Sonar problem

[cmalis27]

So I finally got my new boat on the water this weekend, and I am having some issues with my Lowrance sonar unit. It will randomly start flashing like it cannot the depth. This was happening while stopped sometimes, or while I was motoring. Anyone have any ideas on what I could try?

[mamohr686]

The blinking problem you descried is when the sonar transducer is "searching" for the bottom. It can be a number of things such as a bad connection, a transducer that is broken, or the settings on the unit are wrong. The first thing I would do is download a copy of the manual off of lowrances HSOforum (to check for proper mounting), if you don't have one. Next, I would reset all the settings to default and start over. Then you can play with sensitivity and chart speed to try to get a better reading. If the unit is under a yr old then call lowrance support, and they will likely send you a new transducer. This happens a lot in depths below 5ft of in weeds under 8ft

[Lotwfisher]

Could be your mount got hit and the transducer is angled away from the bottom....Double check the angle of the transducer to make sure it setup to the proper specs. I always have to check mine after bumping floating debris or someone gets caught with their line around it.

[Kyle Sandberg]

Were you in weeds at the time? The newer modles from lowrance use soo much power that they sometimes can't read through the weeds.

[MuskieJunkie]

 Originally Posted By: mamohr686

The blinking problem you descried is when the sonar transducer is "searching" for the bottom. It can be a number of things such as a bad connection, a transducer that is broken, or the settings on the unit are wrong. The first thing I would do is download a copy of the manual off of lowrances HSOforum (to check for proper mounting), if you don't have one. Next, I would reset all the settings to default and start over. Then you can play with sensitivity and chart speed to try to get a better reading. If the unit is under a yr old then call lowrance support, and they will likely send you a new transducer. This happens a lot in depths below 5ft of in weeds under 8ft

Great info thanks.

[delcecchi]

Mine did that, and a new transducer fixed it. Came on sort of gradual. Bad news it was more than a year old.

[Genofish]

There should be a consitent clicking noise, varying with ping speed. If the noise is intermiting then the transducer is bad.

[cmalis27]

I just checked both of the transducers on my boat, and neither one of them has a consistent clicking sound. Is this a sign that they are both bad for sure?

[sparcebag]

Check your connections first,make sure if theres a inline fuse its not dirty, rusty clean it and inside of fuse holder.

[jwhjr]

 Originally Posted By: sparcebag

Check your connections first,make sure if theres a inline fuse its not dirty, rusty clean it and inside of fuse holder.

I had this issue last year, there was a TINY amount of crust inside the fuse holder and it didn't work. I cleaned it up really well and it was good to go.