Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

[catfighter]

So I bought a boat and it came with a "FREE FISH FINDER!!" I wasn't expecting much out of the finder (though he gave me a 700-amp battery as a core, that still holds 12V. woo!)

It passes the self-test:

It appears to work but when I run the diagnostic the transducer voltage reads "----":

and in the water I don't see anything:

I can hear and feel the xducer "pinging" when it's on, but it's not doing anything on-screen.

Yes, it's old, but for all intents and purposes it was FREE, so I want to try to get it to work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[John_S]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

Up until you mentioned feeling it ping, was thinking a possible cut/damage to transducer cable. I would lean more to a bad head unit. I believe there are only two pins for your transducer sonar. Both would have to be connected to get it to ping. Any friends with same or similiar HB? ie to swap out to test head unit.

 

[catfighter]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

Up until you mentioned feeling it ping, was thinking a possible cut/damage to transducer cable. I would lean more to a bad head unit. I believe there are only two pins for your transducer sonar. Both would have to be connected to get it to ping. Any friends with same or similiar HB? ie to swap out to test head unit.

No, unfortunately I'm a bit of a hermit; it's why I'm on the forum! :redface:

I hate to buy a new xducer if this one is pinging. I'll jiggle the wires and see if the connection is bad or something.

 

[John_S]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

You can check the pins where they go into the unit on the quick disconnect mount. Look to see if the female pins haven't pushed up and in, also that the males are not bent or corroaded. I doubt it, but its a quick check.

You could also try pot luck on ebay. Might find a head unit for $10. Transducers usually go higher. Keep in mind, that a typical new $100-$150 ff would provide more capability that this older 100SX.

 

[catfighter]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

I agree that I should probably buy a new finder now.

I jiggled the wires and the connection ports and the xducer said "connected." So there's probably a short somewhere, either in the head unit or the transducer itself.

Regardless, it's probably best to buy a new $150 than spend $60-80 on trying to fix this old thing.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

If you can juggle it and get it working you can probably fix it.

 

[John_S]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

If you can juggle it and get it working you can probably fix it.

Agree with Richard, but doesn't exactly jive with it pinging fine??? Where are you doing the jiggling? As long as the break or short is not at the point of entering the transducer, you should be able to repair cable.

 

[catfighter]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

Agree with Richard, but doesn't exactly jive with it pinging fine??? Where are you doing the jiggling? As long as the break or short is not at the point of entering the transducer, you should be able to repair cable.

I'm not sure . . . I "jiggled" the receiver end, not the xducer end, and got a "connected" message.

I have to get it back in the water to see that it's working properly, unless you guys have a suggestion on getting this to work in a bucket or something. though I doubt it works that way.

The wire on the transducer side looks okay.

 

[John_S]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

Remove the head unit from the quick disconnect mount. You will then find all the connectors held in place with two screws. If the screws are loose, the connectors can pop out and down. Also, check the pins when you have it off.

Here is the manual, in case you don't have one: http://www.humminbird.com/PDF/100sx.pdf

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

You could also try pot luck on ebay.

What is pot luck on ebay?

 

[John_S]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

What is pot luck on ebay?

Purchase at your own risk. Many sellers that don't have a complete unit can't test it and as such will be sold "as is", condition unknown, or "worked last I knew". You may end up with a great bargin or a dead head unit.

 

[catfighter]

Re: Problem with Hummingbird finder - transducer not working?

unfortunately, ebay is overrun with commercialism now, and most of the auctions are entered by mass-sellers that don't have the time to sell junk at $0.01.

Craigslist is probably the better place for "pot luck" items now.

Anyway, I'll check this thing out in the water this weekend and see if it's working now . . . i think it may just be a loose wire.