90 HP Johnson Tilt Issue

[bostonmike]

I have a 1988 90HP V-4 with power trim and tilt. The last time out tilt and trim worked fine and I parked the boat with the motor down. I came back out to find the motor now all the way up and the titlt motor was turning off and on by itself. I tried to put the motor down with the switch on the controls and it will not move, the trim and tilt motor made no noise. If the trim and tilt motor is running and I hit the down switch, the motor will turn off but it will still not lower.

Anyone have any ideas on what the problem may be? I think it may be electrical since the trim and tilt motor is still turning on. Could this be something in the controls or a relay? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 90 HP Johnson Tilt Issue

switch, or relays. you're on the right track.

 

[bostonmike]

Re: 90 HP Johnson Tilt Issue

This past weekend I replaced the switch first and unfortunately this did not work. At that point I thought it may be the relays, so I replaced both of them....again no luck. If I connect the battery with the switch in the down position, the motor will lower. If I then put the switch in the off or up position, the motor will raise. At that point if I put it down again, the motor will not go down, it will just stop going up. I'm pretty confused by this and I'm not sure what other electrical pieces it may be. Could this be the power trim and tilt motor after all, maybe an issue with the solenoid?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 90 HP Johnson Tilt Issue

If this unit operated perfectly in the past, you've encountered either a corrosive problem that is conducting voltage to improper circuits OR a rodent of some kind has chewed various wires which caused circuits to change OR that second switch is also faulty which is unlikely.

Most engines incorporate more than one PTT switch, one on the control handle, some have another switch at the bow section of the boat, some have a switch attached to the hood pan of the engine. If this is the case, and you've overlooked this feature, it's very possible and most likely, that one of the other switches is at fault.

Let us know if you have multiple PTT switches.

Assuming you have but one PTT switch, disconnect it at its connector. Connect the battery. If the unit still engages erratically, then obviously the switch is not at fault.

However if nothing happens, at the connector that is attached to the harness leading to the engine, jump a wire from the RED wire to either the BLUE or GREEN wire. If the unit acts as it should, there is something wrong in the switch or its wiring harness. BUT if the unit is erratic as ever, a problem exists between that connector and the PTT electric motor.

My guess is that the electric motor is okay but it can be tested easily. Simply disconnect the electric motor at its connector, then using small jumper wires, attach the battery directly to the electric motor's two wires. Having the wires connected in one manner makes the PTT motor run in one direction, reverse those wires and the electric motor should run in the other direction.

The above should have you in ther general problem area. Inspect everything for corrosion, carefully clean everything in that PTT relay box and check for frayed wires etc.

Let us know what you find. If you don't relate exactly what happens when you do a test, or tell us what you come across, that can lead us down a false trail.

 

[wasilvers]

Re: 90 HP Johnson Tilt Issue

I know this is an old thread but it came up first in my search and I thought I'd put my findings with the same problem here.

My Evinrude got stuck going down. Let me rephrase that, It was continuously going down. The only way to make it stop was to disconnect the battery.

I unhooked all my switches (funny, I had just installed one that day - which turned out NOTto be the culprit)

I had to disconnect the trim motor to test (since it was running if the battery was hooked up). Hooked up the battery. First I tested the leads for the switches and they all worked. Then I pulled the trim relays out. I tested all the connections to the relay (where it plugs into on the electrical box) and they were all good. There were 5 leads to test. I just made sure both relay connections worked the same way (testing for a short in a wire). I started switching the relays around and saw the motor rose up instead of down. Must have a stuck relay...

All my fiddling with it - It started working on it's own, for now... I will replace both relays when I get a chance. Since the motor is new to me and may have sat a while, I worked the relay a bit with the switches (trim motor unhooked). Seems to work good now.

Just offering up what my problem and short term solution was