Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

[newc048]

Hey Guy's,

Dropped my boat in the water yesterday morning for the second time this weekend and when I went to trim down I found out my trim would not go down. Everything was working fine the day before but yesterday when I was pushing the trim switch down you could hear a clicking noise such as the solenoid or relay clicking but the trim would not go down.

I was able to get the trim down by using a jumper wire from the main power terminal on the hydraulic pump over to the green wire's lug so I know the hydraulics still work no problems.

From my research I've found this is likely a trim limit switch and most say that the trim position sensor is also a likely cause on this.

When i jumped the terminals to get the trim down the trim position gauge still worked just as it should so not sure if that is an issue and needs replaced as well? I have noticed the past couple times out the trim gauge has been a bit off, and sometimes flutters around a bit, it still works most of the time but has a few times where it will be off or twitch out a bit.

Just hoping to get a few more opinions on this issue to avoid replacing parts I do not need. Also any walk-throughs or instructions on how to replace the sensors if that is what is needed or whatever is needing to be done would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

The trim limit is wired into the TRIM UP circuit, and has no impact on the trim down. It sounds like your trim down solenoid is faulty (clicks but no motor). With a voltmeter on the small G/W wire on the solenoid you should get 12V when you hit the down button, if you do and get 0V (or a click and no motor) on the large G/W wire you have a bad solenoid (since you have down when you jump it).

 

[newc048]

Re: Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

I was also thinking it could possibly be the solenoids as well as bypassing them seems to work no problems and I can hear it click. The correct solenoid is part number 18-5817 correct? Not sure is this is going to work but check this link out: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SIE0/185817.oap?ck=Search_18-5817_-1_792&keyword=18-5817

Also my trim up switch has never worked and I have always just used my trailer up for trim up. Would that be the trim position sensor then?

I'd like to just change the solenoid and continue using the trailer for trim up and just be careful about how high i'm trimming up. Cash is tight like always and pulling the outdrive isn't something I want to do in the prime of boating season.

Thanks!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

The correct solenoid is part number 18-5817 correct? Not sure is this is going to work but check this link out: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/SIE0/185817.oap?ck=Search_18-5817_-1_792&keyword=18-5817

Also my trim up switch has never worked and I have always just used my trailer up for trim up. Would that be the trim position sensor then?

I'd like to just change the solenoid and continue using the trailer for trim up and just be careful about how high i'm trimming up. Cash is tight like always and pulling the outdrive isn't something I want to do in the prime of boating season.

Sure looks like it, here is the Merc part http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=96158T #89-96158T

Your other problem is with the trim limit switch circuit, the round switch on the port side of the gimbal ring. If you want to use the trim switch look in the stern for two black wires that go into two connectors, one with a purple/white wire and another with two blue/white wires. Unplug the black wires and use a short wire to jumper between the two connectors. Trim button should work, but it will work same as the trailer switch with no limit. If you want to fool around a little you can take a look at the wiring from the trim limit switch, and if it looks OK you can try removing and disassembling the switch to try to clean it up and get it working. It is just a couple of contacts and a wiper arm. Mark it so you can get it back together in the same place. If you get it working the trim rams should be adjusted to extend 21 3/4 inches for an Alpha I, or 20 3/4 inches for a gen II, measured center to center on the trim ram bolts (max up trim).

 

[antsmands]

Re: Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

It is really not that hard to change out the trim sender and limit switches, once you get the bolt or (bolts in my case) out of the retainer bracket. The wiring and set up of the new switches is straight forward once you get the old ones out. I found it relatively easy to remove the bottom retainer with a 1/4 six inch wobble extension and a 7/16 socket. I caught absolute hell getting the top retaining bolt out of that retainer. I had to use a 7/16 offest boxed in wrench and hours on time to get that bolt out a millimeter at a time until I got it loose enouh to spin it out the final turns it my finger and finally a screw driver. After that is was relatively easy to get the new wire ran and conneted, I did run into a little hassle lining up the retainer and bottom retainer bolt but got it in with a little persistence. I left the top onm out until I do a full bellow job next spring, no way to get it back in without taking everything apart. Getting the swithces adjusted was a snap. I am glad it took the time to replace the switches and spend a $100.00 or so bucks and a few hours vs taking the risk of killing the drive and spending thousands on repairs.

 

[newc048]

Re: Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

Sure looks like it, here is the Merc part http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=96158T #89-96158T

Your other problem is with the trim limit switch circuit, the round switch on the port side of the gimbal ring. If you want to use the trim switch look in the stern for two black wires that go into two connectors, one with a purple/white wire and another with two blue/white wires. Unplug the black wires and use a short wire to jumper between the two connectors. Trim button should work, but it will work same as the trailer switch with no limit. If you want to fool around a little you can take a look at the wiring from the trim limit switch, and if it looks OK you can try removing and disassembling the switch to try to clean it up and get it working. It is just a couple of contacts and a wiper arm. Mark it so you can get it back together in the same place. If you get it working the trim rams should be adjusted to extend 21 3/4 inches for an Alpha I, or 20 3/4 inches for a gen II, measured center to center on the trim ram bolts (max up trim).

Greatly appreciate all the help here! Got a new solenoid being delivered tomorrow and will give that a shot. At this point the cash is not there to replace the trim position sensor so bypassing it is the easiest thing to do right now. The only way I can trim up right now anyways is the trailer button so it would work the same as what i'm currently doing just easier to use the trim up compared to the trailer button. I will be working on all of this tomorrow morning so hopefully get everything all taken care of.

Thanks again, its greatly appreciated!

 

[newc048]

Re: Trim switch won't work but Trailer does

Got everything fixed up! Solenoid fixed the trim down issues and bypassing the trim position sensor fixed my trim switch issue. Thank you stonyloam! I can't explain how happy it made me to fix all my issues for $22! haha