I have a cheap lowrance x96 fishfinder up front on the boat that ocasionally stops working. The screen stays on and the depth number flashes. It seems that its no longer receiving a single from the transducer. It lasts for a few minutes and then starts working again. I've tried turning the unit off and on and playing with settings but nothing seems to work. It does it in all depths and running the trolling motor doesn't seem to affect it. Is there a way to test the unit or transducer before going out and buying a new one, or is that what I get from going cheap on the unit.

Most would suggest that you swap displays with someone that has a similar connecting transducer to see if it's the display or the transducer that is the problem.

Try cleaning the face of the transducer.

You can remove the transducer from the trolling motor to test it.

Check the electrical connections for corrosion and tightness, especially the fuse holder for a weak spring (if you have that type). It could be just a low voltage problem.

I had the exact same problem with mine...problem wound up being my transducer cable was caught between the head of the trolling motor and the mount.  Make sure your wire isn't pinched.  Also try putting silicone around where the wire goes in to your transducer and around the seams.  That fixed one for a friend of mine.

Where is your transducer located?

If you have mounted it like I did (to the boat) I am having the same issue you are and I also tried to turn the ping speed up and down to correct this but I have not resolved my issue yet.

The way the owners manual reads is that by turning up the ping speed it should have corrected this condition.

I don't remember if there was a statement in the owners manual stating that this transducer is for low speed operation only but it gave 2 locating options of either a trolling motor mount or a boat mount and it has the option of water speed if you added the speed generator then I think you will have it at higher speeds, Unless I misunderstood the manual.

Ditto to comments above.  Playing the odds, it is a weak transducer.  Find a buddy's unit or a spare transducer (just hold over side of boat in the water) and exchange to determine whether it is the unit or ducer.

Don't give up yet! As has been asked, where is the transducer mounted? If it's on the hull, I have to ask how fast you are going? At high speed, over deep water, this could happen, depending on how your sonar is set-up.

If it's mounted on your TM, then high speed can't be the problem (I'm assuming you retract your TM when driving at WOT). Then, it's probably a transducer problem. I agree with the aforementioned recommendation - swat with someone else's display and see if it still happens. Then you know for sure where the problem lies.

In my case since it is mounted on the boat I am pretty sure it is the transducer but I bought a cheap sonar and it does exactly what I wanted it to do and does it flawlessly so I am not complaining but it would have been nice to know when I was making the decision.

the transducer is mounted to the tm. I will check for any pinch points. thanks for the ideas.

I have a similar unit and had the exact same problem.  I tried another head unit and same thing happened.  Once I replaced the transducer, all was good again.  I bought a cable shield (cheap plastic tube for computers) to prevent the transducer cable from getting caught against the trolling motor where it drops in.

I have a similar unit and had the exact same problem. I tried another head unit and same thing happened. Once I replaced the transducer, all was good again. I bought a cable shield (cheap plastic tube for computers) to prevent the transducer cable from getting caught against the trolling motor where it drops in.

tried a new transducer today and that solved the issue. the cable was getting pinched when i would take up the trolling motor and lay it down.

Use cable ties to attach your transducer cable to the arm of the trolling motor mount. That way it cannont get pinched by the mount. If you have a foot controlled model, just tie the cable to the steering/power connection at the head and all the way down to the foot control. When you pull up the motor to stow, keep the side of the motor that the cable goes around on top.