Lawrance480 and antennae question

[Hoffer]

So, I think this may have been asked here before...so I will make it quick. I have a 480 LMS and it says "GPS modul not responding".

I am trying to trouble shoot. There is no way I can even try to look under the console to see if its a wiring problem...I cant even get my neck under there to look around and there is a million wires. I just want to know if it is something simple like maybe a antennae issue or lose wire?

So, my little round white "puck" is screwed down on the back. I can see where there is a line around the bottom that looks like it should be able to twist or pop off to take a look at the inside. It wont budge for anything. Does this actually come apart? how? Is there any fuses or anything inside?

Any ideas of where to go for any other simple troubleshooting?

I think I am at least going to tske the unit in to see if its the unit. If not, it has to be the wiring - and I have no idea of where to start with that.

Thanks for any advice!!

Hoffer

[walleyewild]

Check the power cable, there are 2 connections for power, one is to the head unit itself and the other is for the NMEA network on the main power cable.

"Module not responding" is most commonly a power issue to the NMEA network.

So find the power cable for the head unit and you'll most likely have found the power connection to the network.

The GPS antenna is sealed and there are no accessable parts there, it is possible that the antenna is bad, but doesn't happen as often.

Let us know what you find.

WW

[PerchJerker]

I agree, it's a power issue to the gps puck. Check the power wires and the fuses going to your 480 as that is how the puck gets powered.

[NETim]

Lowrance sez:

[Hoffer]

Thanks guys that awesome stuff!

If its a power issue then I may just have to bring it in.

I tried to look under the console where all the wires are - and its a nice neat package - but there are so many wires I just cant tell whats what. The pick is also located way over on the back transom casting platform by the motor. So all the wires run through the srea by the throttle and are tucked under and I have no idea how a person wuld get to those?

Does anyone know a "guy" in the Maple Grove area that is good with this stuff?

I would be happy to pay someone local for some work done in my garage rather than having to bring the boat in.

Thanks again!

Hoffer

[Jim Almquist]

I had a similar problem with my LMS 350A and the only way I could get it to start working was to power up the unit with the GPS puck cord disconnected from my I would power up the unit and then plug my GPS cord into the LMS 350A and would for the lack of a better term "jump start" the puck and then it was able to see it. It seemed like I would have to do at least one time during the year but it was not really that big of a hassle.

I bet I had more then 20 hours worth of troubleshooting before I found this solution. I had gone so far as to pull every single part out of my boat and it would still give me the same [PoorWordUsage] "Module not responding" I did so many cold starts and even went so far as to hook up a 12 volt power supply and nothing worked and how I ever stumbled upon hooking it up while it was running was just me getting tired turning it on and off.

[pascooter94]

same thing happen to me on leech on sunday, will take a look at it in the next few days..

[Hoffer]

I have tried that - and it doesnt do anything. I checked all my fuses - and they are good.

I would to try and take a look a the inside of the "puck" to see if there is something lose or whatever...but I cant get it to open up.

Its a white LGC 2000. I can see a little "line" around the very bottom that looks like it would pop off or come apart- but it wont budge.

[uglystick007]

I'm pretty sure my gps puck died because of a nearby lightning strike. Worked before the storm, stopped after the big boom. Only solution new puck. Easiest trouble shooting is to borrow another gps puck from someone.

[Rippin_eyes]

try a different puck from a buddy.... or even try a different power cord, but i've only seen 2 bad power cords in all the units i've looked at...

[pascooter94]

looked at mine tonight and i have power so im thinking it the puck. what is the cost of a new one?

[Hoffer]

I tried again but couldnt get the puck off to look at. I can tell that its screwed in the wood from the bottom - and again it has a line around the whole thing toward the bottom that would indicate it comes apart somehow - but it sure isnt budging!! Do they twist off - pop off or what??

Its the LGC 2000 model.

Thanks!

[PerchJerker]

Your puck could be mounted on a rig-rite T-beam mount, that would be the "line around the bottom" (really 2 seperate pieces). They mount from the bottom.

I don't think the pucks come apart. The only one I've ever taken apart was a HB puck that we knew was dead.

[Hoffer]

so I have to get at it from the bottom somehow? Man, I sure dont know why it was installed where it was...floorboards of the transom casting platform. No way to get to it - except to unscrew all the side panels - but then I dont even know if I could get to it very easily :-(

[pascooter94]

did you ever get your gps up and running ?