How can I change the battery on my Timex Ironman 30 Lap watch?

Found the answer here: http://www.pmwf.com/Phorum/read.php?4,351541,351541#msg-351541

Carol
September 2011

Here is a link to all of my photos (rather than individual links to individual photos): http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/

Carol
August 2011

I need to replace (change) the battery on my Timex Ironman Triathlon Flix watch. The battery size is CR2025. It was easy to remove the back of the case by removing one watch strap and the four screws on the back cover. However, I can't get the old battery out. I cannot figure out how to remove the thin metal battery cover (battery lock, battery clip) over the top of the battery. My watch has neither a belt nor latches with pin holes. It is a very thin, flat solid round cover that appears to have three clips around the sides. (I think the orange material is a sticker but when I tried to peel it up, it was very resistant so I left it alone.) For each clip of the battery cover, there is a tiny plastic white peg in the middle - leaving no hole and nowhere to stick in a pin. Is it possible that I have to remove the whole top portion of the internal workings - essentially open the watch in half and remove the battery from the inside? Any help with getting the old battery out will be greatly appreciated!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/3.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/4.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/5.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/5a0.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/5a1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/6.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/12.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/Mangorunner/Ironman%20Triathlon%20Watch/13.jpg

Carol
August 2011

Robert, thank you so much for your brief explanation. My watch died about two weeks ago and has been sitting opened up because I could not get the latched cover off the back of the battery. As soon as a I read your explanation that said to pull out with a pin I understood exactly what needed to be done and it worked! Now I can wear my watch again!

Katie
July 2011

These instructions really helped me with my WR100 watch, especially knowing I had to take 1 side of the strap off first so I could remove the back.

The latch on my battery however had a screw on one side, which went into a small gold spring.

Having removed the 2016 battery, the screw would not go into the spring, and after much cursing and struggling, I ended up leaving the screw and spring out, resting the battery in place the the clip on top of it.

It was fiddly getting the watch back on without disturbing the battery, but I finally did it and the watch didn't need any resetting.

I hope this helps someone.

Tony Payne
May 2011

Thanks Ben: "There is a small golden curved piece on the inside right of the battery holder, this must be touching the side of the battery instead of being pinched underneath when you install the new battery."

I must have squished that golden piece so it was underneath the battery. On inspection it looked like it belonged flat, but I pried it out to the side of the battery and everything worked fine.

Wilx
January 2011

Remove the four screws holding on the back of the watch with a very small screwdriver, remove one screw holding battery clip. Replace battery and holding clip. Reset by shorting with screwdriver from + on battery to little silver pad in watch - there is a tiny arrow pointing to it on the battery cover. Reinstall back after carefully cleaning back plate and putting some silicone grease around the gasket surface if you have it.

dw
January 2011

Thanks a lot to Steve for the video. It helped me replace the battery!

pluto
September 2010

Small correction: I meant 'latch' when I wrote 'hatch'.

Robert
July 2010

Great to find this topic :-)

Thanks to the various answers here I was able to work out the solution for my Timex Ironman 50 lap.

Briefly said it comes down to these essentials
- Remove the lid by the 4 screws. Be careful not to loose them.
- Get the battery clamp off by putting a pin in the middle of the hatches and levering outward (as in the movie).
- Place new battery with + upwards. Be careful with both the side and the middle contact.
- Put the clamp back on and click the hatches into place. Keep the golden spring out.
- Resetting the watch may not be necessary. But if you want to do so, notice the left arrow on the red instruction sheet. The 'pad' spoken of is on the bottom of the indicated hole. Take the end of a small paperclip and press it on to this pad, then contact ('short') it to the side of the battery as well (effectively the + voltage). Now you should see a reset on the screen by all the elements getting black. Afterwards the clock should work again and indicate 12:00.
- The golden spring should contact the isolated round patch inside the lid. This determines the orientation of the lid.

Robert
July 2010

Thanks for that video Steve - that strap was a big pain until I saw your video.

