Garmin Auto Pilot Pumps

I'm very curious how many Ranger Tug, Cutwater owners are waiting for replacement autopilot pumps. I've been waiting almost two months waiting for my third pump. I have been dealing directly with Garmin since my boat is three years old but the first pump fell under the two year warranty. First pump fell under the port side pull problem, second pump leaks. Just wondering..

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not sure the answer to your question, but it strikes me that the pump is just rubbish. it seems a consistent issue and I dont think its caused by the install or boat design. I think its just a crappy part. shame the upgrade model is soo much more money

I am currently working with Garmin for a replacement on my C30S. They are going to have a rep at the Great Lakes even in early Aug and have committed to correcting the issue. I made it clear that based upon others experience that I would like to upgrade to the smart pump and am willing to pay a percentage of the upgrade cost. They seem cooperative. I will let Tugnuts know the outcome.

Does anyone have exact details on what fails in that design. It seems that only a few people report issues or are all installed pumps failing?

As far as my particular case, my first issue when auto pilot not engaged boat would pull to port. My second pump leeks. The major heart burn now is I can't use my boat, first issue, I was able to Cruise. It's the middle of July and my boat hasn't left it's slip in almost two months. Sorry, I'm venting.

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This is scaring me! I just pulled the failed pump off my R27 and sent it to Garmin under their exchange program. They said they'd get a new pump sent to me mid next week. I hope that happens!

Regarding failure mode, in my case rudder wouldn't hold position (pulling to port). I could also move the rudder by hand, and the helm lost it's hard stops at either end of wheel travel (just mild resistance instead of hydraulic stop). This is indicative of fluid bypassing something. Closing the 3 shutoff screws on the pump manifold fixed the manual steering, indicating that the pump was the culprit.

with the pump out of the boat, can you block off the pipes and still use the steering? at least get some use of the boat without autopilot?

My pump was replaced twice, by Garmin. I think I was an early identifier of the problem. The tech thought the pump way undersized as regards the check valve. It doesn’t really have a real one, just a little ball bearing and a small spring. After the second failure he put on a real check valve which was external to the pump. Same “bad” pump, just not relying on the wimpy valve. Problem fixed.

We'll, Don't know about that. Something I hadn't considered but maybe doable. But funny thing after sharing my frustrations earlier I just got a email that my new pump will be delivered by the end of the day. Fingers crossed. Hope to see some of you on the water.

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Some time ago there was a thread describing GHP-10 autopilot failure due to leakage past the pump’s internal isolation valves. A solution suggested was to install a “Garmin Check Valve Kit.
Part # 010-11203-00.” The kit description from Garmin is: “add hydraulic isolation to your autopilot pump and steering systems with this check valve kit. This kit improves pump efficiency and rudder control while increasing the autopilot pump service life”.
As a matter of caution I installed this kit in my R27 (2012 model). Below is an image of a kit installation in, I think, a Cutwater 30.

Wow, Thanks guys. Had not heard of the kit, but what you have described makes perfect sense. Will talk with the tech. when he does the swap. Good stuff for all of us.

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I have 2017 CW 28 and am waiting for my third pump to arrive from Garmin. Virtually a new pump every season!! Shame on garmin for making a KNOWN faulty product over at least 4 years and shame on Fluid motion for continuing to install them knowing the expected outcome....unhappy, inconvenienced customers! For heavens sake Fluid motion,at least install the "KIT" if that is the fix!

Also venting here!
B Thomas

Osprey

How much did the isolation kit cost?

Godspeed":elf87xsq said:

Osprey

How much did the isolation kit cost?

Click to expand...

According to the Garmin web site, it looks like $195.00 for the kit. But it also looks like you need to add some hoses that don't look like they are included. Then the system will need to be bled of air.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/28647

Our autopilot pump failed 3 years ago and had to replace.

Been ok since then.

I would pay $195.00 plus some hoses ,in a heart beat to get this monkey off my back! This problem is is not isolated it is rampant!!

B Thomas

Forgive my ignorance here. If the autopilot system is completely shut off is there still a problem with the steering on your boats?
Our Garmin autopilot system is 9 years old and other than a bad fuse holder 3 years ago (identified by AC and fixed by Garmin Techs at 2016 Rendezvous) it’s worked fine. We frequently have the autopilot system completely turned off at the DC panel and the steering seems just fine without it.

Waiting on mine now. I can hand steer with the pump isolated.

The photo Osprey shows of the external check valve I believe is one I took on my boat. Anyways, it’s the same. Worked great. Was installed on a second “failed” pump, without changing the pump. Garmin took care of it under warranty.

I believe all the sizes of fluid motion boats use the same pump, but the larger boats traveling at speed and with more powerful propwash, notice the problem more.

First off, the credit does go to Connerkip for the installation photo. I would have given the credit to him with my earlier post if my 79-year-old brain were capable of recalling the source. The image shows a professional installation and as such it was very useful to me when I did a similar installation on my own. Thanks, Connerkit, for this image.
Some additional comments:
1. IXIR8 is correct, the hoses are not included (need two).
2. If you examine the photo carefully you will see that number of additional fittings are needed. For examples: plugs, Boss style tees, elbows…Getting the correct fittings can be a bit of a puzzle. I found what I needed by looking up UFLEX brand in a marine catalog.
3. The photo shows that the installation has only three hoses connected to the pump manifold. Garmin recommends that no more than three be connected whereas the Fluid Motion factory installs five connections. Why? I cannot say. Garmin says only three so that is what I did. Two plugs (1/4 NPT) will need to be added to the manifold now that only three hoses are to be connected. Do NOT use Teflon tape to seal the plugs or on any of the other connections for that matter. Loctite 542 or 545 is okay.
4. I connected the new hoses to the pump manifold and, before connecting the upper ends to the new check valve body and, using a needleless syringe, filled each with steering fluid . This connection sequence minimized the amount of air introduced to the system. Even so, subsequent bleeding showed that a small amount of air was in the system. I learned how to bleed the system by viewing YOUTUBE videos found on the internet. The Garmin site also has some useful videos.

As an aside, the “Garmin” valve body supplied in the kit is actually a “HydraForce, directional valve, DCV08 – lock Valve” with a Garmin label attached.