Autohelm 4000 Problems

[Barry7363]

We have an Autohelm 4000 that or the past couple of seasons (since we've owned the boat) has performed flawlessly. This year, it seems to have a mind of it's own, and has been unable to hold a course at all, steering the boat wherever! There have been no changes that would typically affect it's performance (such as the introduction of a ferrous metal source in the vicinity of the fluxgate compass etc.) This afternoon, the Admiral and I tried to recalibrate the device to no avail, and suddenly the display was showing nothing, like it had shut down. We turned off the breaker and restarted the Autohelm, at which time it resumed providing heading information. This is the second time it has "shut down". I have verified that all connections are viable. Has anyone had a similar experience (and better yet, found a solution???) As always, I have the utmost confidence in the ability of participants on this forum to share their experiences, and appreciate their willingness to take the time to share their experience.

Best Regards,

Barry White
"Endorfin",
Catalina 34

 

[Stu Jackson]

Barry,

I'm sure that many folks here will respond.

You may also widen your search and input and are very welcome to join us on the C34IA Message Board, here: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html

Many of our C34 skippers have experienced similar issues.

Good luck, we're still happy with our older ST3000.

 

[kloudie1]

If it is one with the LED type control head, there is a "master re-boot" that might be worth a try.. This is to make it recognize a rudder reference transducer but it does a master re-boot in the final power down and back up.. keep ya fingers crossed. The key is to change the autopilot type, save, then reset to the correct type and save and power down..and then back up.

1. Install and connect transducer.
2. Enter Dealer Setup mode by pressing & holding Standby for 14 seconds.
3. Press +1/-1 simultaneously to get Cal Lock screen.
4. Press Disp to get Pilot Type screen.
5. Use +1/-1 to change type to a different pilot type, any type.
6. Press Standby for two seconds to save setting and exit Dealer Setup.
7. Repeat Dealer Setup mode, change back to correct pilot type (wheel or tiller,) exit Dealer Setup.
8. Enter User Setup mode by pressing & holding Standby for 2 seconds.
9. Press Disp five times to change to the Bar Selection screen.
10. Press +1/-1 to select "Rudd Bar" or "Steer Bar".
11. Press Standby for two seconds to save setting and exit User Setup.
12. Power down and back up.
13. Rudder reference transducer should now be detected and displayed on the screen

 

[zeehag]

^^^^ that and rudder sensor--phillip had issues with his while we were sailing this past year...


yes--was BEFORE we blew out the rudder ..LOL....after, nothing worked much or for long...and only in smooth water at speed...LOL.

 

[Ariel]

Barry,

The attached service manual may be of help.

http://www.ganssle.com/jack/st4000.pdf

Good luck,

Dave
s/v ARIEL

 

[Barry7363]

Gentlemen, thank you all for your replys ... I am thinking the "Master Re-Boot" may be the best bet at this point (Thanks for that Claude); If that fails, a re-boot over the side may be my best option!!!

Cheers,

Barry

 

[kloudie1]

Ya welcome, Barry.. The shop manual that Dave linked also has that song and dance in it but it is hard to understand why they didn't put it in the owner's manual.. Good luck

 

[T37 Phil]

Is there any other consistent feature when the problem occurs, motor on/off, lights on/off, radio on/off, etc... Perhaps the device that is failing intermittently is not the Autohelm. I've debugged Autohelm troubles before by swapping units with a friend. If you know someone else with a compatible setup, test their control head on your boat and yours on their boat. That assumes of course that yours isn't permanently mounted in some fashion.

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

Similar problem and solution

I had a similar set of symptoms on my 05H36, and acquired a new head to substitute.

As I began to disconnect the old one I discovered that one of the spade connectors from the fluxgate compass wasn't properly seated.

Check all yours by removing and re-seating them (to scrape off oxide formations) before doing anything else.

Fair winds,
Al

 

[Barry7363]

Once again, thanks for your responses. I am about to embark on the "check the connectors" track (thanks for that Al)... it would not surprise me to find oxidation compromising a connection; the very nature and history suggests this (as we had no problems over the past two years of ownership with the Autohelm!!). As a side note, the link provided in a previous post by Dave (Ariel), was for the 4000+ which is a newer version with more control buttons (and different software...I had one on my previous boat, a C-30)...
Cheers,

Barry

 

[druid]

Yup - very similar thing happened to me. Loose connectors. Those little dinky connectors are hard to make a good solid connection (the new-style push-to-fit ones are even worse imho). Cheap-ass connectors make the best electronics fail.

druid