No Depth Reading on SC SystemView or GPS

[rbihn2]

I have a 2006 320DA. I have not been able to get a depth reading from my SC SystemView or Northstar 6001i. They both just show "--.-ft." in the readout. Other areas seam to be functioning fine. Any ideas on how to solve? troubleshoot? I've called the dealer as well but sometimes others have experienced similar issues. To many shallows to Navigate w/o this aid! Thanks - Ray

 

[Four Suns]

Is the transducer in the thru-hull? Sometimes they are taken out and swapped for a plug so they don't get crapped up from sitting.

 

[rbihn2]

Thanks Gary - fairly sure it is - there is wire coming up from the unit - but I will check to be certain it's the right transducer and firmly attached. Ray

 

[Hampton]

Sounds like it is. Trace the wire trail and make sure the connections are good. Make sure the bottom of the transducer is not completely mucked up. Check your wiring diagram for the colors of the wires at the helm, then trace them down and check for good connections and none pinched in half.

If you end up getting really deep, bypass the wiring harness by running a separate pair of wires from the helm to the transducer leads (make sure there aren't any in-line diodes or other required systems).

Is it under warranty? Let them fix it, even if they are balking at the job.

Oh yeah, and don't forget the obvious. Make sure the system is turned on at the helm by navigating through your SmartCraft menus.

 

[rbihn2]

Update - just in case others ever have issues. Still no depth or temp on SC. Depth says "--.-". (FYI, new boat delivered 4/25/2008 - and so much going on during delivery - I didn't catch the fact that I had no depth as the other SC systems seemed to be functioning fine. I am chasing through dealer now! PS had same error reading for water temp.) I followed transducer to stbd engine harness - it was hooked frimly to a connection on the engine (transmission side). Dealer said he thought it should be at the other harnesss - stern end (actually labeled depth/diag). So while unhooking to obtain enough cable to try this change - I find that my harness was pinched almost completely broken (shielding plus three wires). Talked to dealer, new transducer on order under warranty. While waiting, I have sinced spliced all 4 of the wires - and rehooked where the factory had it - I gained water temp but stil no depth. Tried the other harness (stern end) and SC gave a system alert warning - didn't like that connection. According to dealer - these lines are very sensative - hoping to get this swapped out sooner than later. Will post updates - hopefully when I'm functioning. In case anyone is wondering - I have been agreeing to try and fix on my own as I feel the educatiopn is worth some value - plus it's more convienent than service call. Northstar 6000i GPS also has no depth reading (separate transducer for sounder module )- I have not been able to chase this one down yet - hoping I need to do some setup with the sounder unit - but it's also on the list for service now. New does not mean perfect! PS also have learned how to reboot a Sirius receiver (if anyone cares).

 

[Dave S]

Several of us on the board have smaller Northstar chartplotters (I have a 550) interfaced to Smartcraft and even though the depth "gauge" comes up on the Northstar unit, the display doesn't provide any numbers. Northstar is aware of this and their answer is they don't provide it with the Smartcraft Interface. I realize your problem may be totally different since you don't see depth on System View either, but I wanted to mention it in case there might be some correlation with your problem.

BTW, I can see depth on my Smartcraft Window that is on my Tachometer.

 

[rbihn2]

Several of us on the board have smaller Northstar chartplotters (I have a 550) interfaced to Smartcraft and even though the depth "gauge" comes up on the Northstar unit, the display doesn't provide any numbers. Northstar is aware of this and their answer is they don't provide it with the Smartcraft Interface. I realize your problem may be totally different since you don't see depth on System View either, but I wanted to mention it in case there might be some correlation with your problem.

BTW, I can see depth on my Smartcraft Window that is on my Tachometer.

Mystery solved - and close to your post Dave! My Northstar was configured to look for a "490 sounder" but I only have a depth transducer installed - no "490" unit. Northstar tech line had me change the Aux Port Setting from sounder to "NEMA S/D/T" - re-start and I see depth. My interface to SC works and uses the same signal - I now see depth in both locations. Turns out the suspected transducer cable problem was for a speed transducer -speed has been hit and miss as the line shorted. Once I spliced those lines - that also fixed the speed reading. What I don't get is no one at two different dealers could tell me to change the Northstar settings - seemed pretty basic and I'm a little smarter for it! Thanks - Ray

 

[wja]

I had issues after issue with the original Navigator II that came as a option on my 2005 390 Sundancer. I am a computor engineer and I replaced several components before I finally went to the Navigator 312 Wytan upgrade. It has 2GB of Ram, a solid state drive, a higher resolution monitor and a much faster refresh rate. All in all it should be fantastic, my problem is I am having the same issue and that is the Depth and Temp readings are blank on both the SC and new unit.

My question is: Is there a different setup requirement for the transducer when using a Navigator 312 vs the original unit, it was working prior the installation of the new computer at the end of last season. Could it be as simple as the bottom paint? According to the place where I store my boat they said they always paint the bottom right over the transducer and they have never had a problem before.