PA46 Autopilot gauge

[Guest John_Cillis]

I have P3Dv4 and I've had an issue with the autopilot, where I cannot preselect the altitude for alt hold.  There is a gauge at the top of the screen that seems to be meant for setting alt and heading, but when I click on those buttons nothing happens.  Was this gauge meant to be inoperative, if anyone might know?

I can select V/S in the main autopilot gauge.

John

[Gregg_Seipp]

22 minutes ago, Cactus521 said:

I have P3Dv4 and I've had an issue with the autopilot, where I cannot preselect the altitude for alt hold.  There is a gauge at the top of the screen that seems to be meant for setting alt and heading, but when I click on those buttons nothing happens.  Was this gauge meant to be inoperative, if anyone might know?

I can select V/S in the main autopilot gauge.

John

You have to turn on either the FD or the AP before they'll work. 

[Guest John_Cillis]

I have the AP turned on, it's the top gauge that doesn't function.  I'll try turning on the FD to see if that works, haven't tried that.  For the time being I set the VS and once I reach my intended cruise altitude I set VS to and the altitude is held.

John

[Gregg_Seipp]

41 minutes ago, Cactus521 said:

I have the AP turned on, it's the top gauge that doesn't function.  I'll try turning on the FD to see if that works, haven't tried that.  For the time being I set the VS and once I reach my intended cruise altitude I set VS to and the altitude is held.

I use it in 3.4 so, maybe that's the difference.  In the Mirage the AP switch has 3 positions...OFF, FD and AP/FD so, if AP is on, FD is on.  Once either AP or FD are on, the little gauge above the engine instruments and flight computer  *should* become active, displaying altimeter and, at that point, the buttons work.  The little gauge to the left of that gauge...really just a window...should show the active AP modes.  If that doesn't work then I'd report it to Carenado.  Perhaps they broke something.

[Guest John_Cillis]

6 hours ago, Gregg_Seipp said:

I use it in 3.4 so, maybe that's the difference.  In the Mirage the AP switch has 3 positions...OFF, FD and AP/FD so, if AP is on, FD is on.  Once either AP or FD are on, the little gauge above the engine instruments and flight computer  *should* become active, displaying altimeter and, at that point, the buttons work.  The little gauge to the left of that gauge...really just a window...should show the active AP modes.  If that doesn't work then I'd report it to Carenado.  Perhaps they broke something.

Thanks Gregg, I did what you suggested and the gauge responded, I had to turn the flight director on.  I just did a flight from Napa to Santa Ana and the autopilot maintained the altitude I set via the gauge.  I did the flight in realtime to try out my Megascenery California scenery.  Ate a Pizza while I was flying down the coast LOL.

John

[Gregg_Seipp]

1 minute ago, Cactus521 said:

Thanks Gregg, I did what you suggested and the gauge responded, I had to turn the flight director on.  I just did a flight from Napa to Santa Ana and the autopilot maintained the altitude I set via the gauge.  I did the flight in realtime to try out my Megascenery California scenery.  Ate a Pizza while I was flying down the coast LOL.

John

Glad to hear it's working well.