Autopilot Failure

[Petronella]

Today when the autopilot (Robertson AP35) was switched on it errored out with a Rudder Response failure. Switching it off and on seems to restore functionality for a minute or two before it alarms and gives the same error.

I'm guessing it's a bad connection, a feedback error, a solenoid error or a PCB problem. How can I determine which?

In remote Indonesia so limited to my own ingenuity!

Thanks
John

 

[fredrussell]

In my (limited) experience, 9 out of 10 electrical problems on boats are caused by corroded connections. Get the connectors all shiny and hunt down and replace any wire that’s not copper (or silver) coloured. As the error is rudder reference related, I’d start the contact cleaning and wire checking there.

 

[Petronella]

Take a gold star Fred.

After checking all other connections I finally arrived at the +ve connection to the hydraulic ram. When wiggled it came apart.

Here are before and after pictures.

I've now rerun the diagnostic tests and "Rudder Test - Motor OK".