Lost Auto pilot route guidance

[knotflying]

I seem to have lost my autopilot for engaging into routes. It works fine for heading hold, but not to engage to a route. There is not any choice showing up on the screen to engage route. Anyone have an issue like this?

 

[baz]

What software version do you have installed on the Garmin 5212 & Auto Pilot ?

The latest version v7.6 did have some issues for Auto Pilot re-engaging after having selected STBY or engaging the shadow drive temporarily… but this is resolved by selecting center soft button on the Auto Pilot.. "Menu->Engage Route To" to have the boat regain the original course following line.

If the problem persists then I would call Garmin Tech person Roger Archer on his cell (541) 207-6233 and he may be able to help you while on your boat. He's very helpful IMO and I've had him call me several times while on the water to resolve the odd issue. He once spent 4 hours with me on my boat in early 2010.

Good luck, and post back what you end up doing to resolve the issue.

You could try and reboot/reinstall the Garmin 5212/AutoPilot software if you have the "Boot Block" SD card.

Also, Make sure you have the g2Vision card inserted in the Garmin 5212 for the Auto Pilot's safe course calculation feature.

 

[knotflying]

I think it may have been a loosE connection to the NEMA connections. I fiddled around with it and I got the ability back on the menu to engage route. It seems odd that some of the connections don't seem to want to tighten up.

 

[baz]

I think it may have been a loosE connection to the NEMA connections….snip...

Was that connection on the backside of the 5212 or the rod-like bus and was it a screw down connection ? It would seem odd that any of those connections should become loose, unless they were loose to begin with! Have you fiddled with things back there recently ?

 

[knotflying]

Well, I am not sure which connection may have been loose. I fiddled with the back connector on the auto pilot and then the connection that goes to the series of connections that terminate with one connector into the 5212. As I said, what I find odd is that some of them seem to just be plugged in and the little knurled screw connector just keeps turning. Almost like they are stripped.

 

[baz]

Well that all sounds very strange and a concern to me. I'm going to research the Garmin installation manual to see how those connection are supposed to mate up. Connections of that type should not be capable of loosening unless they're not initially secured properly IMO.

[EDIT]

I've reviewed the manual and AFAIK those screw caps should tighten up and not be loose as you've described. The whole point for those 'screw caps' is to secure the connection. If yours are not tightening then either they aren't engaging the threads correctly or as you said, they're stripped in some way.

Are all of your screw caps loose or just one ? If all, then that would be really strange indeed.

I'm on the boat tomorrow and will be checking the connections and those screw caps etc.

 

[knotflying]

Okay, I checked things out again. On the two connections on the back of the auto pilot unit the one that goes to the NEMA "manifold" tightens up, but was loose. The other one that goes to the "gyro" seems stripped. On the NEMA "manifold" I did not realize that the screw caps screw onto the plug, which is opposite of what I have seen on other devices, so needles to say I was turning them the wrong way. Hopefully, I won't have anymore issues, but the stripped gyro connection concerns me. I doubt I can just cut and splice a new end and running a new cable will not be easy.

 

[baz]

Mike: Your R-27 can't be that old and may still have warranty active for the Garmin equipment. Regardless, I would call Roger Archer and discuss what you've found out WRT the loose "gyro" connector. It sounds like a faulty installation or a defect in the connector or the backside of the auto pilot display unit. With vibration etc, if this loose connector was the cause of your problem you can bet it will happen again. My advice is to get this connector fixed and have peace of mind, otherwise it will bug you for ever. 😉

Thanks for posting back what you found out. 🙂

 

[knotflying]

Thanks for the advice. I will be at the Northeast Rendezvous and Garmin and Kenny Marrs will be there so I will definitely bring it up.

 

[baz]

Mike: I was on my boat today and took the opportunity to check all the screw cap connections. The two on the backside of the AP display were tight and are tighten by turning them clockwise. In fact all the screw caps are tightened in the CW direction. I also checked the NMEA bus bar/tube as it has several screw caps in between the T sections. I found one loose and tightened it up. It's important to line up the cable going to a port before attempting to fasten the screw caps, otherwise there is a danger the plastic threads could be compromised.

 

[knotflying]

Thanks for the input. I probably need to pull the auto pilot display and be able to visually look at those threads and connectors. As far as the NEMA bus, turning clockwise is a function of what way you are looking at it. As you know access is a bit awkward and you cant really see that well. I was assuming the cable going into the bus was male with the turning connection on it and since it was facing away from be I was turning it counterclockwise so I assumed wrong and was actually loosening it. That issue is resolved now, but I need to check out the connectors at the back of the auto pilot display.

 

[Gin]

Knotflying, for what it is worth, I have one connection to the autopilot display (backside of the helm) that, like yours, does not tighten up fully. Not sure which of the two it is (to the gyro or to the NMEA backbone). I discovered it when my autopilot unit was having difficulty syncing at startup. Ultimately, a software update resolved the issue. But the connection that won't tighten up fully still seems like a problem waiting to happen on my R27. I will be interested to know what you learn about whether that connection is considered okay or whether that cable needs to be replaced for a more positive connection.

Gini

 

[knotflying]

Seems like someone at Ranger may have a strong hand when turning these connections. I will report back what I find. At the least I will definitely be seeing Kenny and Garmin at the Northeast Rendezvous and should have a definitive answer from them.

 

[knotflying]

Okay, went to the boat and removed the GHC10 from the panel and was better able to examine the connections. There are two leads. The one that goes to the NEMA bus was cross threaded and not screwed in properly. I unscrewed it and was able to seat and screw it in correctly. The other connection for the "gyro" seems to be a twist and lock type of connection. If you turn it too much it disengages. So I reseated the plug and turned lightly until it stopped. Hopefully this solves a recurrence of my problem.

 

[baz]

Mike: Thanks for your feedback on your problem solution. Unfortunately in all assemblies things like this can happen and if it affects navigation or causes electronics to misbehave it's more alarming. Be thankful it wasn't worse...

As an aside I notice you repeatedly use NEMA which is the phonetic spelling but it should be NMEA for National Marine Electronics Association. Yes, there are products out there that also use NEMA to mean same thing such as NemaTalker... read on at http://themarineinstallersrant.blogspot.com/2011/10/nema-oops-i-mean-nmea.html :lol:

To remove the AP display was that simply by removing the top and bottom skinny plastic face plates to access the holding screws, and did those face plates simply pry off ?

 

[knotflying]

Thanks for the spelling correction, it was never my strong point. To remove the plates I used a sharp knife in one of the corners and just popped the plates off. Four screws, one in each corner. I wish everything was that easy!