I bought 2 HDS 5 units last fall/winter. I had Cabelas install the one at the console. Before I put my boat up for storage last winter I checked to make sure they worked. They worked fine.

About 4 weeks ago I went and got it out of storage and started prepping it for the season. When I went to power on my unit at the console, it powered up and then shut down. It would not turn back on. I tried my other unit and it would not turn on either. My battery connections look perfect. Frustrated I called my dad and started working on other things while I waited for him. When he got there and I went to show him how the unit would not turn on ..... what do you know it turned on. Put on my other unit and it would not turn on. Back to the original and now it would not turn on. Kept on disconnecting and reconnecting it and it finally turned on. Tried both units at the bow and it was same thing. Each location is attached to different batteries by the way.

I installed the latest updates on each unit and everything seemed to be working perfectly and was able to power on and off normally. I thought the problem somehow resolved itself.

So now today I go get the boat out of storage and it is doing the same type of thing, except this time I have not got it to turn on?

Any ideas?

Don't know if this of any use, but there is a faint chirping sound when I press the power button and my gauges kind of go wild (gas tank gauge goes up and temp flashes and goes up and down). If I turn the key to the on position there is no chirp.

I was hoping to take my first trip out tomorrow, but that is looking slim now.


***** Warning ****** I am an electrical idiot

Some type of power issue.

sounds like a bad connection or a loose fuse.

I found a fuse one time, not too far back that looked perfect but was no good, I went and got a new package of them from the parts house, every one of them were bad but looked perfect and new, checked them with ohm meter. got another package put one in worked perfect. sounds to me like you have a power problem, check with meter, not test light, and make sure you have a full 12 volts to the unit if you do then start moving wires around and test again

you might clean the contacts where it screws to the head unit

i would check your battery voltage. Your battery may not be getting 12 vdc to the unit

I think this might have been it. Yesterday I decided to do one more check before I was off to Cabelas. Decided to re-check the fuse for about the 5th time and viola .... it turned on. I am thinking it was a loose fuse connection. Got to go fishing!!!!!

KU_B where is the fuse located? My unit is turning off and on when I run in a little chop. I have a HDS 8. thanks.

randy

I've had the same issue periodically. It was always was an iffy battery connection or a fuse that needed wiggling.

Mine is wired into the fuse box below the console

Got questions for you. Did you disconnect your batteries before Storage? Have you checked the water level in your batteries? Did you charge the batteries after filling with distilled water? Do you have a multimeter? What voltage is present at the lowrance connection and at the battery? Should be near 13VDC(not 12V) with very little difference between the to points. If voltages are more than .5 volts different all connections need to be cleaned and greased.

start simple. check batteries first, then fuse. MAke sure your volts are good.. A low battery will make the units turn off.