Garmin 178C

[Ken Brice]

Anyone ever have a transducer fail on a combo unit? I have the 178C with 2 cables going into
one big round connector in the back up the unit. One goes to the transducer and one is power.

Not sure if I have a splitter between the transducer and the connector or not, but so far from what
I can see, that is a no.. Still going to look more.

Guess the question is how do you get the big round connector off without cutting it??

It just stopped working a couple of weeks ago.

Ken

[Son Worshiper]

Ken,

I have a 178C. Mine hasn't ever failed per se... I had a problem once when the transducer got "kicked up" out of position by ice (last winter) but that was easily fixed. Have you checked the position of the transducer?

As for detaching the "big round connector" are you talking about detatching it from the back of the head unit? It twists off... Press in and turn (like an aspirin bottle). Like most child-proof lids you might have to get a 12-year-old to do it for you. :D

[Ken Brice]

Yes, I checked the position, still in tack.. Last night I traced the back of the cable to a coupler, which leads
to the transducer.. I disconneted and sprayed some lube into in an now, it works sort of.. It flashes
the bottom, but not solid like it used to be.. I didn't take the boat out, just tried it at the dock.. So worse
case, if the transducer is bad, I can just get a new one, and don't have to worry aobut messing with
that big connector in the back of the unit..

[Roger T]

The connector in the back of the 178c twists off/push in and twist.See if its loose or make sure there is no corrosion.I would clean it with contact cleaner/small brush.
I have the 178c as a back up.Its 5yrs old but still works pretty good,screen is starting to fade a little though.

[cwhite331]

Hello Ken,

I have seen these transducers go bad before. I would order up a transducer. When it arrives, connect it to the 178 wiring harness (BEFORE replacing the old one) and drop it overboard. You should see a depth reading from this test. This will save you some headaches if it isn't a bad ducer.

If you haven't ordered the ducer yet, you may want to consider the airmar p66 (if replacing a transom mount). The ducer supplied with the 178c from garmin is manufactured by garmin. They make a good product, but the best sensors are made by airmar.

[Ken Brice]

I installed a new transducer before last weekend and thought i fixed it.. Started working once I put the boat
in the water, but within a few min, it started to flash bottom again and than stopped.. Damn... :-(
It would just start working than flash, nothing at all.. Didn't make differance running, drifting or
anthing..

Tried adjusting everything, but just seems to work and not work.. I used the same bracket that the old one was
on, it work GREAT for years.. So the postion is/was right. Just called Garmin and they are sending me a update
simm card for 8 dollars shipping (plus 50.00 dollars hold, until I send it back) not too bad of a deal, I guess. At
last everything will be updated and I can go from there. Only out 8.00 bucks..

Oh I did spray the connections with the contact clearner stuff.