Auto Pilot Not Operating

[Salmon Fisher]

I have a 27 Ranger with D3 Volvo.
Half way to Kingston from Everett on Monday, the auto pilot quit working.
Up to that point it would hold heading and could adjust with either 1 degree to 10 degrees.
Went through the set up menu and everything looks ok.
Is there a factory default I should try or something within the Chart Plotter Garmin 7212 that I should reset?

Thanks, in advance, for any help I could get.

 

[1Harrison]

I have found that as soon as an updated software is available from Garmin I experience this problem. Also, if the boat has not moved for a period of time this also causes this to happen. However, I have found that most times if you turn off the house power for a few seconds and reboot it clears the problem.

 

[Red Raven]

I have lost my autoroute “Guide To” capability suddenly in the past. Popping the chip out and back in solved it. This problem, however in my case, did not affect the Heading Hold. Worth a shot though.

Curt

 

[TugScout]

I've had this happen twice with my R-27. The first time was with the original 5212 chartplotter. A simple power down of the autopilot itself while the plotter was still powered up fixed it.

The second time was after upgrading the 5212 plotter to an 8612. The autopilot would not reset after a re-power and I had to go into the system and rerun the Sea Trial Wizard which solved the problem.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Salmon Fisher]

Thanks for the information everyone. I tried suggestions from everyone, but no luck.

I contacted Garmin Customer Support and they are having me download and install new software.
Then I need to put the boat back in the water and run through the dockside and sea trial wizards.
I try to report my findings to help anyone else who find themselves in similar situation.

Beautiful trip to Kingston and 3 nights there and then back to Everett yesterday. Had 4 new Goodyear Endurance trailer tires installed as long as the boat was in the water. Now I feel good about having those USA made tires on. The originals were 7 years old, lucky they held out.

 

[Salmon Fisher]

Here's the update:

Called Garmin Customer Service, which was great, and they sent me a software update. I downloaded and installed and then finally got the boat on the water 30 days later.
I went through the dockside wizard and later on the water, sea trial wizard.
Auto Pilot works, but not consistently. I'd say it's at 90% for now.
It lost heading hold a couple times coming back and I just put in stand by mode then back to heading hold and it picked up the course again. I'll keep running it and hopefully it will get better. If not, maybe need a new pump or bleed lines.
We'll see. Glad San Juans are open on June 1, State Parks anyway. Hopefully access to towns up there soon, too.

 

[FWTMD]

Metal too close to the GPS unit?