Now my Indigleo Light is working again and the watch is working better now that I have replaced my battery But the sound is still not working. I went back and fooled around with it a bit - pressing what I thought to be the reset that people are talking about on here but I think people have different watches.

Mine is a Womens Timex Ironman 30 Lap. It has 4 teeny screws, the red sticker and the annoying strap but I I don't see any reset buttons. I have a gold spring to the left of the battery. I pressed that and another area I thought looked like a reset. Of course the watch resets itself but still no sounds. I really wanted to start using the Timer feature on this again. I know it worked at one time but I rarely used it.

I am testing al the features. The beep to turn on for the buttons doesn't work, the hourly chime doesn't work and timer sound doesn't work . I am currently testing the alarm and will test the chrono - but I am not expecting them to work either. Bummer.:(

Can this feature just burn out? I always had it turned off so I am surprised it doesn't work. I can't remember when I bought it but I swear it has been over 5 yrs (it might even be ten) and this is the first time I have had to change my battery. Amazing!

Anyone have any suggestions for getting my sound back?

Thanks Kim

Kimberly
May 2010

Hopefully this will help with your latch. I am not sure if it is the same style or not. This one doesnt have a screw, but if yours has a screw you might have to remove it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjMClefLsA4

Steve
May 2010

If you have trouble getting your watch to beep or chime after changing the battery, remove the back cover and rotate it 180 degrees. This fixed the problem for me.

grenisar
April 2010

anybody Know about a gucci 6400L model??? battery died and replaced with new 321 battery and will not work! any help would be much appreciated! Thanks

Brandon
March 2010

Using the info provided earlier really helped. After you realize the "clip" is a continuous loop that needs to be "pryed" to the outside edge of the watch, you are past the hardest part. I used a small paperclip that that I straightened on one end. Pressing down gently in the white plastic grove will release the loop at the bottom and it popped free on its own. 2 seconds worth of work.

Jim
February 2010

Ok folks, just fixed my wifes watch that didn't have a beep after replacing the battery. 3 seperate items eveyone is talking about.

1. Small latch/leaver to pop the battery out, most people can work this one out.
2. An arrow is your only instruction to "reset" it. What your doing here is bridging the side of the battery (+) with a pad at the bottom of the little whole (-) that runs to two prongs that touch the battery. Thats not important.. but understand something not sharp and metal must touch both, in my case the issue was actually the sticker saying to short it actually had to be pushed asside to make the short. That reset the display each time i did it.
3. There was a small insulated part of my cover and it had to go over a spring. Basically if it doesn't work rotate it 180 deg, there is only 2 options.

Good luck!

Brokenjeep
January 2010

The trick with this is not really taking off the back of the watch; that's the easy part. Just carefully unscrew the 4 screws holding the back on and DON'T LOSE THEM! Note whch direction the back was screwed on.

The "battery strap", actually a thin metal hasp, is held in place on two sides by two metal loops. As you look down on the latches, there is a tiny space between the two metal prongs that you have to push to the outside of the watch using a thin instrument. An Exacto blade (or #11 blade scalpel) works well. The hasp will jump off of its lip once you unseat the prongs. Once released, you will notice that what LOOKED like two prongs is actually a continuous loop that hooks underneath. Not very straightforward nor obvious.

Once you open the battery strap, switch out the battery, replace the strap by carefully pushing the hasps down into their respective slots and then replace the little sticker and replace the back noting which side the little insulator is on. Good luck!

Joel
January 2010

Why do you need to short the "reset pins", or press the "reset button" when you install a new battery?

When you install a new battery into a digital electronic device like a wristwatch, oftentimes the connection "stutters" as you fiddle with the new battery; connecting, then disconnecting, then reconnecting, repeatly; all very fast (millisecs). And when that happens, it sometimes messes up the digital electronics and it gets into a weird state.

(Technical explanation: Digital devices all depend on "clock pulses" -- alternating high and low voltages -- and erratic power that pulses as you install the battery looks like a valid clock to the system. And that is bad.)

