Problem with s1g and st8001

[Mongoose969]

I just acquired a 2004 boat with a smartpilot, the boat will turn hard stbd When the auto is pressed. Left Rudder indicates on the st8001, I replaced the flux gate compass twice thinking the other was bad. The reading will stop at certain degrees then will continue but it's missing large portions on the readings, 25-26deg deviation when calibrated. Should I reset the smartpilot or does it needs to be repair? Thanks

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Mongoose969,

Please click here to view a FAQ addressing magnetic objects adversely affecting autopilot performance. Should the items specified within this FAQ have been addressed, then pleases click here to view a related FAQ addressing how to test for proper rudder reference transducer and motor phasing. As autopilot designs preceding the Evolution autopilots were unable to configure rudder reference transducer and motor phasing via the autopilot control head, should any phasing problems be determined, then recommendations within the FAQ addressing the rudder reference transducer leads and/or motor leads would need to be performed.

While it is understood that you have twice replace the autopilot's fluxgate compass transducer, it is recommended that this transducer be tested. Should the fluxgate compass transducer pass the tests specified within the referenced FAQ, then may be possible that the autopilot course computer's gyro has failed. To determine whether this is the case, the gyro's would be unplugged from its socket on the S1G's processor board. The autopilot would then be calibrated and tested again. Should the problem abate, then it would indicated a failure of the S1G's gyro and it would be recommended that the gyro remain disconnected from S1G's processor board as Raymarine can no longer supply parts and service for the S1/S1G/S2/S2G/S3/S3G autopilot course computers. When the S1G's gyro is disconnected from the S1G's processor board, the autopilot will perform as a S1 autopilot. However, should the problem persist, then it would indicate a problem with the S1G's processor board necessitating replacement of the autopilot's course computer, as Raymarine can no longer supply parts and service for the S1/S1G/S2/S2G/S3/S3G autopilot course computers.