AQ Main Switch Problem

[cjc]

Has anyone else had the problem where the main switch suddenly has no "OFF?"  Surprisingly the machine can still be used.  

Another thing--If you plan to use this machine in any serious context be sure to travel with some "DeOxit." My phones were dead as a doornail and I was well into "hotboxing" the plug to get any moisture out and see if that worked.  Next stage would have been a full dismantling of this plug which I probably would have not been able to reconstruct.   Suddenly I thought:  "Hang on--lets try the oxidization approach."  Sure enough when I hit both sides of the phones connection with the deoxidizer they worked perfectly.  Reminds me of the old CTX coil--when they oxidize you are liteterally "dead in the water."  A good example of not "diving down the rabbit hole" during a repair.  

Main SW is a p..sser, but still workable. I get the sense that this fault is  a result of the power jack breaking down / leaking and jamming the power back onto this SW--destroying its first stage. 

cjc

 

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

Nada on the on/off, issue and glad it still works. Kind of worrisome if you go on a trip. Only issue I have had is my AQ I got from Rick 5 plus years ago had a wondering threshold, still works. 

Maybe someday they will upgrade the little M-8 fittings to M-12, more robust and less likely to have issues. One of my friends just bought a AQ and he got a extra upgraded 6 hour battery, he accidently dropped it when connected to the shaft, the little M-8 shattered. 

 

And yes on the M-8 headphone cord connector, it is sealed with epoxy. Best to have a couple New ones at hand. I'll have to look up the part number on those. I use to have all of that handy for there is no repair of the old one if you have to take it apart. 

 

[tvr]

Only issue I've had with the main switch is that it would lock up and I could not turn the detector on with my fingers. I'd apply a little more leverage with pliers and it would loosen up and I could then operate it normally until next time it sat for several days. Then repeat. Have not had that problem since I got the Joe recommended Dow111 and coated the switch exterior area heavily. 

[bklein]

No issue with mine but did have an issue with the delay switch, which may be similar. Set it to off so it’s running with the problem. Loosen and remove the shaft nut. Push in the shaft and rotate it etc. to see if there may be a wiring issue that causes the problem. That’s what fixed mine after tighten it down while it works. If no luck, push in the shaft and spray that De-oxit inside if you can.

[okara gold]

This was my email to FT....

Tue 11/30/2021 7:05 PM

 

Hello Felix,

Bob Kxxxxx here.

My AQ will not turn off when turned to the off position.

In the OFF position it flashes red as if the battery is dead, which isn’t the case. I have 2 batteries and it is the same on both.

I was hunting in the saltwater and started hearing some intermittent static.  

When I got on shore and tried to turn the machine off… it wouldn’t.

Only by disconnecting the power cord am I able to shut it off.

In addition… it will not respond to any metal targets now in any of the search modes.

I have been meticulously cleaning corrosion off of the male pins on the power cord. Perhaps that is what the problem is?

I am a water hunter and need a reliable machine. The AQ Limited is not.

Needless to say I am fed up with the AQ.

Is there a possibility of a refund or even a prorated refund?

This will be the 5th repair in a year, in addition to faulty headphones, broken yoke and charger.

I am beyond words with disappointment.

The joy of owning an AQ is completely gone.

 

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

6 hours ago, okara gold said:

This was my email to FT....

Tue 11/30/2021 7:05 PM

 

 

 

 So did you ever get any results being 5 years now? That's Sad 5 times in a year..😵 

[mn90403]

Is it really necessary for them to keep trotting these units out with all of their faults?  Those of us who had one and sold it bet on the idea that it would have more problems that we didn't want to deal with them.

[okara gold]

7 hours ago, Joe Beechnut OBN said:

 So did you ever get any results being 5 years now? That's Sad 5 times in a year..😵 

HI Joe, FT had no interest in giving me a different unit or any form of refund. I sent it back for repair, and after receiving it in good working condition AGAIN, I sold my AQ while it still had some warranty left. I think it was in for repair longer than it was in my hands. One repair took 2 months for a complete turnaround.  To this day, I am amazed at all the folks who have had no problems with theirs. Did I like it when it worked? Absolutely, it was my go-to unit.

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

Sorry it worked out bad.. Okra...

 

I guess I've been very Blessed in the fact I had two since May 2020 and Oct 2020, one was Ricks, and the other a refurbish unit I got from Rick. Only had one function issue where I had to send in the one I got from Rick and they took care of that in about 5 weeks. Threshold issue, the machine still worked but the threshold would wonder? Seems once I started putting Dow 111 around the dials all worked smoother for if I let the machine set for a few weeks the dials would stick.. requiring extra effort to break them loose.  Now, rarely do I touch any of the dials except the on/off. Once set they stays..

Just talked to a friend who is ordering a couple AQ's for friends and he's telling me his distributer can not get New AQ's? I wonder if this is the end? His distributer connection is a detecting shop in Florida...He just got one for another friend of mine in Oct 2025..