What is with Lowrance Transducers ?

[Fed Up]

What is up with the quality of Lowrance transducers ? I have a LCX111 that seems to need a new transducer every year !

Put a new one on last spring, unit worked fine all last season. Put the boat away (in a un heated garage, very cold temps) and this year, the unit loses bottom, flashes 1.2 ft, then comes back to proper depth. This is not a shallow water issue. It does this at all depths.

I have been told that the unit puts out too much power for the ducer to handle and wears out. Any truth to this ? It seems the winter kills these things.

What is everyone elses experience ? Does anyone else have this problem ?

I have been reading other posts about depth issues and the only thing that cures mine is a new ducer.

I should mention that I am referring to the 200KHz single frequency, transom mount, skimmer transducer part# HST WSBL 106-72.

Is anyone out there running the Lowrance dual frequency 200/ 50 khz ducer with better success ?

Any feedback and experiences will be appreciated.

Thanks

[VaGuy]

I have three on my boat.
1)one dual frequency 200/ 50 khz ducer (5th season)
2)one 200Khz(5th season)
3)one 200khz shoot thru the hull (3rd season)

Never any failures. Don't know what to suggest for you.
AIRMAR makes transducers that fit Lowrance. Several
transum mount models. Maybe you you go that route.

[RDJ]

I have three 200khz tranducers running on my skeeter. My puck on my bowmount and my externally mounted transom skimmer are 6 and 5 years old respectively and work wonderfully. My glassed in puck in the bilge area is starting its 4th season and works fine as well. I too store my boat through long Montana winters in an unheated garage and (knock on wood) every spring they pick up where they left off the fall/winter before marking fish without issue..

[ChuckD]

Fed Up-
I've never had a Lowrance transducer fail, however I have had another brand transducer fail just as you described. It's a trolling motor puck.

Every spring this puck ducer failed. I suspected winter was killing it.

I cut the transducer apart (because it was junk) and I found water had seeped inside the ducer and must have froze in the winter. After talking to the company, we came to the conclusion that the crystals inside were damaged.

I wonder is somehow water is getting forced inside the ducer because where it's mounted on your boat? Or, just plain bad luck!

After 2 of these transducer failures I now place a dab of black silicone where the cable enters the transducer. That was the only suspect place I could find where water was getting in. No more issues the past 2 seasons, thank goodness.

[tazz413]

just talked to a buddy of mine. his is just over a year old, and had to by one two days ago. Not very happy. Lowrance should stand behind thier product, but they are not. $80 later

[Guest from NY]

Feel your pain. 5 years running a LMS522. 3rd transducer. Same with a friend. Love the unit otherwise. Got smart on the last one and got a extended warrenty $18 got me back a $70 gift card. Just a PIA to tear the boat down and replace. Lowrance are you reading this?

[Seedtree]

Have to add this - provide rain/water/ice protection for any open connections when you winterize, or during wet periods. I had problems with my Lowrance after I trailered it with open sonar connections (the sonar unit itself was in the truck) during a heavy rain. Developed some strange readings until the connections had dried out thoroughly in the summer heat.

Could be as simple as protecting the sonar power/transducer leads from the elements.

[Thor29]

first trip out this year(ice just leaving our lakes) anyway turned on my LCX27 and nogo for the depth. Flashes 1.6 ft and thats all. Last time i used it last year worked great. unit is a year old. Seems others have had same problems with lowrance ducers. Will try the silcone along the wire with my new one when i get it. Anyone have any oter ideas????

thanks

[fishs]

Two on my boat, one went bad. Same symptoms. Was fishing in Canada 3 years ago and 3 different guys with newer Lowrance units all had problems and ended up replacing transducers. If there is another locator in my future it will not automatically be a Lowrance.

[Smitty]

I just had to replace mine on my 332C (I think about 2-3 years old) this Spring. It started with the flashing at 1.x feet only at higher speeds so I bought a replacement but didn't have time to put it on before we left for Erie a few weeks ago. First day out it started "wigging out" even while trolling where it would go from 1.2' to 185' (all in about 30' of water), and I noticed we were marking very few fish as compared to what the others in our group were saying. Replaced the ducer that evening back at the motel and it did solve the problem. Same model ducer as you indicated. This is the first one I've ever had issues with, but it's also my first color sonar (prior one was an X85 that is still running). I did find one at boatfix.com for $59, although based on my experience I wouldn't order from them if you're in a hurry.

[Racedrvr]

:banghead:

I am on my 4th 50/200 transducer on my Lake Michigan cabin cruiser in 7 years. I slowly lose the ability to see the bottom in deep water until it won't read at all. This has happened over and over with 2 different LCX 15's. I also had one go one my Ranger 620....same symptoms. A new ducer and bingo I am good to go for a year or 2....then repeat the process. I have switched to a Humminbird 997 SI on the Ranger. I feel your pain.

:censored:

[blueicecpa]

Start with cleaning your connections and cover with dialectric grease.


