Gaffrig GPS Speedo Problem
 

Ok, here goes. I have the standard size Gaffrig GPS speedo. When the engine is started is goes through the electronic cycle on the dial, 3 o clock-12 o clock-6 o clock position. Just when I think its good to go, it jumps to the 9 o clock position and sticks. I hit the "recall" on the tattle tale and it zero's out but in just a few seconds it jumps back to the 9 o clock position. I does nothing on the zero side of the switch. JJ at Pier 57 gave me another guage (same Gaffrig guage thats in the boat) and satellite receiver. Did the swap and its still doing the same thing. I really find it hard to believe that both instruments would be bad. I wouldn't think that its in the Tattle Tale switch ( I assume its just a switched signal back to the head unit). I am at a loss. Any ideas?

When they go to 9:00 position and stay there, its usually a bad battery in the antenna. Call Livorsi (previously Gaffrig during the time frame of your boat) and send it back to them. They can test the antenna (battery) and head unit. Battery change out is ~ $100. About 1 week turn-around time. I sent mine back over winter, it was doing the same thing. There was "no charge" for the check-out, just replacing the battery. Can't explain why your unit did the same thing, unless it had a bad battery too. Battery life is supposed to be around 4-5 years, from what I was told.

If a satellite was not found, the pointer will move to the 9 o’clock position and stay there until the problem is resolved.

This could mean a poor connection between the
antenna and the gauge, or the gauge is not receiving 12 volts.

As soon as the gauge begins to receive data from the antenna, the pointer should move to indicate the received
speed.

If the pointer moves to the 12 o’clock position and stays there, this will indicate that the recall/clear switch is stuck in the “recall” position, or that the connection is poor.

If the pointer moves to the 3 o’clock position and stays there, this will indicate the switch is stuck in the clear position, or that the connection is poor.

ONLY with Livorsi's ,,,Gaffrig work !!!!

The one stated above is a Livorsi not a gaffrig !!!!
It should say Gaffrig by Livorsi !!??:rolleyes:

Like this one?
Originally Posted by Reckless32
Recently I noticed my Gaffrig monster GPS speedo pegged itself at 32-33 mph after powering up? I reset/erased recall, and it still pegs at 32-33 no matter running or idling. I popped the dash panel off to look inside and behind it to ensure no wires were loose, or the hockey puck hadn't come loose (you know, obvious stuff) and found everything to be visibly in order.

I'm suspecting the default to 32-33 mph means something like shorted, or some kind of fault reading. Anyone know what it means or if there's a fix besides replacement?

Time to call Gaffrig....:ernaehrung004:

On my GPS speedometer when the receiver quit I simply
patched in my Garmin GPS NMEA output into the speedometer.
Works fine. Assuming you're also running a GPS.

Pesky Varmint

Thanks for all of the info guys!! I really appreciate it. Its the battery in the antenna. Should be no problem to fix.

It is the Gaffrig by Livorsi speedo unit.

Once again, many thanks!!

Alright. Took it upon myself to try and fix the battery in the gps receiver/antennae. Unscrewed the white cap which has a small o-ring and teflon tape and took the unit apart by removing three small internal screws. And whaddyaknow, voila, there is a small panasonic battery in the bottom of the unit. Its held in by a couple of tack welds which were easily cut using an exacto knife. Went to Batteries Plus and bought a battery and they tack welded it back in for me, all for the grand total of $3.89. Thats right folks, three dollars and eighty-nine cents. Put the unit back together and it works like a charm. Just a bit of fyi for the do-it yourselfers!!

great info there ,thanks

DD, the Livorsi vs Gaffrig bs is getting old. I think everybody knows your opinion by now.

BTW, the old Gaffrig labeled Livorsi guages say "Gaffrig Precision Instruments"

Gaffrig say Gaffrig Performance

Yeah i sent mine in to be fixed and it was the puck. Had I known about the battery and the access to it, I would've done it myself as well. Good gouge for future reference, thanks.

In some earlier threads on this subject, some tried to replace the battery themselves and ruined their pucks, which cost $200+ (so I've been told). I probably could have changed my own, but chose to send it back, just for my own peace of mind! Glad to hear it was only $4 :D

Following up on this thread, thought I would share my experience. No warning, went out to test some new prop work from BBlades today only to find the Speedo pegged at 55 MPH. Pissed off the remainder of the day, I stumbled onto this thread the next morning. the pictures below are from the Monday morning operation. The small Panasonic battery is soldered in and mounting tabs appear to block any additional information. i am going to call Livorsi this morning and see if I can purchase the battery from them unless Stogie can post up the Batteries Plus part number he used.

http://www.intored.net/media/Livorsi/Livorsi-001.jpg

http://www.intored.net/media/Livorsi/Livorsi-006.jpg

http://www.intored.net/media/Livorsi/Livorsi-008.jpg

http://www.intored.net/media/Livorsi/Livorsi-009.jpg

Pulled the battery mounting clips off and as you can see it is a CR1632

http://www.intored.net/media/Livorsi/Livorsi-012.jpg

Pretty sweet deal. the guy shrink wraped the sides, bent new tabs and spot welded them on for under $4 bucks :)

http://www.intored.net/media/Livorsi/Livorsi-013.jpg

Some have emailed me about the torque required to remove (or in my case install) the white plastic cover. Since mine was siliconed to the top of the dash, I was able to unscrew the cover while still in the boat. However overcoming the pipe tape and o-ring resistance during install was a bit tricking since the unit was no longer secured to the dash. For those that have the antenna already out or when reinstalling, the trick i used was a pair of needle nose pliers. In the base of the unit are three screw holes used to secure the MB from the inside. The remaining thread provides just enough depth to get the tips of the pliers to resist the torque needed to get the cap on or off. Hope this helps.

That's what I did too.

mines running at 9 o'clock ..sure hope it stays stuck to the dash ..Thanks for the great info ...off to Radio shack

i replaced my battery. but the problem persists. mine stays stuck below the 2 ...or at 17 mph..... when i pressthe recall erase toggle, it drops to zero, then when i let go the toggle, it goes back to the 17 mph mark and wont budge ..even when at 50mph, stuck at 17... i keepplaying with the erase and recall togglle but no matter what i do, it always goes back to 17. any ideas

Are you sure you have the +/- soldered in the right orientation?

send in your gage for testing,,

Did you ever figure out what the issue was? Mine is doing the same thing so I'm curious as to what you did to correct the issue.

The gps antenna internal battery has failed, If you contact Gaffrig they have a new replacment unit (bigger) put externaly powered to correct the porplem for good.. price is 218.00 plus ship just did it to my boat