Depth Finder Works !!!

Short trip out to Keystone today. While gone for the last couple of weeks I send the Garmin 178C back for service. Recall, that the depth finder side of this unit has not worked yet. So, prior to going to the east coast for 3 weeks, I sent it back for warranty service. It was waiting for me when I got back. Dropped it in and took her to the lake. IT WORKS !!! Took a couple of tries to figure it out, but Garmin (www.garmin.com) tech support was great, consistent, and easy to work with. They never tried to make it sound like the problems were my fault, or an installation problem that I was responsible for. They gave me a check list to run down. After running through the list they said it was their problem please send it back. They first thought it was the transducer, so I exchanged that part first. That was not it, next they said send back the whole unit, which they exchanged in about a week. Great support by my standards. I have spent many hours arguing with other vendors so this was refreshing. Anyway, the 178C worked great.

However, the starting relay is going out. Turned the key, heard clicking but no starter turning. Little trouble shooting found that the relay was not closing. Out comes the pock knife, bridge the contacts, and she fires right up. We stopped for lunch at a beach. After sandwiches, she fired right up so its on the way out. Checked the diagrams and the parts list, guess what, at some point in the past some one bolted up a non-marine relay on the motor. Really no surprise there, as the marine relay is pretty expensive, but that explains why it failed as it is not sealed. I am sure the contacts are corroded.