volvo power trim stuck

[JoeCamp]

Hi, I have a volvo penta 5.7 gxi 2008 engine that i have had no problems with up until now. It is kept in salt water and used almost weekly. Over the past couple of weeks have not been able to get out in it and today went to go check on the boat. The power trim was in the up position and when i activated the trim switch it would not go down. I checked the fuses and breaker on the engine and all seem to be good. With the cover off.. i notice that I can hear a clicking at the fuse box when I activate the switch.. but the motor does not go down.. It does not seem like the use is tripping as I can click the switch back and forth.. and her the clicking each time. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks Joe

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trip stuck

Re: volvo power trip stuck

Switch relays A and B, see if the problem changes direction. If it does, replace the faulty relay.

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trip stuck

Re: volvo power trip stuck

thanks for the response and great diagram. I did try switching the a and b relays and I heard the same clicks but it still would not go up or down. I even Put the A relay in the B slot with the B slot empty and it would click when I pressed down and no sound when I pressed up and the opposite when I tried it the other way. Any other ideas? thanks Joe

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: volvo power trip stuck

Re: volvo power trip stuck

Battery fully charged?

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

yes the battery is fully charged.. I have also tried it with the engine running and it still just "clicks" but the engine will not go down.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

DO NOT run the engine with the drive up.

Lets start troubleshooting. Remove the relays (R1 and R2) and check with a meter to see if you show battery voltage between terminals 87 and 87a of both relay sockets.

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

great thanks. I checked and there is current across the terminals at both relays.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

Well, it's time to test the motor. You will need to make a couple of short jumper wires. with male spade terminals on each.
Then, on relay R2, jumper between 87a and 30
On relay R1 put the jumper in 87, then when you touch it to 30 the drive should go down.

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

I jumped the 2 relays and nothing happened. The motor did not go down.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

Does it spark or your jumper wire get hot or anything?

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

There was no spark and the wires did not seem to get hot.. I did not leave them connected for too long.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

Ok, last test.
Disconnect the 2 wire connector that goes to the trim pump. Then with a couple of jumper wires, go from the battery directly to the motor side of the plug. Battery + on the green and battery - on the blue for down, reverse for up.

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

tried that and nothing happened. Does that mean the motor is bad? For such a new boat I dont know how the motor could go bad so early

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

That's what it looks like.
Being a 2008, it should still be under warranty, even if just slightly out of warranty, I would have your dealer check it. I would bet money Volvo will warrant it even if only slightly out of warranty.
Do you have an engine serial number handy?

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

I do not have it handy but can go down to the boat and get it. The outdrive is up but it is still pretty much under water. The zinc is still under water as is the prop. Can it be driven to a dealer without damage since the boat is in the water? not sure where the water intake is for it.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

I wouldn't run it up. You don't want that strain on the ujoints, gimbal bearing etc.

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

the serial # of the engine is 4012226841 and the outdrive is 4151168134. Thanks again for all of your help, I really appreciate it. Joe

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

Joe, check your private Messages PM's.

 

[Regal1900]

Re: volvo power trim stuck (Joe and Don)

Re: volvo power trim stuck (Joe and Don)

Great post - I am glad I stumbled over this - I am having the same problem and currently stuck on the water - I can not get the boat on the trailer with the trim all the way down - and since I can't get it on the trailer I can't get it to a shop -

The trim will not go up or down - the relays click and when switched there is no difference - my next step is to disconnect the two wire connector and try the jump wire - two questions for you

1) how do you disconnect the two wire connector - I can barely reach it and can't figure out how to disconnect it - does it require a screw driver - I know this is probably a no brainer and expect to catch some heat for asking such a question

2) If I find that the motor is bad is there a way to raise the trim so I can get it on a trailer - I imagine I would have to drain the hydraulic pump - can this be done with the boat in the water?

thanks in advance for any help you can provide -

 

[JoeCamp]

Re: volvo power trim stuck

Still have not been able to have someone come out and replace the trim motor. Boat is still in the water with drive up. Is there any way to manually adjust the trim so that that it is in the full down position and the boat can be moved to a marina for service? thanks Joe