Need help with Humminbird Fishfinder

[VABasser]

I've got a Humminbird 400tx on my boat.  It's worked fine for me in the past and the last time I took my boat out in 2006, everything was good.  Yesterday I went out for the first time this year and guess what, the fishfinder won't power on.  The battery was fine because it was running other things.  I fiddled around with it and tried it again today but nothing.  It's odd, I really have no clue what could've caused it to just quit.  I checked the little pins and they weren't bent, the wiring didn't seem to be messed up.  The actual monitor/screen I take off and the only thing that was outside in the winter was the mounted base that is screwed onto the console.  I checked the Humminbird website and couldn't really find any troubleshooting help on there.  I guess I should also send them an email too but was wondering if anybody else has any tips on what could be messed up.  Thanks in advance

[Garnet]

Put your hand on the xduser if it's pinging your screen is powey. Look for squeezed power wires they are tiny and it doesn't take much. And the male end of the plug can get curd on in it I use wd40 and work it back and fourth them put vasiline on them.

Garnet

[VekolBass]

Connect the 12v power source directly to the unit--just make sure the polarity is correct and you don't accidentally short something out. If that doesn't get it to power up, the head end is dead.  If the head is dead, break out your checkbook.

Do a continuity check on the wiring between the mount and the battery. If there is no continuity, check the in line fuse for failure. If you draw your power off of a terminal block somewhere forward of the battery, check to make sure it is not corroded or has loose connections.

If you determine that the head end is good, and the continuity to the mount is good--then the connection to the mount must be the problem. Check for dirt, moisture, etc. BTW--did you have the head end seated firmly in the mount? I've got a Humminbird too, and have occasionally had problems with it not working when I did not firmly seat it on the mount.

[HPBB]

check to make sure you have power to the unit.

If you do and it stiil doesn't power on. well either fix it or replace it

if you want to get it fixed call or email humminbird

they are really good about fixing their product.

I have a 300tx on a small boat that broke a few years ago and they fixed it.

If you plan on replacing it, don't get rid of it. I am not sure if they stiil do, but 3 years ago they did. check into it. Humminbird has a returning customer offer. you can trade in an old unit (doesn't need to work, and only the head unit not anything else) and you get a really good discount when you buy your new unit from them. I got  a Matrix 87c 3 years ago from them. traded in an old LCD unit that was sitting in a box in my grage for years. I got a couple hundered $$ of the Matrix 87c

[VABasser]

Alright thanks guys.  I will have to do a little more investigation.  Yeah I checked to make sure it was on good and tight so it's got to be something else.   :-/