as to my competency level. 😆
Second, thank you so much for both of your videos - - the one where you replaced the battery and then this one where you focus on the shorting of the two discs. I’ve always been a little intimidated to get into the back of these watches and figured it was just easier to buy a new Ironman T200. But with your focused and well paced video I was able to get my old watch running again and saved $70 in the process.
You run a great tutorial. 🙏
Thanks for the kind words! Glad it worked out. 👍
Thank you so much for this video! Like a lot of the comments here, I recently replaced my watch battery and was very disappointed when the watch still wasn't working. Finally came across this video and my watch is now working perfectly again. Thanks for explaining it so well, appreciate the effort you put into this video. 🙂
Glad the video was helpful. Cheers!
I was ready to throw my watch away, but your video saved me from doing that and Prayer to find this video. Thank you so much. :) God Bless You.
Glad it worked out. ⏰👍
This thread is kinda old, but I guess someone may come along and find this useful. But first, nice video and tyvm for posting it. Now regarding the watch just turning off after being reset, here is what I did that worked.
My watch has a different metal strap to hold the battery than the video had. Mine was about 1/4" wide and screwed down on one side and clipped over on the other side. The side with a screw has a metal bit that is meant to touch a contact below the screw. If you unscrew that side completely to change the battery, it may get a little twisted and not make that contact when you screw it all back together. If that happens, you won't have any battery connection. It will still seem to reset, but when you take away that jumper it will just die. Solution for me was to carefully twist the strap and also bend the contact down a little bit. When I got it to make contact after being screwed in everything worked just fine.
BTW, if you have a metal strap like that, don't take the screw out. You can loosen it a turn, swing the strap away and take the battery out. After replacing the battery, screw it back in tight and then snap the strap down on the other side. Fixed two old Ironman watches with dead batteries this way. (Wife was an Ironman employee for a long time and we had a big box of all their different watches.) Hope this finds someone who needs it!
Great information! Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you X 1000!
THANK YOU BRUCE ALAN, Xcellent video on "Short Pads"; Clear ez to follow instructions, good tips re maintenance tips, good voice.
Thanks for the kind feedback. I'm glad the video was helpful.
Perfect, just what I needed to restart my watch. Videos like this are the only reason I go to CZcams, thanks Bruce!
Very welcome! 😃
My watch isn't resetting
After you changed the battery, did the display come back on before trying to short the pads or was it blank? My recommendation would be to male sure the battery is in correctly (positive side up), clasp is securely in place, sticker is replaced and over battery, and that the back plate is not upside down. Before putting in the screws, hold the back plate on and check that the display comes on (in case the new battery is dead). Then short the pads if the time is not correct. Shorting the pads can be tricky because the contact has to be perfect between the posts. It usually takes me a few tries before I make contact between everything.
Excellent video! I also did not need to do the "RESET" function. I just changed the battery, and followed all your other steps (other than resetting). All is well. You are SUPER!
😃⏰👍
Me too. So I guess it is safe to skip the " _after battery insertion short pads to reset_ " step if the watch appears to be working (i.e., 12:00 showing up on the face) after battery insertion.
Worked perfectly after watching your CZcams video. Thank you for your help.
😃⏰👍
Very helpful!! Now I finally know how to reset the watch after changing a new battery and why it didn't bi... I thought it was out of battery!
Glad the video was helpful! 😃⏰👍
Thank you for this tutorial. Very clear and easy to follow. Well done!
You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful.
I have a Timex Expedition Tide Watch & I replaced the battery (CR2016) & it didn't start. So I looked up your video & it was similar to my watch. Written inside the watch was: Reset & Start? I used a paper clip to get inside the tiny holes & jump start. It worked!
Thanks!
Very welcome! Cheers!
You saved a watch from being thrown in the garbage. Thanks, cause this watch is great and does a super job! I put in the battery, but no action.... So, this further action was required.
Excellent! Glad it worked out!
Helped me replace my Timex Ironman battery. Thank you!
Very welcome! Cheers! ⏰👍
Thank you, thank you...a million times, thank you!
Earlier this evening, I replaced the battery in a cheap (Timex) Marathon watch, but I was perplexed why the display was working but none of the buttons responded.
This set off a multi-hour odyssey, as I removed and replaced the new and old batteries several times. I searched Google and read a bunch of articles that didn't help. Next, I searched the Marathon website, but didn't find a user manual for my model. I even contemplated buying another watch like it and bookmarked one on Amazon.
All of this for a cheap watch that I paid around $20 at Walmart about two years ago. (Now, $31 on Amazon.) The time and energy exerted on this boondoggle, when all that was needed was to short the pads. How absurd!