So, fussy electronic devices (not just watches) often need a "warm reset"; that is, a "reset" done with consistent power. That's exactly like pushing the reset button on your computer, versus yanking out the power cord and plugging it back in.

That's why you MIGHT need to do a "reset" after installing a new battery.

How do you know if you need to do a "reset"? Well, if the device is working correctly, then no reset is needed!

markj99
November 2009

Just wanted to post back that resetting the watch by shorting the VSS and AC pads DID NOT prolong the battery in my watch. The second battery drained in 2 weeks. I am sending the watch in to Timex for repair. There seems to be a problem with the circuit or the indiglo light causing the extreme battery drainage in my Datalink watch.

BenC
October 2009

Thanks to Joshua. I could not figure out how to remove the metal bracket holding the battery in. His advice use a safety and push the small metal piece underneath towards the OUTSIDE of the watch. That was the key for me!

kkoh
October 2009

For those not seeing the VSS pads I have taken a photo and labeled the AC and VSS pads to help you out (circled in red)

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/77GfOZK0md36xDBdTYgxaw?authkey=Gv1sRgCNP2lae7oKzXfg&feat=directlink

When you reset the watch, the display will illuminate the indiglo, strange symbols will also appear on the display for a second, then some numbers in the lower left corner. Then the time will reset to 12:00.

I am not sure if there is a problem with my Ironman Datalink because I changed the battery a week ago and it died not 2 days later. I also did not perform this reset, so perhaps that is why. I checked the voltage on the battery and it was only 100mv or so, so no idea why a brand new battery drained so quickly. I put in another 2025 battery tonight, so hopefully the reset is all that is needed for it to consume regular power and operate without killing the battery so quickly. I'll post again if the reset does or doesn't affect the battery or if my watch is just a power-hungry device now.

BenC
October 2009

I took my IRONMAN Triathlon to the local jeweler and he changed the battery for $10 including the battery. He admitted that these are a pain even with magnified glasses and specialty tools... I watched as he did it and sure enough... I'd have broken it trying and thrown it out the window. Save yourself some trouble and the reliability of your excellent watch, take it to a jeweler. It takes 10 minutes...

Bo McCall
September 2009

I had the same problem, and had to wedge the battery back in, which forced the metal contact on top of the battery to be loose, and the watch would keep resetting itself whenever I pressed "Start". So, I folded a small piece of paper on top of the metal on top of the battery about 20 times, forcing the battery to make contact, then screwed back on the 4 case screws as fast and as tight as I could. Now even the beep is working! What a horrible battery system, Timex people!

muskoka_steve
September 2009

as I recently found out. There is a small golden curved piece on the inside right of the battery holder, this must be touching the side of the battery instead of being pinched underneath when you install the new battery. This solved my problems

Ben
August 2009

got my ironman running again, but now it doesn't beep when it should.

DMM
August 2009

I saw that others were having a hard time removing that metal bracket holding the battery in. I used a safety and pushed the small metal piece underneath towards the outside of the watch. Everything else went fine there after. The watch reset itself after installing the new battery. Hope this helps.

Joshua
August 2009

I change my batterie in my ironman 30 lap watch
i push reset button notting working
screen show 00:00 lap 00

Jean Eudes Violette
August 2009

Solved, I took it to a jeweller and it works just fine.

John
July 2009

Unfortunately I happen to have a very old model of Timex Compass and there are two "buttons" inside-"reset" and "push." I tried all the combinations of pushing them,shorting etc. but the watch still doesn't work.. Anyone an idea what's wrong? I read all the answers but my watch seems to be different.

John
July 2009

Thanks to all of the detailed information from prior contributors, I was able to change the CR 2016 battery in my Timex Ironman Triathlon WR 100. My watch was a little different in that I didn't need to reset by shorting as previously suggested. I don't know if I got lucky, but the sticker on top of the piece holding the battery in place also instructed I do so. However, after I put the battery in and re-installed the piece holding the battery in place with its screw, the watch started working immediately. I may have shorted it out unintentionally, but don't think so. The watch seems to be working normally.

