Xi5 troubleshooting

[Devan S.]

The other day midday my Xi5 just stopped. Lights went out and dead. 

When I got home I took the cover off, I have voltage at the control board so I assumed I control board was bad. Installed new control board today and still nothing.

Its almost as if it does not detect that it is deployed. I have not been able to find a switch or magnet anywhere obvious. Any idea where one maybe or what else to check?

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 hours ago, Devan S. said:

The other day midday my Xi5 just stopped. Lights went out and dead. 

When I got home I took the cover off, I have voltage at the control board so I assumed I control board was bad. Installed new control board today and still nothing.

Its almost as if it does not detect that it is deployed. I have not been able to find a switch or magnet anywhere obvious. Any idea where one maybe or what else to check?

Put your problem in YouTube.  I replaced my steering sensor board after watching some YouTube videos from others with the same problem.  

[Devan S.]

There is nothing on Youtube or web searches that tell me anything similar to what I am seeing. Its just all about changing the control board. 

I called Motorguide support this afternoon and they claim I'm very unlucky and my second board is bad as well. Of course, when I call the place I just bought this new board from to ask about support they are going to argue no returns on electrical components. 

I challenged them as to where the switch/sensor that tells the control the motor is stowed or deployed and they tell me its magnetic switch on the board itself. Wildly interesting considering the entire unit is built of non-ferrous materials I am not sure what reference it would use to "detect" any change in position. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

trollingmotorparts.com is actually the online market for tri state trolling motors that is located about 5 miles from my house.   When I bought my steering sensor, he told me there was no returns on electronic parts. But if I paid them $75 to install it, it came with a one year warranty.    I could’ve put that thing in in 10 minutes, but I paid the 75 bucks.   

[Devan S.]

Yep that is where I bought it but due to the distance obviously I didn't come up there to do simple job. 

Further investigation looks like there is a reed switch on my old control board. Need to crack the new one open and see where it is at exactly. 

I'll do some tinkering and maybe give them another call Monday. May just try bypassing that if I could prove that was my problem. 

More to come. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I didn’t know that until I ordered the part and saw the shipping address.   Just happened to be close or I would’ve installed it myself.  I hope it works out for you.  

[fishinwrench]

I got a smoking hot deal on a Xi5 about 9 months before MG started going tits up.  

I liked it ok, but it kept getting pings from home security systems in my area....and basically took on a life of its own.    Luckily I sold the boat that it was on before I had to scrap it. 

[Devan S.]

Well more troubleshooting. Reed switches are both normally open. Checked on both controls and they both work. 

Applied power direct to motor drive and transmission and they both work. 

Now its down to either toss another $215 on another new control or take to a dealer and let them do it so I have some sort of coverage if I luck into another from the factory bad board.