Minn kota I pilot remote?

Anyone come up with a solution for these POS remotes? Remote continuously turns off and does not want to start up again unless tapped on something. Mine finely bit the dust last weekend on our Green bay trip. Not real crazy about spending the money on a new remote with the same issues. Anyone tried their mini remote for the i pilot? Wondering if that is any better. How can this company mess up a remote again. My copilot remotes where no better. Just throw away any time the batteries went dead.

Thanks for any help guys. Need to get this resolved before next weekends trip to rainy river.

Open it up and sand the battery contacts. That worked for mine.

Curious what generation remote you have. 4 years on my gen 1 and only the second battery. Worked great this weekend in Redwing.

I had read somewhere that the CR2450 battery can cause issues if made by certain companies.

Mine is barely two years old. Issues started when the battery cover broke off last summer.

If you can get a pencil eraser or a piece of brown paper bag in there, that would be better than sandpaper as it would not striate the contacts which allows for faster re-occurance of the issue.
Also carefully bend the contacts to increase the pressure slightly.
And add dielectric grease to the contacts.

Almost sounds like wrong batteries

Clean Battery contacts and re sinc remote and solved this issue for me !

2450 battery. Anyone know how to reattach this?

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Good thing you know how to solder!

My torches might be a little much for that board. Sure don’t want to break it.

Sounds like you got a bad remote or you are hard on it.
I have had the same remote since iPilot came out.
The good dealer would be able to do something. I read somewhere that not all float, minkota has replaced remotes that have sank.

Mine does the same thing, common problem. Doubt there is a simple solution to this. I just keep replacing batteries and whapping it on the steering wheel.

Looks like damage from whacking the remote.
I would never do that.
You should just fix the contacts instead.

I’m on my second I Pilot and I’ve yet to have a problem with my remotes.

5 years never a problem. I have the older type remote. I change my battery every spring and have never had one die during the year. Absolutely love the I-pilot.

Me too
Not a problem ever with mine
I probably just jinxed myself now!

Any of you guys want to sell your remotes? Even the guide I hired on Green bay last week was having issues getting hi s remote to work. Commented on his partner on the lake having three remotes on with on any given trip. Have heard form many others of the same issue. I would be thrilled to know the issues with my remote issues where only a fluke and buying a new one would solve the problems. That would be a easy fix. Just a little disappointed thinking Im going to drop $150 and end up with the same old POS.

Yes I was hard on my remote. It needs to be tough. When the trolling motor is running me into the rocks, wood, wing dams, ice, ect and I cant get the remote to turn on you better believe i’m trying to do what ever I can to get it to turn on. To tell you the truth Ive thought about dropping that piece of crap trolling motor over the side of the boat a few times and just cutting my losses.

Thanks for the suggestions on how to fix this. Not sure what Im gong to do as my remote is toast and need a new one by weeks end for a week long trip on the boarder. Spend $150 for more frustration or just scrap the entire motor and go with motor guide?

I’m thinking of trying the same thing. Got Chris bringing his over tonight to give it a try.

Get a solder iron and reattach it. Just take your time…

Mike M did you
use dielectric grease on the contacts.

Mine is a year old and once in a while the remote will not come on too. I keep a screw driver in the boat and when that happens, I just give the battery cover a twist with the screw driver. Im assuming its something with the contacts. I’ve read something on another site about placing a dime inside on the battery to make everything fit tighter but I haven’t tried that yet

I’ve had my I pilot for 5 years. Never have I left it or the remote on the boat for the winter. They both go in the basement. Idk if this has anything to do with the longevity of my unit but I am still on the original battery. Just a comment!!!

I’m on my second remote and none too thrilled about the quality. Plastic is fragile and they are cheaply made.

Yes, I used the grease on both my previous I-Pilot remote (2450)
and my current Link remote (3.7 volt, 1200mAh rechargeable Lithium battery).

There were some issues with the brand of battery used in the I-Pilot
remotes using the 2450, 2450-N battery.
Seems that Renata and Duracell brands solved some of those issues
and appeared to be with instant power available from the battery.
Other brand batteries did not give that instantaneous power required.

What brand of batteries are you all using?

I have tried ones form Batteries plus and think the last ones where Eveready.

Found this on a forum

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Was having intermittent issues with the remote last fall on my 2014 Terrova. Would tap it, and worked again. Became more frequent last fall, and this spring, wouldn’t work at all so took it in to local authorized service rep. The remote worked fine on their motor. Turned out to be a faulty I-Pilot board in the motor. Luckily, still have a few months of warranty left. Seems that the “tapping fix” was m coincidence.

I have had problems in the past and think there is something to the battery manufacturer. I have not proved the theory, but after switching to Energizer all seems to work fine with mine for a full season last year. Before that it’d go dead like others described. Nothing more frustrating than not being able to control the motor.

Mike Martine wrote:

I’ve had a terrova with ipilot for quite a few yrs now. Overall
I like it , but have had the same problems with the remote. It works sometimes , next time I pick it up ,nothing, frustrating. I’m on my second remote, and looks like I need another one now. Tried new batteries, cleaning the contacts, etc , no difference. I see they have a micro remote now, with limited features for 90.00. Has anyone tried these? I believe they only have autopilot , anchorlock, speed and steering, which is what I use 98%of the time, so thinking of trying it

Mike,

This little micro remote did work for Mike W’s motor, and as you said should cover the basics. Seems to have the same battery door and use the same battery size though so might be a future issue.

I have the same problem with the remote turning off frequently. I am going to try bending the contact tabs a bit.