Malfunzionamento autopilota...help!!!

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Drive Stopped or MOT STALL message on autopilot display

"Drive Stopped" or "MOT STALLED" is a message from the autopilot's course computer indicating that it is not able to turn the vessel's rudder. This is a broad error message indicating that there could be a issue with either the steering, your Drive unit, the Rudder Reference Unit (if fitted) or the Course Computer. To figure out what item is causing this issue there are a few tests that you can do yourself as outlined below.

Excessive Steering System Load

The rudder could be extremely difficult to turn due to a mechanical problem (jammed pulleys, cables, quadrant etc.), or excessive weather load (wave forces and sea action). These are both rare occurrences. Proper maintenance of the steering system would normally prevent binding or lockup of the steering gear. If weather load is the issue, altering course, reducing sail, or reducing speed to lessen the wave pressure on the rudder are the best solutions.

This could also appear if the incorrect Autopilot has been fitted to the boat. If the drive unit and/or Course computer does not have the required output to move your vessel then you could see this error. I would advise checking with the installer or with Raymarine.

Checking the Drive unit

If the drive unit has seized or the motor has failed then the Drive unit could be the cause of the error. To test whether it is the Drive unit that is the cause, with the all the wires (Clutch and Motor wires) removed from the Course computer:

Apply 12v only to the Clutch terminals
Then place another connection on a direct 12v (or 24v depending on the drive) to the motor wires
You should see the drive unit drive. Leave this for a minute to test
Swap the wires over the termianls so you reverse the polarity
You should now see it drive the other way. Again leave it to test.

One note is that Excessive wear of the electric motor brushes in the autopilot drive unit's motor is the most common cause of this message. When the brushes lose contact with the motor's armature, the motor develops a "dead spot" and will not turn when electricity is applied to it. A temporary fix to the problem is to rap gently but solidly on the chrome ring that surrounds the drive unit with a mallet. This jolt will cause the brushes to move just slightly, and will usually restart the motor. This is only a temporary fix however, and at your earliest convenience, the drive unit should be examined by your Local Raymarine authorized servicing dealer, or the Raymarine Factory Service Center.