Troubleshooting
Before contacting the Humminbird® Customer Resource Center, please read the following section. Taking the time to review these troubleshooting guidelines may allow you to solve a performance problem yourself, and therefore avoid sending your unit back for repair.
Display Problems
There are several main conditions or sources of possible interference that may cause problems with the quality of the information displayed on the control head. Look in the following table for some symptoms of display problems and possible solutions:
Problem | Possible Cause |
FishFinder Doesn’t Power Up
If your FishFinder doesn’t power up, use the Installation Guide that also comes with it for specific confirmation details, making sure that:
•the power cable is properly connected to the FishFinder control head,
•the power cable is wired correctly, with red to positive battery terminal and black to negative terminal or ground
•the fuse is operational
•the battery voltage of the power connector is at least 10 Volts.
Correct any known problems, including removing corrosion from the battery terminals or wiring, or actually replacing the battery if necessary.
FishFinder Defaults to Simulator with a Transducer Attached
A connected and functioning transducer will cause the
•Using the Installation Guide that also comes with your FishFinder, check to make sure that the transducer cable is securely connected to the FishFinder. Reconnect if necessary, and power up the FishFinder again to see if this fixes the problem.
•Replace the transducer with a known good transducer if available and power up the control head again.
•Check the transducer cable and connector. Replace the transducer if the cable is damaged or corroded.
The control head loses power at high speeds.
When the boat moves at higher speeds, the bottom disappears or suddenly weakens, or the display contains gaps.
There are no fish detected, even when you know they are in the water under the boat, or sonar readings seem weak or faulty.
If the power output of your boat’s engine is unregulated, the control head may be protecting itself using its
The transducer position may need to be adjusted. A mix of air and water flowing around the transducer (cavitation) may be interfering with the inter- pretation of sonar data. See your Installation Guide for suggestions on adjusting the transducer position.
Electrical noise from the boat’s engine may be interfering with sonar reception. See Finding the Cause of Noise for more information.
Sonar readings may be affected if the transducer is not positioned correctly (i.e. mounted at an angle, not straight down), or there is some kind of mechanical interference, either because it is mounted inside a hull that is too thick for proper sonar transmission, the bond between the transducer and the hull is not airtight, or because the transducer is dirty. Check with your Installation Guide for guidance on
Low battery voltage may be affecting the power of signal transmission.
Electrical noise from the boat’s engine may be interfering with sonar reception. See Finding the Cause of Noise for more information.
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