May be time to updrade to http://www.airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/DrillDown.asp?Type=FF

They will make you a Lowrance Transducer to work with your unit.

[paramuski]

I have had 2 ducers go bad. Both in the spring after storage. No luck talking to Lowrance about replacing them. I'm about ready to go back to Hummingbird, too bad I like the Lowrance unit !

[Thor29]

just installed my new ducer. read a post about silcone around the wire, so will try. still trying to figure out what is killing these and why. Will probly take it off this fall when putting the boat away for the winter. never had a problem before with any other transducers.:huh:

[Burr]

I've got 4 - 200 kHz transducers on the back of my boat. Ooops, I mean 5, I just put on a new one to have one that would work.

Winter killed 2, two others were bad from last year.

My bow mount ducer seems to be going too, so I'll pick up another today. Didn't work at all coming out of storage, but it's doing OK now.

I've heard every explanation in the book. Simple truth is, this shouldn't be happening.

[pzeyefan]

My lcx 27c is know caput, From all the examples here it looks like the transducer, its a little over a year old. I get 1.2 then nothing then a large number mostly nothing. I live in west central il. it was cold this winter but not below there temps given. This needs to be brought to there attention and I hope this website does it. We need to right them and tell them to look at this site, word of mouth can be there downfall. I love my 27c when it works but after one year to have this not acceptable. I will not look into lowrance in the future if this happens again, side imaging looks good to me but I truly hope they will address this issue

[Dillon]

I own 2 lms 332;one on bowmount and one on counsel that shoots thru hull on a Ranger 620. The thru hull is on its 5th year and has been fine. The bowmount is a Minn Kota with a universal transducer. That went out the first year. I replaced it with the puck style mounted on the motor - that lasted 1 year. I replaced it again and now it is going again. It always seems that it is after a winter of cold storage - don't know if it will work when I put it down for the first time in the spring. Seems like it is an annual replacement project. Anyone got a solution?

[1shooter]

On a unit I bought last September I have gone through 2 transducers. Please keep in mind the first one went bad over the winter and the 2nd one never worked. 3rd was a charm but still have issue with this new unit not working properly.

[eyecatcher01]

i have several ongoing problems with my 110c and 337c...not sure if was software or ducers. i took the 110 back to ver. 1.6 but still think the ducer is jacked up. talked to a guy from gemeco today about a airmar ducer. he recommended the p66 as the only one for us walleye guys. he did mention that lowrance ducers are made in mexico and since they started that they have been junk. he said normally the 200 skimmer was ok but the dual 50/200 was terrible. the p66 200khz is only 11* and the 50khz is 45*...not sure about such a narrow angle but beats the he11 out of the piece of junk i am putting up with now. here is a link on the p66 specs http://airmartechnology.com/uploads/brochures/P66.pdf i think he said it was 140 bucks....guess i will have to pony the $ once again for a ducer but maybe this one will last. according to the guy at gemeco this ducer is far superior to the lowrance ducers as far as performance goes...should have crisper/clear definition. if ya wanted to go all out you could get a thru hull ducer for 800 bucks but he said they are AWESOME.

[yarcraft91]

I may already have posted this, but the Airmar P66 should be available with or without the paddlewheel speed sensor. I found that speed sensor about like any other paddlewheel- very inaccurate. If I buy another Airmar, I'd rather pay less and not have that sensor.

[rufferden]

:angry:I too put a new ducer on less than a year ago! The first time out this spring it worked for a few mins. then flashed 1.6 ft. I finally got in youch with Lowrance and was told my ducer was bad and there is a one year warrenty and to send my sales slip, which i didn't have . so i *****ed a little telling them what i've read and heard about the problems, but they said they couldnt help me, so i ordered a new one from L.E.I, because nobody in a hundred mile radius of my home had any. ALL SOLD OUT !! Go figure?:huh:

[Burr]

I Anyone got a solution?

Yep, save your receipt, put your bad transducer in it, and in about 6 months send it in for replacement.

[TurkeyNate]

I was fishing this weekend and noticed my temp sensor in the transducer kept getting colder. It started out at 65 degrees and about two hours later it was at 45 degrees. I kept joking with my dad that it must have been a huge coldfront come through. About an hour later it was at 32 degrees (time to get the ice fishing gear out). It kept going down in temp until it eventually hit zero and then disapeared. This was on my data overlay option. I tried to remove the temp and then add it back, but it just flashes at me and cannot pick up a number. Is the entire transducer about to go? This is on a 332 C unit.

Any ideas. I'm assuming it cannot be fixed and I will have to replace my transducer. I'm just currious if the entire unit is getting close to going. I've had the unit for 3 years.

Thanks guys.

