Minn Kota 2005 80 PD/AP Steering Failed

[Common Man]

I have a 1 year old Minn Kota trolling motor and the steering failed this weekend. I can't get it to steer left or right with either the co-pilot or the foot pedal. I tried engaging the auto pilot and I get the light but no action. I still get speed and on/off control just no directional control

I went to the local authorized repair center and they said they have about a 2 week turn around for repair. Since it will take that long I decided that maybe I should call Minn Kota before I hand it over.

Has anyone had much luck dealing directly with Minn Kota on these types of problems? I haven't called yet and I can't imagine that it would be that hard to fix since it's either the steering motor or the control board in the head.

One thing that spooked me as I was walking in to the repair shop was a guy walking out and he mentioned he had the same trolling motor and that his steering had also failed.

[WalleyeJason]

I have the same exact motor, and the same exact problem....

Any feedback would be great.

Thanks

[perchjerker]

might sound dumb but make sure your batteries are fully charged.

When mine got low once and I didnt know it, it did the same thing as yours.

Im sure you already checked them, but if you havent put a voltmeter on them amd make sure.

[Common Man]

I thought the the same thing so I topped them off.... Didn't seem to help.

Thanks for the input.

[sddan]

Same here with the 80 PD/AP/CP. I would plug it in and it would just spin for a few seconds and then stop. I had the board and the power cord replaced and it now works with the foot pedal. The co-pilot is going back but they said it would be a few weeks repair it. I wish they would have just swapped it out and be done with it.

[CraigM]

I had a similiar problem with mine, I took it to a Minnkota service center he cleaned the contacts on the plugs for the controls and everything works fine . They get corroded with use and road crap ,clean them up like you would a battery post that may help fix your problem

[Mattman]

That plug between the CoPilot and the motor is notorious for being a bad connection. Every now and again my motor won't turn left with the remote or the foot pedal. Just unplug the motor and plug it back in again. And it works. Keep the contacts clean. I'm going to try a little bit of grease used for electrical connections to see if that improves the situation.



Matt Davis

Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

[perchjerker]

yea, good tip. For the money that thing costs and the environment its used in, you would think they would use a weatherproof connector there.

[Common Man]

I looked at the control connector and I will have to admit that it looks pretty dirty. I cleaned them up with contact cleaner and still no action...

If I engage the auot pilot and physically turn the head on the motor shouldn't the auto pilot try to correct back to the original heading regardless of what input device I have connected ie; copilot/foot pedal?

[perchjerker]

Yea it should. But I cant turn my motor head by hand while its engaged in the drive collar. Not that I have tried that hard but I dont think it moves easily. Maybe thats where your problem lies.