DPS-A trim sensor drives me nuts

[saaristo]

Ok, rebuilt my trim cylinders, hooked everything together, everything works, yuhuu, I'm the man. Took my 10 year old son to play withe trim so I could watch the outdrive just to check. Then all of a sudden he tells me it shows 56. Me, how come, it's all the way down!? And so it is, no matter what you do it shows 56. EVC fault code is MID140 PPID290 FMI3. OK, disconnected trim sender connector, ohm reading 11 exactly how it should be when down. Voltage supply 4.8. Kind'a ok?
Additionally, if I now push down button the pump doesn't end pumping automatically - it's fully down and if you hit the button it still pushes on. Formerly it was so that when -6 was reached the pump switched off even if you were still sittin on the button.
It's a 2008 4.3gxi-jf. I found couple threads regarding the same issue but none of them have end solutions. Somebody had tested with complete new trim sensor but problem persisted. Anyone, anything?

 

[saaristo]

Did couple of more check-ups - just to be sure even if they don't matter. Unhooked all trim pump/sensor connectors, cleaned them with contact cleaner. Went through fuses according to wiring diagram. Tested the wiring of trim switch on the remote. Result still the same. Thought of buying a new sender, but what will it matter since the existing one is also working, at least according to the multiimeter ohm-readings.
Any help or hints on this is really appreciated.

 

[BRICH1260]

Trim sensors are notoriously unreliable. I have been through three on my boat and the current one now does not work. Why Volvo cant come up with a better design, I do not know. I have just gone to a timing routine where I mentally count down the seconds it takes to go from full up to full down and vice versa. While driving I count out mentally the number of seconds to get my trim where i want it to be.

 

[saaristo]

Still did one more experiment - unhooked the trim sender connector and while the trim itsel is actually working the gage still shows 56. So how's that possible - sender is not even connected but gage shows constant number. IS it possible that it's not the sender but the fault is somewhere else?

 

[saaristo]

Back to this old issue sice I still dont have it solved. Anyway, could it be possible that it"s not the sender that is faulty but the gauge sine it shows the max reading even when the sender is unhooked? So could Volvo engineers somehow made the trim limiter to operate through the gauge?

 

[Nheels]

Ok, rebuilt my trim cylinders, hooked everything together, everything works, yuhuu, I'm the man. Took my 10 year old son to play withe trim so I could watch the outdrive just to check. Then all of a sudden he tells me it shows 56. Me, how come, it's all the way down!? And so it is, no matter what you do it shows 56. EVC fault code is MID140 PPID290 FMI3. OK, disconnected trim sender connector, ohm reading 11 exactly how it should be when down. Voltage supply 4.8. Kind'a ok?
Additionally, if I now push down button the pump doesn't end pumping automatically - it's fully down and if you hit the button it still pushes on. Formerly it was so that when -6 was reached the pump switched off even if you were still sittin on the button.
It's a 2008 4.3gxi-jf. I found couple threads regarding the same issue but none of them have end solutions. Somebody had tested with complete new trim sensor but problem persisted. Anyone, anything?

What caused you to rebuild the cylinders?

 

[Swedishsavve]

Hello!
I am experiencing the exact same problem on my dps drive. I have replaced the sensor and checked the ohms which are perfect. I also have around 5V but not sure what it is supposed to be. Tried lining a plus from battery onto the plus on the connection, then it says -9 for a few seconds before going back to 56 and that exact fault code. Were you able solve the problem?
This is the only thread I can find on this problem online.

 

[muc]

Hello!
I am experiencing the exact same problem on my dps drive. I have replaced the sensor and checked the ohms which are perfect. I also have around 5V but not sure what it is supposed to be. Tried lining a plus from battery onto the plus on the connection, then it says -9 for a few seconds before going back to 56 and that exact fault code. Were you able solve the problem?
This is the only thread I can find on this problem online.

You connected 12 volts to a 5 volt sensor?
Might want to start your own thread.

 

[Swedishsavve]

Yes I did to try it for a few second, the sensor is still fine and gives perfect Ohm values and it gave me the correct trim angle for a few seconds. Do you know exactly how much voltage I should have to the sensor?

 

[saaristo]

I did solve the problem. The voltage should be anywhere between 4 and 5 volts, so you are good with that. The solution was new sender. And not only new but OEM new. First ofcourse wanted to save few bucks and bought aftermarket for 160 I think. All ohms and everything correct but no result. Then some wise guy insisted me on buying the oem for nearly 300 irrespective what the aftermarket ohms are showing. And what do you know, it works flawlessly. How that can be I have no idea, given that the ohm values are on both the same.

 

[Swedishsavve]

Alright, very interesting that it only worked with a oem one. I have actally installed a new oem sensor so I guess i have to keep searching for something else. Thanks alot for the answer!

 

[dypcdiver]

I know that the trim sender is different for digital and analogue gauges, might need to be checked.

 

[muc]

I know that the trim sender is different for digital and analogue gauges, might need to be checked.

There are different senders available and different gauge packages. I fixed one boat that the trim gauge wasn’t working, it was the tachometer that needed to be replaced. Gotta love some of this can bus technology.
Intelligent Troubleshooting can be less costly then swapping parts.