Garmin Sonar not working

[joefish24]

Put my C24 back in the water today after a long winter and noticed the sonar is not reading the bottom. Tried all the basics as far as settings but no good. Any idea where to start diagnosing?

 

[S. Todd]

I would check to see if you still have all your antifreeze in the transducer cup. One spring when ours did not work, that was the issue. Not sure why the winter sleep caused it, but it was our spring splash when we discovered the problem.

 

[S. Todd]

One other time our depth finder stopped completely following a electrical storm. Somehow the power to the transducer got turned off. There was nothing in the owner's manual (2015 year boat) about the ability to turn it on and off and no one from the Fluid Motion factory or Garmin told me that feature was there, but eventually after getting a new transducer that also did not work I found somewhere in the settings the way to turn it back on. Based on the fact that your screen shows some image at the top, I doubt that is your issue, but thought I would share that piece of information.

 

[Hamster]

The sonar is glued to the bottom of the boat. Mine just broke off completely on some fairly rough pounding of waves. Even if it looks like it is still adhered, it is possible that it isn’t sealed as well as you think and it loses fluid during the winter. Unscrew the top of the transducer and fill with RV antifreeze and try again.

If yours broke loose like mine, it needs to be reinstalled. Here is a link to the installation manual. https://static.garmin.com/pumac/GT15M_I ... all_EN.pdf

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

When you check the transducer look to see if there is a rubber O-ring around the transducer that fits into the cup. This O-ring helps seal the unit to keep the fluid inside.

Jim F

 

[joefish24]

Thanks all. Does the transducer go completely through the hull? Wondering if I need to haul the boat out to do a full repair or can it be done from the water. I see 6screws on top, I assume those come out and then I check for the antifreeze?

 

[Hamster]

Take the screws out. The transducer sits in a cup that is supposed to be glued to the hull. There is no hole in the hull for these models. Inside the cup, it should be full of antifreeze. If not, fill and make sure the o-ring is there and lubricated for a good seal.

Another thing to check is that the cup is really glued to the hull. If it is not secure, you have a bigger job to do. I just did that today!

 

[joefish24]

Thanks will check it out tomorrow! Odd
It worked before winter storage. Only other possible suspect for me is the Garmin plotter itself, I did a firmware update the other day before going in the water. I don’t think that is related but throwing it out there. Seems like the transducer is detected and transmitting is turned on. I think it’s a physical problem.

 

[joefish24]

Thanks all, the problem turned out to be the antifreeze drying up as some suspected. I Filled the cup up with RV antifreeze and it’s good to go reading again! Thank you!

 

[Hamster]

Glad to hear it. I don’t think it dries up. It doesn’t dry in the jug. Most likely, you have a slow (or fast) leak out the bottom. I’d check periodically to see how full it is.

 

[bob daily]

Hamster, my whiskey does! Or at least that is what I've been able to convince my wife! Bob

 

[Hamster]

Hamster, my whiskey does! Or at least that is what I've been able to convince my wife! Bob

You always make me laugh, Bob. Looking forward to chasing a few with you soon. 🙂

 

[hartyparty]

On my 2017 Cutwater 242 C, the transducer is located under the vberth step by the shower sump pump (inside the white cabinet). The transducer is attached to the hull on the starboard side.

My transducer stopped working and I found that it had completely popped out of the mounting cup.

My transducer did not have screws to hold the transducer in the cup. After re-filling the cup with the RV antifreeze, I put the transducer back in, turning it clockwise until it clicked and was secure. I used duct tape around the transducer and cup to, hopefully, keep the transducer from popping out again.