I am posing this question here to this group because we fish open water more than most Bass fishermen do
My remote when I go to press it on will sometimes not come on. I have to tap it the dash to get the remote screen to light up, then it works fine until I turn it off. Next stop the same thing happens again.
I have heard that the battery makes a difference. I tried that, no luck. I have heard of people putting things in the battery compartment to make the battery tighter??
If you have this problem, I would like to know and if you have figured out a way to solve this problem me and a whole lot of other people would appreciate your solution that you have come up with.

I had a problem with mine a while back. I thought it was in the remote, because when I tapped it on something I could make it work. I found I could tilt it to the left or right while pushing the button and it would work also. Drove me crazy. I bought new remotes and after a day or so the same thing. I replaced the gps (Ipilot)head and everything works normally now. I guess the circuit board in the gps messed up from not being really gentle with it. Don at Boris marine loaned me a used head, that was good, to verify that was my problem. Maybe yours is the same problem??? Might just be the circuit board in the remote. Good luck!

Gene it is oxidation, happens often, remove the battery rub on jeans like you are sanding it with sand paper on both sided and re install, don't it on many friends boats when the same problem happens, I bet that is it almost 100% of the time it is. The texture of your jeans will clean it well. I got this from their website. I have several batteries that friends changed that when I got home tested 100% and just needed cleaning, also clean the remote contact areas with alcohol helps a lot.
The older remotes like mine with screws all around the perimeter were less affected than the newer round slotted removal cap.

I had the exact same problem with my Terrova remote. Changing batteries would fix it temporarily but it would repeat. Finally figured out (through reading a bunch of posts) that the small contact spring in the bottom of the remote under the center of the battery is the problem. Apparently these batteries vary a bit in size which affects how they contact this spring hence why tapping the remote will usually restore the contact. I carefully pried/bent this spring up slightly and have not had the problem in over two years now.

Gene, I had the same problem my second time out with the new Ipilot Rockwall Marine installed to replace the tornado damaged one. Got to my first spot and it would not come on. Went back to ramp to get the remote from the damaged one (good thing I kept it) and took the battery from it and put in new remote. Still would not come on. Tapped it on the side of the boat and still would not come on. Used the old remote that morning and when I got home looked up possible issues on line and nothing worked. Finally I did what Lenahorse says and took the battery out and rubbed it on my shorts, put it back in and bingo it worked. Just checked the remote again and still working. Go figure!!

Mine remote is the old style with screws all around the perimeter holding the battery in, I cleaned my battery, used silicone lube on the rubber o ring seal & cleaned the contact surfaces with alcohol and have had no more problems. This problem is very wide spread on the new style remotes.
Every instance I have been involved in with others in the last 5 years a quick cleaning has fixed it.

I did see a person 'paint' the battery with clear finger nail polish which completely sealed the contacts and did not work any.

lenahorse is correct,

I had the same problem on my boat while he was fishing with me. Rubbed the little guy and it worked again. Now that I have the iPilot link model the problem doesn't crop up since it uses a rechargeable battery.

Mine did it to. Matt Cartwright told me to put a little folded piece of a business card on top of battery so lid pushed it in tighter.
That fixed it, not another problem.

I take credit for Gene posting this. Lol. I fished with Gene Saturday morning. Wind was bad so I took over the TM duty and had to smack the Terrova remote a few times everytime to get it to power up. Then I realized I've seen this 5 other times in my circle of fishing buddies whom I fished with over the past years.

So I googled the issue last night and not surprisingly bunch of other anglers got this annoying problem, from other forums like bass, walleye, crappie etc.

Anyway, after tons of reading, I gathered 4 top common recommend fixes. Larry's jeans rub is a new one. Glad to hear that work, Larry. Does front jeans rub work better than rear rub, Larry??? The top suggestion is to replace new batteries and many tried that but still a no fix. Other said to extend the connecter spring or pin for better connection. Some used conducting grease on the batteries. Some were under warranty and swap out the remotes. Some placed a dime between the battery and the cover and this 10 cent fix seemed to end several threads, so I assumed that's the best fix out there as of today?

I guess I am the few lucky ones. My riptide ipilot remote has been flawless so far. It still has the same set of batteries for many years now. I am thinking the waterproof, keep-the-salt-out design may be better?

Todd I know at about 5 instances I have done this to friends remotes all but 1 were the new style round battery covers, mine ha been good for 4+ years now since I cleaned it. Ed's has had to be cleaned a couple of times, rarely have I heard of a battery not working, I still bush a button n mine before I leave the house or the night before to check it.

How was fishing we cancelled all last week due to wind. Next week looks a little better but not much we were really getting on the patterns good with a couple of trips like old times and good numbers to and the darn wind got up.

Mine has a slightly different problem if anyone can shed some light on it. It comes on fine, and the battery is good. I have tried different battery brands, and check them with a volt meter. When I use it, sometimes the unit responds and some times it does not. It is a PITA and gets me in a bind once in a while. It's like the signal is weak and the head is not receiving it. Anyone had this issue before? How far does your remotes respond from? I would think I could be at the console of my 22' boat and it would work, but a lot of times it does not.

when it did NOT work would the remote come on and anything show in the display? Also was the light on the trolling motor on?

You may want to call MK, TCK. Or Google the problem.

Larry, you fished with Gene before and didn't say anything about jeans rub. Glad that s a fix!

Todd I don't remember any problem then, the denim in jeans really cleans the battery be sure and do both sides and only touch the edges after cleaning. I am sure ready for all of to go again as soon as everyones ailments heal !
I am past ready.

Remote is on, and showing speed and signal bars like it should. I'm not sure on the light that is on the motor. It's a Riptide SP, and I don't think there is a light on it exept for the battery condition lights. That's bad, I have been using it weekly for two years and can't remember if there is light.