HELP!!! depth finder info

[wakejunky]

I have been trying to get my depth finder to work and I need to know what transducer I need. I thought I remember reading that we have a 200 kHz unit. But, there is a small chrome sticker on the transducer wire next to the connector that reads "PD W wide angle" according to Lowrance this is a 192 kHz transducer. Have I found the problem? Or am I misinformed about the 200 kHz? Can someone with a functioning depth finder, preferably in a V-drive check to see what transducer they have?

Thanks guys
Doug

[Bitzco]

Depth finder = crap even when it is working. Mine works and usually is right within a foot or two. However, once the water gets shallow (less than 5 feet or so), these things are pretty much useless. Assuming that you don't really need a depth finder when you are in deep water (what are you going to hit?) then the value of these things is zero. They just can't be relied on in shallow water. At least that is my experience. Maybe there is a better one out there. I would suggest not getting the one Toyota put in.

[boneil]

Not much help, but I can take a look at mine hopefully this weekend.  Works well.  Only problem I'm sure where the transducer is located.  Could it be just forward of the gas tank on S22?  I have something solid mounted to the top of the hull there.  Would make more sense to me if it was aft though.   

[toyotafreak]

S22's is located under the forward removable floor panel by the bilge pump, forward of the fuel tank. Mine used to work AWESOME - for the first month I owned the boat.

[wakejunky]

well......ITS FIXED   Works like a charm and isnt even epoxied down yet.

I ordered a new transducer through Lowrance retail site. It is a 192 kHz unit. It was about $60 delivered to my door.

I was eager to get this thing working correctly, it has been bugging the crap out of me since I bought the boat. I crawled under the drivers console unplugged the old one and installed the new one and instantly I could feel this strange ticking from the transducer itself. I was reading on their website that the transducer should emit a very slight ticking noise. It was hard to hear unless your ear was right up to it but, you could easily feel it just holding on to the transducer. After the initial excitement my brain started to work and I realized this thing is working and the KEY isn't even on!!!!. No, the display wasn't on but the transducer was alive and ticking. Toyota has wired these things incorrectly from the factory. The only way to turn it off was to turn off the battery switch. I dont know if some of you are like me, but I use my boat three times a week and never turn off the battery switch. Even if you turn it off at the end of the day, it can be good for it to be on that long. The battery is also taking a beating to have a constant drain on it. I think this may be the reason that most of our depth finders dont work.

Easy fix- the factory has the depth finder hooked to the DECC on the positive and negative posts. Simply remove the postive "red" wire and attach it to the purple igntion wire. If you think the transducer is bad just grab on to it and you should feel a "ticking". Also if your display flashes the depth then there is a problem. It should display a number until it sense a greater or shallower depth, no flashing just solid numbers.

Hope this helps anyone with the same issues.

I'm stoked I finally got all the quirks worked out

[hockey651]

wakejunky it sounds like i am having the same problem that you had with your depth finder and its great to hear someone has found the problem, thanks, i was just wondering what the part number was on the transducer you found on the lowrance retail site

[breakawaydaze]

Hey, that is great news!  I bought a new transducer from Bass Pro Shops, I was told to use PD-WDX 106-27 from LEI industries. It says it is a "wide angle" 200 khz, whatever that is.  I was going to try to install it before I took the boat off of the lake this weekend.  Did you install it in the same hole that you pried the old one out of?  Or did you reposition it somewhere else?  More details would be great!  This is the only thing the won't work on my S22 and it drives me nuts.  Man I hope to get this working.  I hope I have as good of luck as you.

Breakawaydaze

[wakejunky]

Here's a little more info

If your boat has the Lowrance LSM-3 installed from the factory it takes transducer PD-W. I got mine from www.lei-extras.com
Part# 90-41 $54.95. Just type transducer into the search function it should come up.

Breakawaydaze- You must have the 192 kHz transducer or it will not work. If you are looking at the grey box under the drivers console labeled LSM-3 the cable is mounted in the center. There is a chrome tag on the wire within the first 12" of the connector. It will give you the correct number mine was PD-W. Be aware that if anyone had replaced it in the past under warranty or such that the wrong one maybe installed. The factory gave me and Im sure others incorrect information. They think it needs the 200 kHz unit. I spoke with Lowrance directly the LSM-3 was only built for factory installed options on our boats. There is very little to no info about it on there site. They said you could use the other type but it has to be 192 kHz.

As far as mounting- I stuffed it back in the factory spot. I didnt even glue it down. I've been out a half dozen times and with the exception of a large double up that knocked it loose, its worked perfect. I was thinking of relocating it, but its working flawless and is very accurate. no more hunting between 0 and 220 feet deep.

Hope this helps. let me know if you need more info.

[Johnny B]

that's great news! mine hasn't worked since I bought the boat but I haven't ever messed with it.  now that I know what it is, I can fix it. thanks!