At one point, I was so irritated that I was in position to catapult the stupid watch across the room and then go outside and crush it under the heel of my shoe. But, luckily, I didn't. Someone at Timex needs an atomic wedgie.
Again, thank you! 🏆
Lol. I’ve been there, which is why I made the video. Cheers! ⏰👍
Very, very good. Straight forward, plain speaking, concise!!!
So glad it was helpful. Soon I’ll be posting a full tear down of this watch in case you need it.
Endless gratitude!!! Was redirected here by your generous link in a comment you left on a your Battery Replacement tutorial. "Short pads" had me confused initially.
⏰👍
Thank you! I thought I would be buying a new watch.
Glad I could help! 😃⏰👍
useful video and straight to the point , well done
😁⏰👍
The shorting out part had me scratching my head on my watch. I have replaced watch batteries a number of times for analog wrist and pocket watches. I changed the battery out on my 7 year old digital ironman (with original battery), and the display not coming on had me through a loop. Once I did the short, the watch reset itself. Mine is a T5H971 Ironman Triathlon.
Glad it worked out. Love my old Iron Mans… although my other half got me the Iron Man R300GPS, which is great (And much less expensive than an Apple Watch)! No more running with a phone to track mileage. 👍
Bingo!! It worked, thank you so much! Great tip!
You're welcome! ⏰👍
Thanks, I just replaced the batton an old Timex ironm triathlon I ad from the 80s and hadno idea why it turned on but the clock wasn't running
I just started touching gold parts and the back of the battery with some tweezers for 3 seconds at time until one of them worked lol
⏰👍
You make it look so easy....when I got up enough nerve to try changing my battery it took me hours....I hate batteries and would gladly take it to a shop but can't find one.
I hear you. I used to take my watches to a shop until they lost one of the screws in my ironman classic. They replaced the lost screw with the wrong one, which ultimately fell out and caused my favorite watch to take on water. After that I decided I'd maintain my watches myself.
If you're in the U.S. try Batteries and Bulbs. They had the battery (which isn't hard to find, I learned) and did replace it for no charge while I stood & watched. Ha! "Watched!" I made a funny! Anyway, when I saw how easy it is I've done it myself twice since then as I have 2 of these excellent watches. I did tip the guy $5.00 & suggest the same for others. My larger model of the Triathlon has beeps that are too quiet & don't/won't wake me up.
had the battery on mine replaced by a jeweler a year or two ago and ever since the beep was super muffled and unusable, but thanks to the back plate hint in this video I figured out that the back plate and the thing with the clasps had been mounted the wrong way around... pulled a quick switcheroo and voila - beep beep
thanks!
Excellent! Glad it worked out. The plate on backwards is a common issue.
Thanks,
this worked on my Timex tw2r45000,
there was the word reset with an arrow written on the plastic pointing to a piece of metal, and there was a target looking thing nearby on the plastic
I touched where the arrow pointed to and on the target with a pair of tweezers for three secs and the watch fired right back up.
I think when I put it back together I didn't have everything aligned in the case 100% and the second hand kept getting stuck!!!
I took it all back apart and tried to make sure everything was straight and then all was well.
On my watch, a case-back opener wouldn't open it but a small screwdriver twisted in the slot opened the case-back no problem.
Couldn't get mine closed by hand, I needed a case press.
Excellent. Glad the video was helpful!
Thank you for your time, I thought my watch showed me its last tic : tack
Glad the video was helpful! ⏰👍
Thanks. great explanation.
Very welcome! 👍
We changed the battery and couldn’t figure out why the beep was not working! Plate was upside down!!! Thank you!
Ah yes! The old "plate upside down" issue. I've done it. 😃
Great Vid thank you so much !
A month ago my Timex Expedition battery died, I changed it and 2 weeks later it randomly started to reset on its own. Took it to the repair shop and they silicone lubbed the buttons in case they got jammed. The guy asked if i had reset it, I said yes. Thinking he meant set the time. Looked up the symptoms and stumbled on your video. Problem solved!
Awesome! Glad the video was helpful.
Great information on the pads reset!!!!
Glad the video was helpful. Cheers! ⏰
Excellent. Thank you for posting!
My pleasure! Glad it was helpful.
YES!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Very welcome! ⏰👍
Thanks for sharing!
⏰👍
Thanks i totally missed the short to the battery
😃🕙👍
Very helpful, thanks!
Excellent! 😃👍
Thank you! You just saved me 40 bucks
Ha! Glad I could help!
