due to the coil wires and the related connection points causing or being part of a wiring "short circuit" on the external of the control box(it would be pretty difficult for this type of problem to occur inside the control box). In my "little" experience, if a short circuit is the cause then this to will make the Explorer to do very much the same as what you have described. In some cases can even be worse.( like loosing all your personal presets)
What you decribe has also happened to me. Look the point where you join the control box to coil or even an after market probe control box (or in my case the one I made)connecters.
If there is ever a location that this most likely a coil related problem could ever most happen at, then it is likely to also occur at those chrome joiners. These get dismantled and pulled on and are more often subject to the mechanical stresses that will break either and MAY result in causing the trouble you have described.
I'm suggesting to you that if there is this problem ocurring then, all you need to do is isolate in by disconnecting the control box from EVERTHING that is search coil related turn it on as a stand alone unit and see if the same problem occurs. Doing this will at the very least help you to narrow down the problem to the point that you may only need to send in the control box only or any other Minelab part for any repair.
If you are handy with a soldering iron and can fix the type of wiring involved then it is a fairly easy repair.
If the other suggestions of the possible causes posted are not the problem and if the coil and it's related connections are NOT the problem, then it may also maybe due the Explorer you have may have been dropped or subjected to undue pressures like maybe letting it rattle in the back of a car on a hard surface or not securing it to stop it bouncing around in a vehicle or whatever and especially when it was lying on it's side. You may find that the Explorer electronics have been "disturbed"(the repair to the internal power supply of my Explorer comes to mind)and will require you to send it back. If you are not familiar with the repair and maintainence of these type of electronics, you could always try the repair yourself, but aware that the experience to the unwarry can it self also be very trying.
Hardnose. <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="
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