Lowrance x71 issues

[Revtro]

My x71 on the bow took a dump...I'm pretty sure.  It won't read the transducer.  I hooked up my LMS-480 and it reads the depth just fine, so I know it's not the transducer.  I also hooked up the x71 to the other transducer and same story.  The depth just blinks and shows no bottom.  I also noticed the light flickers a little too, but I'm not sure if that's related. 

Anyone had this problem?  Maybe if anyone's got a cheap Lowrance that'll use the same transducer, I'll buy it if the price is right. 

[Slipkey]

Revtro,

It could very well be that the connections for the trandsducer are bad internally.  Lowrance charges a flat repair fee to fix the unit, regardless of the problem, so it may be worth sending an email to lowrepairATlowranceDOTcom with a description of the problem. Each unit has it's own flat fee. They will send you back a response with the fee and shipping charges. 

If I remember correctly the X71 has the black friction-fit connectors with a male plug on the unit and a female plug on the cable?   It could be that some corrosion has built up on the male connectors on the unit.  Cleaning them won't be fun, but you could start with Q-Tip in some vinegar, followed by alcohol to get any residue off.  If that doesn't work, you will probably need to get inside there with something like emery cloth to clean them off. 

Incidentally, if you need a new unit and want something cheap, I do have an old Lowrance LMS-160 GPS/Sonar just sitting in my tool room from an old boat.   It hasn't been powered up for about 7 years, but you're welcome to try it if you want.   It's yours for $20 if it still works. It even has the GPS antenna and puck transducer with it.  I think it's the same size as the X71 and should be able to use the same transducer.

[Revtro]

Slip,
Thanks for the offer.  I'd love to hook up with you to make that happen.  At the very least, that'll get me by for a while. I contacted Lowrance.  They said that with this older unit they won't repair it.  I was kind of surprised.  They told me to buy a new one. 

[Slipkey]

Revtro,

I sent you a PM.

-Jon

[djkimmel]

The speed of technology obsoletes things faster than my wallet refills...

(I know... I know... 'obsoletes' is not a verb but I've heard lawyers pull the same trick)

[fiker]

I"ve even heard W do the same thing.

[djkimmel]

He probably knows a lot of lawyers...

Rev, they did offer you a discount exchange I hope? That has been their policy for quite a while now (in the past anyway).

[Revtro]

Nope.  They just emailed me back and basically said.. we can't help you, go buy a new unit.  I was kind of cheesed.  But a friend of mine told me to contact a certain person at Lowrance to see if they can do the exchange deal.  We'll see.  Thanks to Slipkey though, I have a unit to get me by. 

[Revtro]

Good news.  Lowrance came through.  They upgraded me to a new unit for the cost of the repair.  I just needed to talk to the right person.  Their tech department is an utter mess with impossible hold times, but in the end at least they took care of me the right way. 

[fiker]

Glad to hear it.  It pays to know the right people. 
When my Eagle Ultra Classic went to pot, they wouldn't do anything for me.
It was only two years old at the time.

Perhaps they can do something for Shane and the problem that he had earlier this year? 

[Revtro]

I think they took care of Shane.  He ended up getting a replacement for the bad unit at no cost I think.