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Garmin Force Trolling Motor Status Codes and Error Messages
The Force® Trolling Motor can alert the operator of unexpected conditions or errors. These alerts will appear as led status lights on the display panel and sometimes on the foot pedal. An LED may blink or be solid and vary in color. Error or status messages can also display on the remote or the connected chartplotter. If the trolling motor remains powered on, with no unexpected sudden points of powering off, updating the Force Trolling motor software is the first recommended step. For instructions, see Garmin Force Trolling Motor, Remote, and Foot Pedal Software Update.
Display Panel
The Display Panel of the Force Trolling Motor has 3 LED status lights that indicate the trolling motor's status. The following is a list of each status code and its meaning:
Trolling Motor Battery LED Blink Code | Blink Code Meaning |
Illuminates green | Greater than 55% or greater charge remaining |
Illuminates yellow | Remaining charge is less than 55% and as low as 20% |
Illuminates red | Less than 20% charge remaining |
NOTE: Either Lithium or AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery types are acceptable as a power source. However, these battery types discharge at a different rate than lead-acid batteries. The Force Trolling Motor circuit only detects the remaining battery life for lead acid battery types. If lithium or AGM batteries are used to power the Force Trolling Motor, there may be no indication that the batteries are about to be depleted. In such cases, the Force Trolling Motor will suddenly cease to operate until recharging batteries.
GPS Signal LED Blink Code | Blink Code Meaning |
Illuminates green | Adequate GPS signal |
Illuminates blinking green | Acquiring GPS signal |
Illuminates red | No GPS signal |
Illuminates blue | The motor is in pairing mode |
Illuminates yellow | The motor is in recovery mode (for software updates and recovery procedures) |
Motor Status LED Blink Code | Blink Code Meaning |
Illuminates green | The motor is operating normally |
Illuminates solid red | The motor software is starting up |
Illuminates blinking red | There is a system error (a description may be displayed on the floating remote control or paired chartplotter) |
Illuminates blue | The motor is in pairing mode |
Illuminates yellow | The motor is in recovery mode (for software updates and recovery procedures) |
Foot Pedal
The Foot Pedal of the Force Trolling Motor has an assortment of LED status codes. The following is a list of each status code, and its meaning:
LED Blink Code | Blink Code Meaning |
Illuminates green | The foot pedal is powering on |
Illuminates blue | The foot pedal is pairing. The LED turns off when it connects to the trolling motor, or the pairing process times out without connecting |
Flashes green when pushing a button | The foot pedal is connected to the trolling motor and sends a command for the button being pushed |
Flashes red when pushing a button | The foot pedal is not paired to the trolling motor |
Off | The LED turns off when the pedal is connected to the trolling motor, not sending commands prolonging the battery life. |
The Foot Pedal of the Force Trolling Motor has an assortment of LED blink codes that can help to identify a potential problem. The following is a list of each blink code and its possible cause:
Symptom | Possible Cause |
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Floating Remote Control
The Floating Remote Control of the Force Trolling Motor may display a status error if the Trolling Motor itself is not accepting commands, the LED status indicators on the Force Trolling Motor are illuminating red, or in cases where the Foot Pedal commands are not being accepted by the Force Trolling Motor. The following is a list of each status message, and it's meaning:
Floating Remote Status Message | Status Message Meaning |
You Must Calibrate | See Force Trolling Motor Remote Displays “You Must Calibrate” Message |
Function Not Supported | Behavior of out of date software, fixed in later software release. See Updating the Software of the Force Trolling Motor, Remote, and Foot Pedal |
Steering Alignment or Servo Alignment | See Steering Alignment or Servo Alignment Error on Force Trolling Motor |
Not Connected | Trolling motor is either powered off, or the floating remote is no longer paired |
Off | The LED turns off when the pedal is connected to the trolling motor and not sending commands. This prolongs battery life |