crestliner17 Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 I have good batteries on a 24 volt autopilot system ( I replaced them because of age and this issue)It loses it sense of direction, I have seen this in the past when I have pushed it hard or the batteries are weak but now it is a common occurance.I have given it a quick once over checking the ground and connections but nothing jumped out at me. Any ideas?Thanks,Mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 wallyH Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 My autopilot is about 18 months old and I've had to replace the compass board twice. For me it didn't lose direction, it just couldn't figure out the easiest way to get to the direction it needed to go. If the motor needed to turn 2 degrees to the left it would instead turn 358 degrees to the right. Made fishing a weedline alot of fun.Wally H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Northlander Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 I would bet its the board as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Surface Tension Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 crestliner17, weak or low batteries will create the problem as you stated. It could be the board like the previous posts said. Something else to look into is your connection at the battery. Also the power plug Minkota uses is lacking. Hey I love my Minkota but that plug is bad news. I'm in the process of replacing mine with something else which most likely will be a switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Big-Al Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Just before the warranty was up on my AP, I began having problems with it. It would track for a while and then go whacko. I took it into a Authorized Minnkota service center in Grand Rapids. The service tech told me it was the compass and it was under warranty. It was repaired (supposedly). The following spring I took the boat out for its first trip and guess what? The autopilot again would not work. I called the shop I had taken it to and was told that the tech that worked on the motors was not there any more. (surprise) I took the motor to a well known appliance repair shop in Duluth and received excellent service. I was told by a very knowledgeable service tech that my compass was the original and had not been replaced. She replaced the compass for free, but I had to pay labor due to the fact that it was now out of warranty. Since then I have had it in for a calibration, (it was acting the same way) but it now has been working great. I've also replaced the foot control, as the board went out on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Northlander Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Smae thing with me Al. I believe I went to the same place and they did do good work. Knock on wood my new one is working fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 ccarlson Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 Consider yourselves lucky guys. My eighth compass board in two years just went bad! Last time in they replaced the compass and main boards hoping to stop the problem which it did not.Junk, Junk, Junk. I loved the old auto pilot system. This new one is JUNK.Now my warranty is up and I have a lemon.ccarlson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 crestliner17 Posted October 1, 2004 Author Share Posted October 1, 2004 Can anyone point me in the direction of a minnkota service center that has a good reputation?I live in the Chan and commute to the Hutch area, so the SW side of the cities would be preferable.__Also thanks for the help- MGPS:if you live on the SW side of the cities you should try to get out to Waconia some early evening if you like good walleye action Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Lip RIPPER! Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 I had my compass and board replaced this spring too and it hasn't failed me since. I had the same types of problems you described. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 mnrstrider Posted October 6, 2004 Share Posted October 6, 2004 WE'll there is the motor clinic in Bloomington, something like 6000 block on old shakopee road, they re-caled my autopilot and it works fine 95% of the time.It seems there are some (2, A and B )pots that the voltage should be at 1 volt a piece and if they are not it gets funny, it sounds simple enough to adjust, but I've never tried, I will though sometime soon, maybe I make a nice write up about it... The guy at minnkota said they could be glued in place, but I'd personally be a bit weary of doing that. I purchased my AP in june of 01 and I think it is a very early new model, my compass is original, but I replaced a board due to a relay going bad, which probably has a lot to do with it being outside so much, and used so often. Months ago when I replaced the board, Minnkota gave me a new compass, and said it was a new version of the compass and would be better than my original one, knowing my orginal one still works correctly 95% of the time, I have yet to change it out, but it's nothing I don't think I can handle.Personally I'd go out and buy another one in a second, not to mention that new nifty built in transducer, although I've heard some stories of people not having such good luck, I have a 55# 12v one, seems like the 65# have more issues... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 ccarlson Posted October 6, 2004 Share Posted October 6, 2004 A positive update on my story. I was the one who posted above about having the autopilot fail 8 times in two years.I finally gave up on taking it to the repair technician here in Nisswa and called MinnKota myself. After talking to a supervisor and explaining my problem and frustration, they are going to send me a new motor. He did say they have updated their compass boards so hopefully this one is not going to give the trouble the old one did.Thank you and way to go MinnKota!ccarlson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
crestliner17
I have good batteries on a 24 volt autopilot system ( I replaced them because of age and this issue)
It loses it sense of direction, I have seen this in the past when I have pushed it hard or the batteries are weak but now it is a common occurance.
I have given it a quick once over checking the ground and connections but nothing jumped out at me.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mg
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