[hondo]

I was fishing this weekend and noticed my temp sensor in the transducer kept getting colder. It started out at 65 degrees and about two hours later it was at 45 degrees. I kept joking with my dad that it must have been a huge coldfront come through. About an hour later it was at 32 degrees (time to get the ice fishing gear out). It kept going down in temp until it eventually hit zero and then disapeared. This was on my data overlay option. I tried to remove the temp and then add it back, but it just flashes at me and cannot pick up a number. Is the entire transducer about to go? This is on a 332 C unit.

Any ideas. I'm assuming it cannot be fixed and I will have to replace my transducer. I'm just currious if the entire unit is getting close to going. I've had the unit for 3 years.

Thanks guys.

Your transducer and your unit are two separate things, a problem with one of them does not indicate a problem with the other one. As long as your 332c is working well I wouldn't worry about it.

[eel]

Did I read this correctly? Lowrance transducers are under warranty for a year, send them in for replacement if you have the receipt? No problem? I'm on my 3rd in 2 years between 2 units

[abuck50]

Had the same problem. The original one sent with the unit was snapped ar the neck by a rock while going to the lake so I had to replace it. I thought the problems where coming from the software updates but as soon as I bought the replacement transducer from Bass Pro and hooked it up I haven't had a problem?!! Frustrating isn't it.

[kipperdoo]

Anyone know where I can get the software version 1.6 for my 332c. I too lose bottom quite often and want to try going back to the original software before I swap out transducers.

Thanks,

Kip

[eyecatcher01]

try emailing Scott Overfield, Scott.Overfield@navico.com he has hooked me up cpl times with older software. i have found several other reps that say they will email it to ya but dont.

[Lowrance bad customer service]

A couple weeks ago I tried to figure out why my two year old Lowrance LMS 522C was having problems picking up the bottom when I got up on plane in over roughly 15' of water. I spent a lot of time relocating the transducer, rerouting power cables, trying a new battery, back to the lake repeatedly to test, ...

I've since discovered I was wasting my time. Better put Lowrance was wasting our time. Lowrance has transducers (mine is an HST-WDBL part # 106-72) on this and similar product lines that have been going bad for several years.

There are numerous message chains you can find in google about this. I've called Cabelas and Fish Lectronics who have both confirmed this widespread problem. Many people have purchased new Lowrance transducers for $75 a pop only to replace them again later.

I posted a message on the Lowrance customer service web site approximately 10 days ago about this issue. They ignored it.

Yesterday I called Lowrance technical support. Almost immediately they confirmed the problem with these transducers, and actually recommended I purchase the new Alumaducer tranducer from Vexilar. I told them, given this was a manufacturer defect, I wanted a replacement transducer or some kind of discount on a new one. They turned me down because I was past the 1 year warranty. I requested the manager. I was told he'd call me back today - he didn't.

I was told by Cabelas that the Lowrance customer service has been terrible on this issue - I agree - they are not standing behind their products.

So, at this time I'm not sure what to do. I haven't found anyone saying the problem is fixed in new Lowrance transducers. The Vexilar Alumaducer is a thru-hull for aluminum boats and I don't have access to much of my hull from the inside, plus you'd need a separate temperature sensor outside the boat. I'm researching whether Airmar transducers are a suitable replacement.

Any suggestions?

[gofishwalleye]

Go with the Airmar. There are several posts here concerning these transducers. I bought the A66 this year and it has worked perfectly in depths from 0-150 feet at all speeds. (I'm using it on a lms332c) The test will be how it acts after my long cold winter layover.

[yarcraft91]

Airmar P66. I love mine. It survived last winter, no problem- the coldest winter in my area in many years.

[AllenW]

As I have two 27C units and I'm making this thread a favorite, but just curious, if/when the transducers go I will try the Airmar transducer, but those of you that are going with another head unit, what are you going to that's comparable?

Not so sure I'm impressed with Lowrance's customer service, like the product, but not if they don't stand behind it.

Al...thanks for posting on this.

[Superdad]

I will be installing my third transducer on the unit that I've had for six years, the second unit lasted a YEAR... Not happy, although the price has come down.

I have bookmarked the AirMart site should something arise from this new transduucer.

We'll see how long this one lasts, I'll be sealing the wire into the unit with black Goop.

Stay Tuned

[Gunmetalflake]

Had the same problem. The original one sent with the unit was snapped ar the neck by a rock while going to the lake so I had to replace it. I thought the problems where coming from the software updates but as soon as I bought the replacement transducer from Bass Pro and hooked it up I haven't had a problem?!! Frustrating isn't it.

So you hit a rock and you bring it up on this post. Atleast your honest:bangin:

[BassFisher1]

Did I read this correctly? Lowrance transducers are under warranty for a year, send them in for replacement if you have the receipt? No problem? I'm on my 3rd in 2 years between 2 units

Yep. 1 year warranty

Anyone know where I can get the software version 1.6 for my 332c. I too lose bottom quite often and want to try going back to the original software before I swap out transducers.

Thanks,

Kip

http://bassfisher1.zoomshare.com/files/Lowrance/Software_Updates/LMS332_v160.zip