Most trolling motor problems come down to power: a low battery, a loose or corroded connection, a tripped circuit breaker or wiring that is too small for the run. The next most common cause is fishing line or weeds wrapped behind the propeller. Work through the checks below in order before assuming the motor or its control board has failed.
Trolling motor will not run
- Check battery voltage. A fully charged 12-volt lead-acid battery reads about 12.6 volts at rest. On 24- and 36-volt systems, check each battery separately; one weak battery drags down the bank.
- Check the circuit breaker or fuse in the supply line and reset or replace it.
- Inspect every connection: battery terminals, the plug and receptacle, and the leads at the motor. Look for corrosion, loose nuts and burnt or melted plastic.
- Check the wiring for the voltage: a 24- or 36-volt motor needs its batteries connected in series; see how to wire a 24-volt trolling motor.
- Check the controls: foot pedal cable and plug, remote batteries and pairing, and the power or stow switch on the motor.
Trolling motor runs slow or loses power
- Batteries not fully charged, getting old or mismatched in age; see trolling motor batteries
- Fishing line, weeds or debris wrapped behind the propeller
- A chipped, bent or wrong propeller
- Undersized or very long battery cables causing voltage drop under load
- A motor with too little thrust for the boat; see the trolling motor size guide
Noise, vibration or water in the motor
Vibration usually means a damaged propeller or line wrapped around the prop shaft. Remove the prop regularly and clear any line, because line that works past the shaft can cut the seal and let water into the motor housing. A motor that hums but will not turn, or keeps tripping the breaker, may have a jammed prop or internal damage; stop running it and have it inspected.
GPS, Spot-Lock and remote problems
- Recalibrate the heading sensor or compass after installation or after moving electronics nearby, following the manual.
- Install available software updates for the motor and the remote or app.
- Replace remote batteries and re-pair the remote if it stops responding.
- Poor anchoring in strong wind or current can simply mean the motor needs more thrust or the batteries are low.
See Spot-Lock trolling motors and Terrova vs Ultrex vs Ulterra for how the GPS models differ.
Prevent problems
- Fully recharge batteries after every trip with a charger suited to the battery type.
- Clean and tighten connections at the start of each season and apply a corrosion inhibitor.
- Check the prop for line after every few trips.
- Store batteries charged and off the boat in winter; see winterizing your boat.
- Mount and wire the motor correctly from the start; see how to install a trolling motor.
Repair or replace?
Connections, breakers, props and batteries are inexpensive fixes. Water intrusion, a failed control board or a damaged motor on an older unit can cost a large share of a new motor. If you are replacing, compare options by thrust and voltage on our trolling motors page, or start with Minn Kota Terrova and PowerDrive models.
More guides: trolling motor prop · battery run time · boat battery keeps dying · brushless vs brushed · freshwater motors in saltwater · how deep a trolling motor should be.
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