autopilot problem

[bill4tuna]

I purchased a new simrad ap24 auto pilot in April 2009 and had it installed by a Boston Whaler dealer. It worked for about a month then stopped. It will not hold a heading. I don't know if the problem is the unit, the installation, or my incorrect use. How can I get it checked out without pulling my big boat out of the water and towing it back to the dealer. Is the problem simple. I have written Navico/Simrad. They tell me it is the compass and suggested I replace the compass. Help.

[TTaxi]

Since install & original calibration, have you possibly placed tackle, tools or other gear with ferrous metal or electrical wiring in proximity to the area the rate compass is mounted? That's very common and in my boat hard to avoid.

Have you tried recalibrating the heading sensor through the setup/seatrial menu and proceeding in slow full circle+ when prompted? If you hit Standby twice to be able to observe the rudder position indicator, and turn the wheel either direction, then the other, do the angle degrees read sequentially or are there skips as if the rudder feedback was erroneous? Will it hold a WP heading in Nav mode, just not in Auto? No error messages on the control display , like "no heading sensor input" or similar?

After confirming there is no metal ,etc., inadvertantly placed near the RC, I'd 1st check wiring and go through the whole dockside/sea trial setup procedure, recording all before & after settings in the manual.

[jy118lfd]

I am going through a similar problem with an AP12r simrad pilot. I spoke with tech support at navico and they told me onboard support is included with all pilots. He gave me a few local repair techs
and said they would submit costs to simrad and it would cost me nothing. Give them a call


Navico

410 Amherst Street
Suite 110
03063 Nashua, NH

Telephone: 1-800-628-4487 (toll-free within U.S.) or 603-324-2042 (direct)
Fax: 603-324-2043
E-mail: ns-support@navico.com

[Squidd Vicious]

are you getting communication from your GPS to your AP24 ?

could you be more specific when you say it won't hold a course ?

[SeaSwirler23]

is the heading data on the display when you are motoring around in standby hand steering relatively accurate and stabile? If that number isn't accurate, and/or jumpy, redo the compass calibration in the sea trail

are you running with a feedback or is the pilot equipped as virtual feedback (vrf)? If it is vrf, go into the dockside calibration and redo the vrf calibration, and when it asks you "did the rudder move to starboard?" keep hitting the no until you see a noticeable change in angle of the motors, it doesn't have to be huge, but not just your motors wiggling a bit. then take the boat out and redo the autolearn S turns in the seatrial menu