Finally pinpointed a subtle fault in the navigation system
It was causing on and off heading errors on the display. I traced it back to a corroded pin in a multi-pin connector. A quick clean and some contact spray fixed it. Really satisfying to see it working right again.
Hold up, using a wire brush on those pins might do more harm than good. Those tiny pins can get scratched up real easy. A soft brush or even a cotton swab with contact cleaner works better. Scratches can lead to worse connections over time. It's safer to just clean gently and let the spray do its job. That way the fix lasts longer without causing new problems.
Had the same thing with my old depth finder. Corroded pins in the connector. Used a small wire brush to scrub them clean. Then hit it with some electrical contact spray. Worked like a charm after that. Always check the simple stuff first.
Wait, wouldn't a wire brush just scrape off the protective plating? Once that thin gold or tin layer is gone, the base metal underneath corrodes way faster. I've seen pins get all pitted and green after a harsh scrub. A soft toothbrush with some cleaner seems to get the gunk off without wrecking the surface.