I wish other brands of watches had screws to take the back cover off, a lot easier then popping the back off!
Agreed!
Thank you!
Very welcome. ⏰👍
I was happy just to put in the new battery. I did not short the pads, nor could I think about it.
Shorting the pads is more intimidating than difficult. 😃
A frequently asked question I get on the battery changing video is why I didn’t show how to short the pads after inserting a new battery (as noted on the sticker). The answer is I’ve done multiple battery changes on my Shock and Classic without shorting the pads and my watches have worked fine. One commenter said I’ve just gotten lucky and perhaps that’s true. I did the shorting the pads video for folks who want to see how it’s done. If your watch functions normally after a battery change, why bother sticking things into it that could potentially damage it? 😃
Just use a small flat screwdriver to touch both pads simultaneously.
That works too!
Great video! Thank you. Any advice on how to get all the segments visible? shorting and resetting didn’t help😢
Display segment drop outs can be a number of things from corrosion to broken connections between tracks and the strip, or poor connection between the tracks and strips; however, trying to fix the segments is a delicate job and it requires opening the “brain.” Should you attempt it, there’s a high possibility the watch will never work again. I know from experience… I tried doing it with another watch and as I was cleaning the tabs with contact cleaner, I heard a small spring go flying of the back of the brain (never to be seen again). Didn’t matter because I can’t solder things that delicate anyway, but it bricked the watch. 🥲⏰👍
Thanks !
Very welcome! ⏰👍
Looks like TruDope's hitmen hot you a few seconds in. Video blacked out. I'm still voting for PP. 😁
Uhmm!
Hello. I hace the same problem on tumex iq+: nothing happens after battery replacement. Any ideea? Thank you for your time
Thank you, Your video helped me inserting the battery of my Timex Ironman Thriatlon M075 but I did the same procedure to short pads as you did and can not reset it. A message shows: firm ware version and then turning off in 3 secs.
Try removing the battery and reassembling everything and see if that works.
You may find this helpful too... Mark Permann recently commented, "For those whose watch turns off after shorting - try holding a button down. On my Ironman Sleek 150, what happens when you short the pads is a firmware message, then "Turning off in 3, 2,1" and it goes off. When I held a button down a bit, I then saw a new message: "Turning on in 3, 2,1" and my watch was on."
Thank you so much 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
👍
For those whose watch turns off after shorting - try holding a button down. On my Ironman Sleek 150, what happens when you short the pads is a firmware message, then "Turning off in 3, 2,1" and it goes off. When I held a button down a bit, I then saw a new message: "Turning on in 3, 2,1" and my watch was on.
Great info! Thanks for sharing!
I just changed my battery with guidance from your other video but that didn't mention shorting the battery. Should I still do this if my watch is working normally?
You don’t need to short the pads if your watch is functioning normally. I’ve never had to short the pads after a battery change. I did the video for those folks who want to know how to do it.
thanks - is there a reason why you are removing the sticker at all? the contacts for the reset seem accessible anyway.
It’s just how I do it. If you have access to what you need perhaps you don’t need to.
Good video. My understanding from talking to a watch repair guy is that if you don't reset the watch aftet changing the battery it will still work but it will birn out the battery faster... this may explain why you hadnto replace your battery several times.. supposedly these batteries last 7 to 8 years or so I've heard.
Good information! I'll have to see if the battery lasts longer when I reset the pads after a battery change. Thanks!
@@BruceAlanR no problem.. if you can give us an update and let us know if you saw a change
How do i fix backlight? After changing battery the backlight wasn't working anymore. I already circuit the AC and all the button was fine the tone and digital was working but the backlight wasn't working
Be sure the back plate isnt installed upside down or the indiglo and tones won’t work.
yeah 👌👍
😃⏰👍
I changed my battery after watching another video, which lacked the detail that yours does, and I must have screwed up the little battery clamp. The watch display works until I tighten the screws, then goes blank, only re-appearing if I loosen the screws again---quite loose! too loose to wear! Have I grounded something? or do I need a new clamp? Thanks for the great video.
My thoughts are either the battery clasp isn’t seated properly or you may have the back on upside down. The battery and clasp may be making contact with the metal back. There’s usually a sticker on the back plate that goes over the battery and a sticker that goes over the battery, which prevent contact between the back plate and battery.
I have ine and itis solar charging but the watch guy told me it has a battery 2016 need to be changed , how come and itis solar ?
This model does not run on solar and doesn’t have a rechargeable battery.
what's the point of shorting it? it has the same effect of removing and putting the battery back, without the harm?
