Trim Gage Question 95 Volvo DP-C drive

[TyeeMan]

Hi All,

Boat is a 1995 Lund Tyee with a 4.3L H.O. and a Volvo DP-C out drive. My trim gage reads full up all the time whether the ignition is on or off, and if the drive is up or down or anywhere in between. The gage maybe moves about 1 millimeter. Is this usually a gage issue if they don't move or could it be the sender? I checked the manual and it seems like the only way to check the sender is with what looks like a special tool, not a volt/ohm meter.
The trim stop relay cuts out at max trim, and the max tilt relay (could be the same) cuts out at max trim up. Just the gage doesn't work.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[Todd157k]

Re: Trim Gage Question 95 Volvo DP-C drive

I'm working on mine with similar problem. If the gauge needle moves at all, it's probably fine. The sending unit is more likely to be the problem. The sending unit is nothing more than a potentiometer. Is your sending unit on the top center or on the side?

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Trim Gage Question 95 Volvo DP-C drive

The sending unit is on the top center. Is that JUST the sending unit for the gage? If so what tells the tilt trim pump when max trim is achieved and when max tilt is achieved?
Is there a way to tell if the sender is out using a volt/ohm meter?

 

[Todd157k]

Re: Trim Gage Question 95 Volvo DP-C drive

There are three wires to that sending unit (same as mine which I just bought a new one @ $104.00). There is a voltage that runs through it. You can check it with a vom. (ign on). Mine will stop on the "up" but not on the down, regardless of the clocking, and my gauge doesn't budge. You can hook up a vom to it and it should vary the resistance. (center to one side, center to other side)
There's also a "control module" for our units. I haven't completely ruled mine out yet however I have tested my sending unit with a vom and I'm not getting a consistent reading (dead zone through most of the swing)

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Trim Gage Question 95 Volvo DP-C drive

Ok, I'll try testing with a volt meter. But here in lies another question, , per fig 32 on your thumbnail which is the same as in the Volvo manual it shows "correct trim gage reading if sender is properly adjusted" and has a -4 in the picture. I don't have that, I have a gage with a needle, so does one adjust the sender basically to make the needle on the dash read correctly ie, out drive down needle on gage shows down, outdrive up needle in the gage shows up?
And, if I move or adjust the sender will this have an effect on the positoin of the drive in the tilt position or max up position? Or is the sender just that, , a sender for the gage?