Polar FT4 Battery Changing issues - PLEASE HELP

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  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    If I didn't have a replacement I would grind out the hollow, then fill with either a filler such as an epoxy resin based filler, or I would carry out a scarf repair with glass and epoxy resin.
    I would then grind out a new slot into my repair to act as the turning slot (likely 90 degrees to the original).
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,659 Member
    Anyone have any issues getting the battery cover OFF of the Polar FT4 Wear Link? Mine is impossible to get off (tried a quarter, nickel, screwdriver, and also had 3 engineers at work try with tools). My HRM is 5 months old, given as a gift, and the people at Polar are being d*cks about it.

    Anyone have suggestions. I love my HRM

    I got my batteries changed at a jewellery shop, they changed the battery in the watch itself and then in the Link bit.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Since this popped up on My Topics this morning, figured I'd update my previos post. I did end up taking my wearlink transmitter to one of the local jewelers when it was time to change the battery. I'd rather that then ruin it and have to pay the cost for a whole new one. I think it cost me $12 and only took them a few minutes. Definitely worth the time and money!
  • BobbieLee1959
    BobbieLee1959 Posts: 605 Member
    It is a known issue..that is why they are being snotty about it. Is this in the transmitter or the receiver (wristband)?

    When my transmitter battery went dead and I had this issue, I found that on the backside of the transmitter are 4 very small screws. If you loosen these just a tad, to remove pressure from the cover of the battery compartment. You should then be able to remove it using the method you described.

    After you have replaced the battery, snug the screws back up and you should be good to go!

    Good luck and enjoy your HRM!
  • BobbieLee1959
    BobbieLee1959 Posts: 605 Member
    No help for your cover removal, but you are not alone with the poor service coming from Polar. I recently changed my FT80 battery and the watched never worked correct after. Sent it in (was new in Jan 2012) and they claimed "damage" and not under warranty. They were very rude on the phone and took weeks to respond to emails. For a name that once seemed to be a leader, they are a poor excuse now...........
    Its common and understandable for manufacturers to void warranties for product altered by non authorized dealers. If you think you may send it in, dont work on it yourself

    I actually got pretty good CS from Polar...it did take some time, but they requested that I return both the transmitter and the strap and they replaced the strap and battery in the wristband. The transmitter problem was still there, but I loosened the small screws on the back of the transmitter and replaced the battery, then re-snugged the screws. I have had no problems since.
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,659 Member
    It is a known issue..that is why they are being snotty about it. Is this in the transmitter or the receiver (wristband)?

    When my transmitter battery went dead and I had this issue, I found that on the backside of the transmitter are 4 very small screws. If you loosen these just a tad, to remove pressure from the cover of the battery compartment. You should then be able to remove it using the method you described.

    After you have replaced the battery, snug the screws back up and you should be good to go!

    Good luck and enjoy your HRM!

    The quoted post above from BobbieLee is an excellent solution I believe.

    The pressure would be due to the watch and also the wearlink being waterproof.
  • foxylady522
    foxylady522 Posts: 80
    I have had my FT4 for 14 months and in the past week my transmitter went dead. I was checking MFP and am very glad to have seen this pop up in my search. I have tried many objects- quarter, nickel, screwdriver, etc to get the darn thing open. I will certainly try the above advice because it's killing me to not have my HRM each day.

    Thanks everyone for the advice!
  • skadoosh33
    skadoosh33 Posts: 353 Member
    Anyone have any issues getting the battery cover OFF of the Polar FT4 Wear Link? Mine is impossible to get off (tried a quarter, nickel, screwdriver, and also had 3 engineers at work try with tools). My HRM is 5 months old, given as a gift, and the people at Polar are being d*cks about it.

    Anyone have suggestions. I love my HRM

    Yep. I just tried to change my FT7 for the third time. It stripped away this time and is now ruined. My wife has the women's FT7 and it is a different lock, it just pops. Now I'm out $80.
  • LJGmom
    LJGmom Posts: 249 Member
    Mine is stuck too, I don't think I'll ever get it off I've chipped and stripped the groove for the quarter...so frustrating! To spend the money on it and now gave nothing.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    I'm having this same problem, with the FT4! A video on Youtube made it look so easy to open the back! Just twist it with a nickle. Nope! I drove to the mall today to a watch repair shop. They've changed the battery in my HRM watch in the past and he tried and tried and couldn't get it open. I guess I'm going to have to send it to Polar, because I don't know what else to do. I hate to be without it that long though!
  • nytrifisoul
    nytrifisoul Posts: 499 Member
    Its threads/posts like these that make me glad I have a Suunto T3c. This was the main reason I put the polar back on the shelf and asked for the Suunto in the locked glass case. I cant believe they still make you send them in for battery replacements. They should just put rechargeable lithium batterys in them and make you buy a special charging cable if they want to be greedy.
  • Seabee74
    Seabee74 Posts: 314
    Mine came off very easily with a butter knife however I am not impressed with thw battery life of 3 weeks.. Hopefully a New battery will last much longer.. ...
    Sounds like there is something not right with yours ?
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Mine came off very easily with a butter knife however I am not impressed with thw battery life of 3 weeks.. Hopefully a New battery will last much longer.. ...
    Sounds like there is something not right with yours ?

    I've had mine for 2 years and only had to change the battery in the watch once. The chest strap is still on the original battery and I use my HRM quite a bit. The watch back came off no problem.
  • tudor8
    tudor8 Posts: 6 Member
    I use an FT4 as well. Applied Bonnie's advice (loosen off the 4 screws on the transmitter and Boom! the battery cover came off. My issue now is that the watch wrist strap broke. So I need to take it in and have it replaced. Well, this also means that I can get another colour, which is not bad. :)
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