As previously mentioned, some folks had difficulty re-connecting the band. I, too, had a problem. Once the pins were basically in place and more or less lined up, they still wouldn't "click" into place. I had to use a thin, flat-blade knife to give the "collars" on the pins a left or right nudge to completely get them to seat into their holes. I finally got the "click" I was listening for.

Hope this helps.

HT
July 2009

I changed my battery and got the EE:EE display. This can be fixed with a reset.

About the reset, when you get the latches back in place (after installing the new battery), there are little triangle shapes on the red cover...one triangle is actually pointing to the reset area. Touch your pin into that little area, and the display will be numbers again.

www.MillionBill.com
July 2009

This watch gets the prize as hardest watch to change a battery and the strap takes a contortionist to replace!

Dougster
June 2009

To do the reset, follow the arrows on the sticker, in my Expedition Digital Compass the arrow was directed about 11 o'clock from the battery. You'll see an opening in the watch enclosure and two gold 'pads' (electrical connections) below. Use a small screwdriver to short the two. Your watch should briefly display all the LCD segments black and then become a clock again.

I'm not sure why that is necessary. It may be to prevent stray problems as some memory retains its value after the old battery is removed and some doesn't. This lets you start out with everything set to its default value.

Mike
June 2009

I just replaced the battery (cr2016) in my girlfriend 30 lap watch. I was having real problems. Once the new battery was inserted at the latch replaced, the watch was still dead. I tried everything to reset it and nothing worked. In the end I tried a different new battery and this time shorted it BEFORE replacing the latch. This solved the problem. Not sure if it was the different battery or shorting before the latch that worked (I broke the scientific code by changing 2 input variables at the same time... sorry) but the watch is now functioning as normal.

Stephen
May 2009

Thank you all, especially Ann!

Jim
May 2009

I have the Timex Ironman 30 Lap Memory watch. It uses a CR 2016 battery.
I removed all 4 of the screws.
I took off the back - remember to look underneath for the white-ish piece that was on top of the battery (it is glued to the silver watch back - you will need to put this back on top of the battery in the correct place)
I took off the red little plastic cover over the battery it has wording such as unlatch to remove battery.
I then used a straight pin and inserted it in the middle of the white "pins" I pulled the latch backwards towards the edge of the watch and the pin "unlatches" of "pops" off. I left the other side on (in case I could not get it back on) and tilted the latch up pushin the old battery out. I then inserted the new batter with the "+" side up (facing me or outward). I then pushed the latch back into its place. I put the red plastic cover back on top of the battery. I did check to make sure it had a display before I reassembled the watch. Then I put the cover back on (it was a little hard since I had not taken the straps off). But, if you slide the back under the watch strap pieces then you can kind of shove the watch backing into the correct place. Then screw the 4 screws back in - do this step in the middle of a table or over an large white piece of paper or an area that such that if a screw is dropped it can be found since it is sooo small.
Then just set your watch.

Ann
April 2009

mine has a tiny little screw holding the latch in place. once you remove the screw, the latch kinda folds out with the side opposite the screw being the hinge.

Nathan P
November 2008

I have an TIMEX IRONMAN watch with a CR2025 battery. I need to know where is the two points you have to touch to get it running. It doesn't have any white paint or arrows. The battery is in and I'm ready to put the back on with 4 screws, just need to know where to get it running again. Last battery lasted 3 years.

