Lowrance autopilot. Zigzag heading hold issue. Swaying.

The heading hold won't hold the boat straight. It keeps turning left and right. When going slow it disconnects and displays the message "No rudder feedback" or something. I turned the response all the way down and all the way up it made no difference. I'm going to relocate my compass/gps puck out front more and try bleeding the hydraulic system again. Once I get it straightened out I'll post the fix or if someone knows please post below. Thanks.

[@mrcollier1641]

My friend had to change the pump and it fixed the problem.

[@dougward6462]

Did you ever get this resolved? If so, what fixed it for you? Thank you!

[@stevetemplin8789]

I had the same problem. After over a year and too many hours on the phone with tech support i finally got it fixed. First I isolated the power from the same switch as the hds unit, added a precision 9 (which helped) but still had the problem. I finally noticed the pump seemed stronger turning one direction than the other. Replaced pump and resolved problem. Makes sense in hindsight because the pump feedback is critical for the vrf to work. If still need help pm me and let me know

[@Oouther1]

I looked at the west marine reviews and one guy said there is an additional calibration needed of which I’ve not found. Mine is so bad it is useless while on plane.

[@Oouther1]

For those interested, the GPS antenna/compass has to be calibrated which is never discussed. That cures many evils! After doing that I ran my boat probably 75% of the time on autopilot :) th-cam.com/video/cV4rMgvBodc/w-d-xo.html

[@dancottle9848]

Same issue but it gets much worse in rough and rolling water. I calibrated the point 1 and reduced the a/p sensitivity but it still wonders sometimes. I find the autopilot needs to have the vrf calibration Re done often as it loses its rudder feedback every time the motor hits a port
Or starboard limit. The wandering happens even on calm days sometimes I think it helps for trolling and might be ok for following a route but heading hold has issues. I’d like to see some software updates to fix the vrf calibration issue and maybe a network gyro option to fix the wandering.

[@everydayrc1783]

Mine still does it after many calibrations and air bleeding the system multiple times. Now the latest is the red cancel button doesn't do jack shit. Once engaged hitting the button won't cancel it. This system is a total piece of shit. $1000 down the shitter. Maybe the units are hit and miss but I definitely got a dud!

[@larsdebois9709]

I Have the same issues with the Autopilot. I was curious if the problem was solved now?

[@tystar456]

@@larsdebois9709 no

[@thebigwrench6123]

my setup is the hydraulic lowrance unit with a 9" HDS Carbon display. i installed the unit and the HDS Carbon 3D along with a baystar hydraulic steering kit all at the exact same time.
to get rid of the swaying issue there is a setting in the head unit that, basically allows you to dial in the width of the path you are traveling if you turn this all the way to the minimum path width your swaying will go away. if i remember correctly i found it when i was plotting points for Walleye trolling has to do with how much you can go off course before the system corrects the path.
Now here is the problem i am having i'll be autopiloting along around 1-1.5 mph everything going great and out of nowhere, no virtual rudder feedback. i can buy and actually was searching youtube to see if anyone has, bought/used a Nmea 2000 rudder feedback sensor. like a (RF25 SimNet Rotary Rudder Feedback Sensor) or )Garmin GRF 10 Rudder Feedback Sensor 010-11829-00 )

[@sturejohansson1792]

Try not to hold the phone to close to the transmittor. My auto was like that