Problems with 2017 Minn Kota Ulterra

[tcbass]

I have a newer 2017 80lbs. Ipilot Minn Kota Ulterra that I bought new last year. Worked great. This year whenever I attempt to use spot lock or autopilot on the footpedal or remote I get a series of chirps/beeps and it won’t work. The constant on and everything else works on the foot pedal and remote. 

 

I have 4 year old batteries that were tested last year and where fine. However I did knock one over causing it to spill about a tea spoon of acid. Every since then I noticed one of the lights on the battery charger is always flashing, never goes to full green on like the other battery. So I’m thiking maybe I don’t have a full charge and it’s causing problems with the Ulterra. Not sure. 

 

The remote shows the remote battery full and then every once and awhile their is another battery indicator that looks like it has a problem. I’m assuming that is the 12v battery. 

 

Anyone know what might be going on?

[jbmaine]

I was having problems with spot lock on my new ulterra. As part of the trouble shooting with MK I was told a weak or bad cell in the batteries would cause problems with any thing GPS related. So it could be your batteries are the issue. I would call MK and see what they say, and please let us know what you find out.

[Fishing Rhino]

Doesn't MinnKota have a two year warranty on new models?  Google MinnKota service centers.  There may be one near you, that you could call.

 

A teaspoon shouldn't cause a problem, unless the battery had a low or weak cell to begin with.

 

Check all your contacts.  Make sure they are clean, and tight.  Most electrical problems stem from poor grounds or poor contacts in the circuitry. 

[PECo]

Since your batteries are flooded lead acid, try equalizing the cells within them. Minn Kota’s Precision Chargers have a mode for this.

[tcbass]

2 hours ago, PECo said:

Since your batteries are flooded lead acid, try equalizing the cells within them. Minn Kota’s Precision Chargers have a mode for this.

 

Ok, how do I do that? 

 

 

I do have a Minn Kota charger.

[PECo]

[tcbass]

9 minutes ago, PECo said:

 

Thanks! I found out I don't have the right Minn Kota so it doesn't do that. Ugh!

[tcbass]

On 5/23/2018 at 6:47 PM, PECo said:

Since your batteries are flooded lead acid, try equalizing the cells within them. Minn Kota’s Precision Chargers have a mode for this.

 

 

Anyway to equalize without using the battery charger?

[tcbass]

Update:

 

So the Minn Kota charger was showing one green light and one solid yellow light. 

 

I disconnected that charger and connected a single charger to each battery until they were fully charged. 

 

Re-connected the old Minn Kota charger and now both batteries are flashing green which I believe is maintenance. 

 

So are the batteries probably ok now and for some reason the charger couldn’t preciously charge them fully? 

[jbmaine]

Have you tried your trolling motor?

[tcbass]

41 minutes ago, jbmaine said:

Have you tried your trolling motor?

 

 

Haven’t been able to get out since the last time. 

[PECo]

I’ve read that Minn Kota Precision Chargers are very sensitive to the line voltage from the wall socket. I’m not sure whether this is an issue with Minn Kota chargers other than the Precision Chargers, but I had problems with mine apparently not properly detecting my batteries. The problem went away after I upgraded my extension cord to a shorter one made with larger gauge wire.

[tcbass]

38 minutes ago, PECo said:

I’ve read that Minn Kota Precision Chargers are very sensitive to the line voltage from the wall socket. I’m not sure whether this is an issue with Minn Kota chargers other than the Precision Chargers, but I had problems with mine apparently not properly detecting my batteries. The problem went away after I upgraded my extension cord to a shorter one made with larger gauge wire.

 

 

Good to know. Thanks!

[tcbass]

Update:

 

I charge my 2 TM batteries with an onboard Minn Kota charger and my starting battery with a Black & Decker charger. When I went to charge them this last time the one of the Minn Kota's banks was flashing green and the other was flashing yellow which means it's charging in absorption mode (whatever that means). Either way it never went to solid green meaning it is fully charged and in maintentance mode.

 

So, I disconnected the Minn Kota charger and charged each with the Black & Decker charger. I then put the Minn Kota back on them when they were fully charged. 

 

I got out on the lake and the motor worked normally again. After a short time the same problem started happening with Spotlock and Autopilot not working and getting beeps/chirps when I attempted to use them. It'd seem to me that the batteries had drained enough again to not allow Spotlock and AP to work. 

 

So it does appear to be a battery issue and not an TM issue. I'll bring the batteries in and get them checked and replace them if necessary. I suspected it was the batteries and it apparently is the issue. I'm happy it's batteries and not the TM at least. The batteries are 4 years old. 

 

[Further North]

I've seen plenty of incidents where what looked like problems with electronics turned out to be flakey batteries, wiring issues or something other than the equipment itself.

 

It's good that his appears to be another, I will interested in what you find out when you get your batteries checked.

[tcbass]

Follow-up:

 

Switched out the old wet-cell batteries for 2 new Cabelas AGM batteries. Problem solved! Motor works 100% now.

I've had 2 Ulterra "trolling motor problems" with my TM and neither ended up in fact being the motor, one was the breaker and one was the batteries. 

Thanks for all of the advice on here. I'm done with wet-cell batteries for life now. Only AGM sealed for me now. Old wet-cell spilled out acid and I almost got acid in my eyes checking the water level, no more of that for me.