Marcum LX 5 problem

[Carp-fisher]

I have a Marcum LX 5 that I've used lightly for about 6 years. Last time out, the unit started acting sporadically. It started losing the bottom and finally let out a loud beeeeeeep and then shut off. I figured the battery had ran outta charge. I charged the battery. Today I went out fishing and the Marcum would only show a single red mark at the zero mark. It was also running much louder than normal (WRRRRRRRRR). I goofed around with it for abit, but could not get it to work. To add to my frustrations, my brother was suppose to bring my old FL8 (which has been beat to heck and still works like a champ), but he forgot.

So my annual Christmas day fishing outing ended up being a bust. I do not want to dish out another 500 bucks on a new Vexilar, yet I have heard that Marcum's customer service can take up a month to fix these units. Any suggestions?

[Esox_Magnum]

Try a new battery, if that dont work call Marcum or if your close just stop by and normaly they will fix it while you wait...

[Carp-fisher]

Yeah not doing the battery. Just got a new one last year. I'll call them up tomorrow and see what they can do.

[Esox_Magnum]

New last year dont mean good today, charger also could be bad check it first with a known good battery

[wishing for walleyes]

Yeah not doing the battery. Just got a new one last year. I'll call them up tomorrow and see what they can do.

I had a brand new fl-20 I bought last Febuary. I charged it up in November and it fully charged. Went to use it here in December and the battery was shot. First time I have ever had that happen.....but it does. Not a big deal to replace at $20 off the big auction site.

[401TE]

Take it to the store. Try a new battery first, then hook up a new transducer if the battery doesn't work. I've gone through 3 transducers in the past 3 years with my LX-5. The casing on the transducer cable is too elastic and thin, causing it to wear/cut very easily.

[harvey lee]

I have 1 battery from last year new, will hold a partial charge for about 10 minutes, got a new one, my LX5 works great again. Like stated above, charger could also be bad.

If you are using the battery status gauge that came with some LX5's for a few years, I would not trust that gauge either.

I have 4 flashers and I still carry a couple extra's battery's. Same for my underwater camera's.

Marcum has always had great CS but I am sure oif they get overwelmned, that time can slow down. Dudes sell alot of units so a percentage do come back.

[Carp-fisher]

The Marcum is making a very loud sound that it never made before...I'll try taking it in.

[Carp-fisher]

Yep they're closed till January 2nd. I took time off work to go ice fishing this weekend...with two small kids I don't get too much any more. I've had too many problems with the Marcum in the last 6 years and this is the last straw. Zero problems with my 10 year old FL8...the blue box is still running on the original battery for gosh sakes. I was stupid to gift that out to my brother...now I am without sonar. I'm going to go buy a new Vex, take heat from wife for spending more money, and get the red demon fixed and dump it on hsolist.