I agree and would think removing the battery would provide a hard reset. I’ve never had to short the pads after a battery change although some folks have commented I’ve just gotten lucky. I did the video for those folks who want to know how to do it.
what if it's a board that has small portion for reset is the process the same? trying to reset TI-30 calculator but unsure how.
It should be similar, but I can't say for sure. I haven't used a calculator in years. I use the calculator on my iPhone turned sideways when I need a scientific calculator. Sorry!
@@BruceAlanR no worries seemed like it could be similar idea just don't understand what's going on enough to figure out how to translate the work to a green circuit board. Thanks regardless. video was interesting.
hi, I have a timex expedition with a digital section and hands, but after changing the battery only the digital section it's working. do you know what could be the problem or how to troubleshoot the problem?
Sorry. I’m not familiar with the mechanics of that watch.
@@BruceAlanR thank you for the response. I just leave it that way.
I was able to reset the watch a couple times but when i was messing with the buttons it glitched out and I haven't been able to reset it since.. Also last time I tried to reset the pad looked like it had a little spark. do you have any tips on how to fix this? this is a new classic digital. thanks
Which model do you have? I've never seen a spark from a watch battery.
i must have buggered something up. EVerything is reassembled and double checked and yet i can't get it to reset. Do you have a complete tear down of all the smaller parts. The 3 prong deal came on done on my watch. I have watched numerous videos and it appears I have it in the right spot. Other then that i don't know what is wrong.
I’m actually in the process of putting together a complete tear down of this watch. The rubber gasket in mine has finally dried out so the watch filled with salt water when I went swimming last week. My watch is now drying in pieces and once I find the correct gasket I’ll reassemble it and post. Sea water is pretty corrosive, but these watches are usually pretty resilient.
When I short pad I see the clock start but then as soon as I remove the paper clip it just turns off? Any suggestions?
Hmmm... check that the battery is in properly (and not upside down) and that the clasp is seated properly.
For me the screen only works for the duration of the shorting. As soon as i stop the screen goes out again. What do i do ?
Hmmmm! Try removing the battery, putting it back in, and short the pads again. Not sure it will work, but it might. Good luck!
Hallo Sir. I m from indonesia. I have a timex ironman tw5m13800. The problem is the indiglo didnt light. The battery was replacing
If you changed the battery and then the indiglo stopped working, the usual cause is the back cover was put back on upside down. Try removing the back cover and turning it around. Good luck!
I wonder if the pads under the indiglo button aren’t making contact with the body. In the pad reset video I show an up close look at the pads. I’ve taken my watch completely apart and put it back together to learn some of this stuff although I don’t recommend it. There are fragile parts insides.
My watch's display went blank after replacement
Check to make sure you’ve reassembled it properly.
I used to have 3 alarms
However after I changed the battery, I no longer have 3 but I have one?
That’s odd. What model is your watch?
@@BruceAlanR how do I tell?
It’s usually written on the back plate.
@@BruceAlanRwhat am i looking for
I just replaced my battery a month ago and already it's dead. My previous battery also lasted just a few months. What the hell is the problem????? I never use the glow button at night. Getting fed up changing expensive battery all the time.
Wish I had a solution. Maybe a battery issue or button issue. If you haven’t done this before, turn on the beeps to see if a button is getting stuck.
FYI for anyone else having issues with the beep not working after battery change, two things to make sure are in place: 1 case orientation, and 2 the battery sticker! I threw out my battery sticker and couldn't figure out why the beep wasn't working. I put a small piece of paper over the battery and now the beep works again. It seems that the sticker has a function of insulating the case back from shorting to the battery.
Correct!
No explanation of how to short the watch back. #fail
#hereyougo 🤣
How to Short Pads To Reset Timex Ironman Triathlon after Battery Insertion
czcams.com/video/oNnxSqQ4hJY/video.html
Can we just say that Timex sucks for making such a stupid design to force customers jump through insane hoops to change a simple battery? I had to cut off a piece of plastic on the wristband that covered the plate, then use a tiny needle to open the battery latch, now i have to twist a paper clip to touch 3 parts of metal at the same time to complete the process. Clearly they want you to throw away the watch when the battery dies. Thanks to this video though, maybe fewer people will have to buy more lousy crap from that shitty company (Timex, you suck).
Ha! That sums up a lot. These dumb-watches can take a lot of abuse; however, if you ever have to deal with the warranty or send a watch to Timex for repair, which I had to do with an Ironman smartwatch, it’s a slow and painful process… took months!
Thank you very much. Its very much helpful.
⏰👍
Very helpful, thanks!
Glad it was helpful! 👍