1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

[HammytheFisherman]

Good Afternoon IB! Well, I was considering de-winterizing my boat this weekend and fishing if the weather stayed warm, but when I began to prepare the boat I found out that my power trim no longer worked. I tried the trim switch on both the outboard and the throttle and both had the same negative result. I then decided to remove the cowl and take a closer look so that I could try and determine what the problem was. After doing so I was able to figure out that the trim relays only click when I press the up or down buttons. I did not get the chance to switch the relays to see if they would work, but I did remove and inspect the up relay. It seemed to be in decent working order with little to no corrosion. I then had to run out on an errand and never for the chance to mess with it again.

I was going to have a mobile boat mechanic look at the trim situation, but I am trying to save myself a couple extra $$$$ by troubleshooting and fixing this on my own. I do have a multimeter however, I am not quite sure how to go about testing the relays or solenoid for current so any help in how to test the relays with a multimeter would be great!

From the sounds of it does this sound as though both relays may be bad? If both are then I guess swapping them would still have the same result? I have a manual, but without knowing too much about outboards it can be hard to follow sometimes. I was also going to attempt to locate the solenoid, but couldn't identify which part that might be prior to having to stop working on the motor.

If it turns out to be the relays are they and the "required lube/sealant" only available at marine stores? The motor is a 1997 Mercury 115HP ELPTO in case that helps. This is my first boat so I am still learning ever so slowly how to diagnose and fix problems. Any help or input would be appreciated.

 

[gunner1]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Ok, I know this is gonna seem dumb, but you DID have a fully charged battery, right? If the relays are clicking, I think that means that they are working, you just might not have enough juice to lift the motor.

 

[HammytheFisherman]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Yea, before I messed with the trim I had already charged all of my batteries on the boat until my charger said that all were fully charged. If I get the chance to go to my boat today (not at my house) I will take a reading on all of my batteries again to make sure that they are all fully charged tho.

I'm fairly certain the battery that runs that part if the boat is fully charged, but I will still double check.

 

[HammytheFisherman]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Batteries were completely charged so thats a good thing I guess. I'm starting to worry that it might be the actual trim motor seeing as I get only a click from the relay/solenoids.

Anyone else with suggestions?

 

[mogfisher]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

I just got an outboard with your situation. 1989 150 merc. Easy way to check the solenoids is to use your meter. Put 1 wire to ground and start probing. On the solenoid you have 4 connections. Since it's clicking, you know the 2 small ones are good. First, check for 12v constant feed on one of the 2 large connections. If yes, then move probe to other connection. This is the lead that goes to the motor. Check for 12v when solenoid is activated. If no, bad solenoid. If yes, bad motor. On mine I had power going to the motor but it would not move. I removed the motor and upon disassembly, found that the contact points on the armature for the brushes had a lot of crud on them. I cleaned it up and put it together and it works great now. Getting to the motor is the fun part. Fixing it was easy. Good luck!

 

[OnTheWaterNow]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

If the relays are clicking they are not working. it would be rare for them both to go out at same time. you have a short or motor problem or continuity problem test the system with multimeter

 

[mogfisher]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

If the relays are clicking they are not working. it would be rare for them both to go out at same time. you have a short or motor problem or continuity problem test the system with multimeter

Incorrect. The relays should click when they activate. Just because they are clicking does not mean they are working, but if they click it does not mean they are bad. Perhaps that's what you meant to say and that was a typo. Just dont want to confuse anyone.

 

[HammytheFisherman]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Finally got some free time and amazing weather this weekend to look at the boat a little more. After reading some input here I went ahead and tested the blue and green leads coming from the relays and heading towards the trim motor. Both blue and green wires read 12v when the trim button was depressed so that tells me that the power is getting from the switch to the relays and then on to the trim motor which is where the problem occurs.

I then tried to "jump" the trim motor directly by hooking the blue and green wires to 12v and a solid ground. Even when I bypassed the relays and wired the trim motor directly the trim motor still refused to run. Now call me crazy, but I assume that would indicate that the trim motor is either fried or bad?

I went ahead and disassembled the trim motor to peak inside. I didn't see any bad corrosion or broken parts so maybe the motor just went bad? I do remember my Dad telling me that he came outside one day to hear the engine "humming" consistently only to find out later that the motor was somehow trimming itself down without being touched (and the skeg was all the way to the pavement). So maybe that burned it out last fall.

So with the new developments is it safe to say that the trim motor is probably shot? If so, does anyone know the best way to remove the allen screws at the base of the motor? And also how much a two wire trim motor goes for (both OEM brands and aftermarket)? I am happy that I was able to work on my boat myself and I hope I am able to fix it on my own as well. Nothing makes you feel better than working on and fixing your own stuff!

 

[Grizcat]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

I am having the same problem with my 1995 Mercury 115, also when I turn the key to start the boat, I also hear clicking without having the motor turn over. Batteries are freshly charged also. I am out to start messing with it now so see what I can find. I'm wondering if something is shorting out.

 

[Grizcat]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Well I found my problem, my starting battery was showing that it was charged up and as soon as I hit the trim or starter motor it dropped to 5% on the charger. Upon further examination of the battery I found the side was split open! Problem solved, now to run in and get a new battery

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Glad you found your problem! I had problems with my tilt/trim on my '88 Merc 115 inline 6 and after all that checking I found that the trim switch was bad. My switch happens to be inside the shifter handle. I ordered a new switch, it came and now I need to go around and find one of those tiny push-on connectors...the one on the red wire was melted...it is small so it can fit inside the handle. Radio Shack and Home Depot dosen't have anything that small so I gotta travel about 40 miles to the specialty electronics store in Towson, Baynesville Electronics to get one.

 

[Jacket4life]

Re: 1997 Mercury 115HP Trim Only Clicks...

Must be the season. Just got mine going again too. Switch was no good, and then it only wanted to trim down. Kept "bumping" the up switch and Viola! trim working again. But I think I have a leak on one of my hoses...LOL, the party never ends!