Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

[Johnny Be Cool]

1989 Regal 233 XL Ambassador 350 mercuriser, Alpha 1 Gen 1 drive.
Had the boat winterized 10-2010, Brought it home to store , I put the drive all the way down not to accumulate water/ice. This spring decided to paint it. It took all summer since I had little time, but finished this week. Before I painted the boat I brought the drive up, that was 4 months ago. Now today I went to bring the drive down and I get was a clicking noise in either direction. I'm pretty sure the battery is ok. I accidentilly hit start and the motor cranked and I did have power to use the Trailer Trim which brought it up 3 more inches, but no use on the power trim. Whats wrong?

 

[Don S]

Re: Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

This troubleshooting chart will lead you right to the problem.

 

[Johnny Be Cool]

Re: Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

Don S- Thank you for the Chart.
Since there is one sending unit on each side of the drive. Does one work UP and the other Down ?

Here's a picture of the sending units, you can see the right has a frayed broken wire. The Left side, if you look deep into the drive also has the wires bare. Towards the end of the last season the right side had a broken wire, but I was able to lift the unit with the trailer switch, which leads me to believe each unit works opposite of each other. Then the Right one should lower the unit?????

Do I need to address this issue first?

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

the one on the left is your trim limit switch, the one on the right is the trim position sender. I believe that you should be able to trim up using the trailer button if both of the sensors are not working. I had an issue with my alpha 1 gen 1 not trimming up at the beginning of the season also. I just fully charged the battery and it took care of the issue.

 

[Johnny Be Cool]

Re: Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

Thanks Pikey23 for the info. Now that I got itv up using the trailer switch. I would like to get in down for winter storage.
If I don't get the drive down, is it possible for anything to freeze and break if water gets through the prop.

More than likely, it looks like the wires are shorting out???? Whats the cheapest until next season to rig up the trim to get it down. I know the trailer switch will get it up.

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

Thanks Pikey23 for the info. Now that I got itv up using the trailer switch. I would like to get in down for winter storage.
If I don't get the drive down, is it possible for anything to freeze and break if water gets through the prop.

More than likely, it looks like the wires are shorting out???? Whats the cheapest until next season to rig up the trim to get it down. I know the trailer switch will get it up.

It is possible for water to get in there and crack your lower housing. The limit switch would stop it from moving, I think the position sensor only sends a signal to your gauge. So it may be possible to jump the wires on the position switch to make it work or open the short. I don't know that for sure though. Or jump the solenoid. Do you have a manual? There are procedures in it to test your pump and solenoids, along with wiring diagrams. You could always pull the bolt that connects the cylinders to your drive and let it down that way.

 

[Johnny Be Cool]

Re: Clicking when I hit the trim button, No movement!

Why didn't I think of that "unbolt the cylinders to let the drive down"
I'll figure the other things later. I was most concern about freezing.
Thanks PIKEY23!