1982 Volvo Penta Tilt/Trim Sender and Gauge Wiring

clintcjc

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Joined
Jun 7, 2025
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1982 Volvo Penta AQ260A inboard, Aquamatic 280 PowerTrim stern drive. Tilt/trim is one gauge that has never worked. The tilt/trim sender (pictured) is a two wire (ground and negative) cable real style potentiometer in which a small cable is wound up and runs through transom to attach to the outdrive. When the cable is extended or retracted the resistance changes. I already bought a new tilt/trim gauge (pictured) with Ignition, Ground, Sender terminals, but the original wiring to this gauge can’t be correct (both wires connected to gauge’s ground). There is no limit switch on tilt/trim motor. I can’t seem to find this sender/gauge combo anywhere on the internet or manuals to figure out the wiring. I know the sender is changing resistance when supposed to, and the two wires are routed to the gauge. A sender wire is connected to gauge from a wiring block connector under the dash but has no origin outside the connector. I’ve tried hooking neg wire from sender to the sender terminal on gauge. Power is getting to the gauge when the ignition is on (ignition wire connected to Ignition terminal) and the nav light is working. Any ideas, I’m leaning toward the random sender wire from dash wiring block? Be nice if there was a better electrical section of the user / workshop manuals, but it was 1982.
 

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Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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get the factory manual for your drive
 

clintcjc

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Joined
Jun 7, 2025
Messages
3
get the factory manual for your drive
I have all factory manuals for both I/O, including the drive workshop manual but this type of sender is not pictured anywhere. The only type pictured is the gear rack type on the steering helmet and the electromechanical tilt device (neither apply).
 
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