Engine won't go down!!

[Explorer582]

Hello. I need some help!! I have a 2003 EFI 150 and I rasied the engine to trim it out and now it won't go back down!! I had to get it towed back to shore and now I need to fix it.. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Neither the throttle switch nor the switch on the engine work going down, but both work going up. How can I get the motor down to work on it?? Is there a solenoid for both up and down? Or are there two of them?

Thanks for any help you can give me.. John

 

[achris]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

2 soleniods... one for UP, one for DOWN... Green wires are down, Blue wires are up...

When you press the switch, do you get a click? If yes, get a multimeter, or test light, and check for 12 volts on the input and output of the solenoid.... If no, check for wires broken or disconnected... or a dead solenoid...

Chris..........

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Okay! Thanks for the help. I don't hear any clicking when I try to go down with the engine, so it sounds like the solenoid is just dead. Thanks again. John

 

[achris]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Check for voltage on the small green wire on the solenoid before condemning it... The problem could be as simple as a bad connector...

Chris...............

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

The below troubleshoot guides may be of help to you. A Mercury OEM shop manual for your motor is the best source of information.

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

You guys are awesome!! I knew I came to the right place for help!! I have ordered the manual for my engine, but this really helps me a lot. I'm going to look at it more tommorrow after work and I'll post the results... Thanks again. John

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Hello, it's me again! I looked at this thing tonight and here's what I found out. I tried switching the up and down relays and the motor still will not go down. I used a voltmeter on the solenoid and I have 12+ volts at only one terminal, apparently the one from the battery.

There are 2 small wires, besides the ground wires, on this thing. One is probably 10-12 ga and the other is 14-16 ga. Neither looks green, but yellow with a red stipe. I do not get any power off of these wires, while trying the switch both up and down.

I have chased down the wiring as best as I can and I do not see any obviously broken/ disconnected wires from the solenoid or relays. Does it sound like the solenoid is bad? Or would it just quit working both up and down if this is the case? I figured if the solenoid went bad, it would stop working altogether?

Anyways, the drama continues!! ;-) Thanks for any help you can give... John

 

[achris]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Sounds like your looking at the starter solenoid, not the trim relays....

The trim relays are usually on the exhaust plates, at the back of the engine...

Chris............

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Ok, I may be, but the starter has a solenoid attached to it and I don't see any others. I have the lower cowl off and the solenoid I'm looking at is above three relays on the starboard side near the back. I followed the wires from these relays and they go to this solenoid. Am I looking at the wrong thing? If so, where is the trim solenoid mounted? Thanks again, John

 

[achris]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Post photo...

Chris..........

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Ok, I'll try and post some pics tonight..... Thanks, John

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Okay, here's what I'm looking at. Inside the yellow box is the solenoid I see. Underneath this are three relays, two of which go to the trim system. The other picture shows the starter and starter solenoid. Am I seeing this correctly?

Thanks for the help, John

 

[achris]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Yep....

Can you get a meter on the trim switch itself? If so, check for 12 volts on the appropriate wire when you select a function (UP or DOWN).

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

I can get the meter on the cowl switch, but I don't know about the one in the throttle control. I got home kinda late tonight, so I'll check that tommorrow when I get home... Thanks again, John

 

[Explorer582]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

Okay!! Problem solved! It was the down trim relay and all is well again!! Now, if I can just find the fish as easliy..... !! Thanks again for the help. John

 

[fishinhardwater]

Re: Engine won't go down!!

post photo of the lake ill show u where the fish are at