While there were many claims about the performance of the Motorguide W55 wireless motor, it is quite common to see anglers talking badly about this unit.
In comparison to most of the other motors in the market, you will get an average level of efficiency and power.
On top of that, the wireless feature is known to malfunction from time to time.
So, there is a good chance that you’ll be spending a ton of money to purchase new components for your trolling motor. This can be quite annoying as people have to waste a lot of money even after purchasing this device.
With that said, quite a few users have come forward with questions about some common Motorguide W55 wireless problems.
So, let’s go through a list of these issues to give you a better perspective. There are several problems that you can run into, and these should be kept in mind.
Understanding what might be causing the issue can be important as it allows people to deal with it properly.
You can go through the solutions provided below once you find the problem your motor has been running into, just make sure that the steps are followed carefully.
Motorguide W55 Wireless Problems
- Motor Not Turning
The first and most common problem that you’ll see anglers complaining about is that the motor will stop turning.
Most of the time, this situation is created because of issues with the controls. No user input is being forwarded to the main motor, and it won’t turn as you try to engage the foot pedal.
So, you’ll have to isolate the problem with the control system and fix the control board to get ahead of this issue.
You can start the troubleshooting procedures by getting a multimeter and checking the power output from the foot pedal batteries.
Most often than not, you’ll find that the issue was with depleted batteries, and you can fix this problem by getting a battery replacement.
So, make sure to check the power in all controls to fix the turning issue.
Ideally, the problem will be fixed at this stage but if you’re still stuck in the same problem, then make sure to involve the experts working at customer support.
Explain the issue to them, and they should help you isolate the issue to a specific component in your trolling motor.
People should also note that the battery used on the device is usually a rechargeable battery.
This can last users a long time before requiring a replacement. Considering this, if your purchase is quite old then your battery might have lost its tendency to hold a charge.
On the other hand, if the battery was new then your problem might be from something else.
When it comes to this, there are two different types of rechargeable batteries that can be used. Dry batteries don’t have any liquid that you need to take care of, but these will die out faster.
If you have a battery that uses liquid inside it then you might have to refill the liquid.
Once done, let your battery charge for some time and your motor should now start working without any additional problems. If the issue is still there, then there are some additional steps that can be used.
- Troubleshooting The Battery On Your Vehicle
The battery on your vehicle is supposed to power up all the devices including your wireless Motorguide W55.
This is why if you notice that the motor is not starting or giving low performance then your battery might be to blame. The steps mentioned above are some of the solutions that can be tried.
However, if you notice that none of these are working then your next best solution is to check the wirings on the terminals.
These can sometimes come off or get damaged which prevents current from passing through. There are several ways to check this including using a voltmeter to take readings.
After getting the readings, you can compare these with standard results and then notice if there are any issues.
If the voltage is fluctuating, then make sure that you get all the cables replaced with new ones. If only some wires have cracks on them then only replace these ones to fix the issue.
People should note that the main reason behind broken wires is not routing them properly.
This is why this should be avoided at all costs. Some people might feel hesitant trying to replace the wires on their own which is why it is better that they contact an electrician instead.
Aside from this, another thing that should be tried is cleaning the terminals on your battery.
These can start gathering dust and dirt over time which will eventually clog the connection. If you keep removing the dust frequently then there should be no problems with the battery.
On the other hand, if you have left the terminals for a long time without cleaning them then there is a high chance that these might have formed rust on them.
If you are having trouble trying to remove it then it is best that you try pouring some warm water on it.
People can also use a solution of water and vinegar or a soapy solution as all of these can allow the rust layer to soften.
This can then be removed easily by scrubbing the terminals. Once the rust has come off, you can then let the battery charge and your problem should now be gone.
- Foot Pedal Problems
Even when the controllers have the perfect power supply, they can run into issues with the foot pedal.
So, if your motor is not responding to the inputs from the foot pedal and you’ve checked the power output from the foot pedal batteries, then there is a good chance that you’re dealing with syncing errors or debris stuck in the foot pedal.
To fix this problem, you need to start by removing the foot pedal from the trolling motor configurations and then sync it again.
If you’re lucky, then that will fix all issues with the foot pedal. However, in some cases, users report the presence of debris and particles lodged beneath the foot controls.
For this reason, it is a good idea to get to cleaning the foot pedal if you wish to avoid these problems with the foot pedal. You won’t have to follow any extensive steps, and the issue will be fixed after servicing the foot pedal.
With that said, there is also a possibility that you’re dealing with a defective control board.
So, if the problem is not fixed after cleaning the food pedal, grab a multimeter and check the integrity of the control board. Order a replacement if the control board is not working.
- Loss of Power
The loss of power is another pretty common issue with users that bought Motorguide W55 wireless motors for their boats.
Most often than not, this issue is not that severe, and you can fix this problem by checking the output from the battery pack.
If the battery has not charged properly, then you won’t be able to get the desired performance. So, make sure to always start by checking the voltage output from the battery.
Suppose there is nothing wrong with the voltage output at the battery terminals, then you will need to look towards wiring issues and corroded connection points.
Most often than not, the loss of power can be traced back to corroded connection points, and you will need to use the steps mentioned above to deal with the problem.
All in all, these were a few common problems that the majority of users struggled with.
So, it might be a better idea to look towards other alternatives that are more durable and promise a consistent performance.
Hopefully, you won’t have to worry about the same thing again. If you notice that your problem is not mentioned in this article, then contact the support team for this brand.
They will ask you some questions regarding the device and then provide you with viable solutions. These are usually enough to fix most problems with a motor like this.
However, the issue can also be from faulty parts. In this case, it is much better that you send the device back to the brand.
They will get the damaged parts replaced for you as long as your motor was still under warranty. When it comes to this, people can get free replacements as well, but they should go through the guidelines once.
These help users in ensuring that their problem falls under the warranty guidelines.
If you are having trouble trying to find the warranty guidelines, then a copy of these can be downloaded from the official website of Motorguide.
You can also ask the customer support team to send you these. This information should be enough for most users to fix the problems with their wireless motor.