Problems with MK PDV2 with I-Pilot

**kschupp** · 07-07-2011, 09:44 AM

When purchasing a PDV2 and I-Pilot, take care. I bought my boat last March from Cowbellas in Dundee MI and had them install the I-Pilot on my PD V2. The first time out on the water I used the spot lock (which was working fantastic) and after about 20 minutes, the trolling motor spun around 540 degrees and crimped the transducer cable on my brand new fish finder, making it useless. The marine service manager at Cowbellas in Dundee MI was no help at all. When I told him about the problem, he said "Gee sorry about your luck, I haven't heard of that problem before." It was like "we got your 15 grand, so screw you." After a couple of months of argueing, I got Cabellas to replace the PDV2 with the PDV2 US, with the built in transducer. After driving all the way to Dundee (7 hour round trip) and having it installed, the spot lock on the I-pilot didn't work worth a hoot. I would turn it on at a dead stop and the trolling motor would spin around and push me 30 foot off my mark. Nothing else on the I-Pilot worked as advertised either. Until I had it switched, everything on it worked as advertised. Minn Kota kept saying that it was a voltage drop from my battery, but I didn't believe it. (Brand new battery that was less than 3 months old, and on a fresh charge). I think somebody screwed something up on the install. I put up with it all year long not wanting to loose time on the water fishing. This winter, I took my trolling motor to a Minn Kota ASC and had the mechanic run it throught it's paces. Of course he couldn't duplicate the problems I was having (spot lock not holding, auto pilot not working properly, trolling motor shutting off etc..) since he was on dry land. I finally convinced him to just order a new I-pilot and install it. MOst things seems to work just fine now, but I'm still having some problems. I was out a while ago battling a little bit of wind (15 MPH) and a bit of wave and my trolling motor kept shutting off again. After the 4th time, it popped the circuit breaker to my battery. I reached into the compartment to reset the breaker and it was extremely hot there and the red cover on my + cable had melted a little bit onto my post. I immediately shut everything down. I posed the question about what might have caused this on a couple of message boards and the most common answer was a possible bad battery. I purchased a new battery, but haven't had the chance to test it out again. Now I don't know if I am the only one that has had this problem, but I haven't seen anything on it on any message board. Most of the people have a terrova with the I-pilot, not a PDV2, and just absolutely love it. Does anybody know of someone with the PDV2 and I-Pilot that have been having the same issues as me or is it just a fluke?

**JTMavs** · 07-07-2011, 10:57 AM

The issue I have had with Spot lock on my PDV2/I-Pilot is once you drift off, it starts at low speed trying to get you back. Then it speeds up until you get back to the spot. Problem is, sometimes it is going so fast, you overshoot the spot and the motor spins to get you back. This will twist the cables if not watching. Another thing you may want to look into is the switch box CanePole makes which allows you to use either the remote or your foot pedal without disconnecting. Just got mine and it is wonderful!

**kschupp** · 07-07-2011, 11:48 AM

I had never heard of switch box for that. All I've been told is that you can't use your foot pedal (was disconnected when they installed my I-Pilot).

**talltimber** · 07-07-2011, 12:10 PM

I saw a youtube video showing exactly what you're describing (twisting up the cord on it's own) but I don't remember the fix, or if there was one. Other people have had that trouble, but I also don't remember for sure which model of TM it was. Guess I'm not much help after all. Rofl

**Tracker123** · 07-07-2011, 12:41 PM

The issue I have had with Spot lock on my PDV2/I-Pilot is once you drift off, it starts at low speed trying to get you back. Then it speeds up until you get back to the spot. Problem is, sometimes it is going so fast, you overshoot the spot and the motor spins to get you back. This will twist the cables if not watching.

Same here. Also helps to point the boat into the wind. Pointing the boat downwind is when it tends to overshoot.

**Ranger R61** · 07-07-2011, 01:05 PM

I have a PDV2 55 with iPilot. When I use spot lock I try and head the boat into the wind before turning on spot lock. I have heard of the problem and the trolling motor spinning around and I try and watch it to be sure that it doesn't do a 360.

All in all I like the iPilot. Best of all my wife likes to run it.

**gabowman** · 07-07-2011, 01:19 PM

My son owns one now and I did own one on a boat I sold recently (55# PD V2 ie. I-pilot). My son has a 17' semi V tracker and he has had no problems with the tm spinning around but I was running one on a flat bottom carolina skiff and it gave me fits on breezey days loosing the gps signal (I assume) causing the tm to start spinning around. As far as cutting off...if I was trolling at say .8mph (usually running on #2 speed) and I hit the rabbit button it might cut off my tm and I figured it was from throwing such a heavy load on the tm all of a sudden. Again, my son's doesnt do this...his works fine. Neither of us had problems with cables getting too hot/melting though.

**kschupp** · 07-07-2011, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by gabowman

My son owns one now and I did own one on a boat I sold recently (55# PD V2 ie. I-pilot). My son has a 17' semi V tracker and he has had no problems with the tm spinning around but I was running one on a flat bottom carolina skiff and it gave me fits on breezey days loosing the gps signal (I assume) causing the tm to start spinning around. As far as cutting off...if I was trolling at say .8mph (usually running on #2 speed) and I hit the rabbit button it might cut off my tm and I figured it was from throwing such a heavy load on the tm all of a sudden. Again, my son's doesnt do this...his works fine. Neither of us had problems with cables getting too hot/melting though.

Mine is an alumcraft classic 165 CS (16.5') deep V. Not really sure what's happening, but I wouldn't expect problems like this with about $1000 setup.

**Cane Pole** · 07-07-2011, 05:42 PM

Positioning your boat just to make the Ipilot work better kinda defeats the purpose of the anchor lock doesn't it? I just punch spot lock button and let the wind push the boat wherever it wants. I am never in a rush as some are.

**lcookie** · 07-07-2011, 08:24 PM

I have the Terrova but the guys I know with the PD2 are not having any issues.

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