Dave
October 2008

cp's post is very helpful for the 30 lap iron man

the 30 lap iron man has a metal "latch" over the battery. the latch could also be called a retaining clip. this clip clips over two pairs of posts, one pair on either side of the battery.

to remove the clip, you need to insert a needle (or pin) in the small slot between the pair of posts on either side of the battery. then move the needle away from the battery and the clip will flex and pop off the posts.

samir
September 2008

I have just changed the battery on my Timex Ironman Data Link watch, and I think you will find a similar solution on your 30 Lap watch.
1. I had to remove the watch band from one side to remove the 4 screws and the cover.
2. Remove the 2 smaller screws from the transparent plastic and metal battery bracket.
3. Replace with new 2025 battery and replace the battery bracket and screws.
4. With a magnifying glass locate the AC pad labled in white paint, pointed to by a triangle on the plastic. Locate a metalic looking strip on the plastic. This is VSS. Touch both VSS and AC with metal tweezers.
This should activate the watch. Reload data through USB connection. Pictch the gasket if it doesn't fit any more. Keep watch away from water if you do.

jaycee
March 2008

cp, thanks. your description on how to remove the latch on top of the battery finally made sense to me. if not for you, i would probably be on my way to get a new watch!

trl_runner
January 2008

How to reset the "Short Reset Pad/VDD(+)" on a Timex Ironman OVA. First, orient your watch face down (with the watch belt buckle opposite you), the new battery in and latched. Second, on the right side battery hold-down latch you will see a small metal circle (~1 mm diameter) with a black dot in the center. Take a small paper clip and touch this metal pad to the metal battery hold-down latch for about 1 second. This will reset the watch.

jk
October 2007

I have the exact same watch and exact same issue as 12jfc34, re: after battery insertion short reset pad/vdd (+). Not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do now.

EyDey said, "I actually inserted the smallest tool I had into the reset hole and it reset the watch fine."

Well, which is the reset hole on the Expedition, and what exactly does "short reset pad/vdd (+)" mean?

mm
July 2007

I have a timex ova. Let me explain the battery replacement. The "latch" is actually under the white plastic things that stick out. If you look at the white plastic thing ther is a small notch. you need to stick a needle there and then push out to "unlatch" the battery holder. This will pop the battery right out. It took me awhile to figure out.

sr
July 2007

I had the same problem, but instead of moving any little metal latch, I had to completly separate the two halves of my watch by separating a series of little metal latches all around the outside. The green little circuitboard stayed with one half, and the white layer with the battery detatched and from there it was easy. I replaced the battery, relatched the little metal bits, and put the whole thing back together. Works fine now.

Marian
June 2007

I would like to thank you all for posting. I used the information here to replace the battery on my Timex Ironman 50 lap watch. Here's what I found:

cp mentioned that he "used the point of a very small knife blade." Intead, I used a very small screwdriver from an eyeglass tool kit. This worked really well.

After inserting the new battery, 12jfc34 mentioned he was "Not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do now." I actually inserted the smallest tool I had into the reset hole and it reset the watch fine.

In response to Bill... When I bypassed the reset procedure, my watch displayed, "EE:EE." After I reset the watch, this did not appear anymore. I'm assuming with some watches, this is necessary.

EyDey
May 2007

The push pin suggestion worked great. As to the reset procedure, I tried to download the manual from the Timex site but it isn't working. I believe that all you have to do is push the push pin into the reset slot after putting in the new battery, but to be honest I don't know why that is necessary. Putting in a new battery resets the watch anyway as far as I can tell.

Bill
May 2007

Same set-up on my Timex Expedition, thanks to the advice above I used a push pin to get into the slot and unlatch the battery. It worked well. The push pin fit nicely into the slot and gave good control and leverage. I'm still struggling with the second part of the directions inside the Expedition, "after battery insertion short reset pad/vdd (+). Not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do now.

12jfc34
April 2007

After struggling with this and figuring it out, I felt I had to share the "secret" to save others the hassle. Thankfully I didn't destroy my watch. Hopefully you will understand my explanation.
Like the sticker says, you need to unlatch the piece on the back. There is a small slot on the center of the outside edges where it latches. You need to stick something very small ( I used the point of a very small knife blade) into one of those slots and push slightly toward the outside. That will move the metal latch out enough to get free.
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cp
April 2007

Same problem. Wish I knew.....

cp
April 2007