What's wrong with this picture?

[Grant Brown]

1993 4.3 Merc Alpha 1 Gen II.
Tilt trim unit very corroded and not working. The pump works up and down when using a jumper from the power wire.

The down switch gets power to the solenoid and it clicks. The up switch does nothing (no power no click). The trailer button gets power to and clicks the up solenoid. Neither solenoid seems to actually supply any power to the pump motor though.

There is a red wire with a fuse holder disconnected (the ring terminal is broken off). Also it looks like the main power wire not making contact anywhere and part of the bus bar is broken off.

Here's a few pics

Does anyone know what is missing or have a photo of what it is supposed to look like?

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

That red power wire is so corroded! take the connections apart and clean them. I use a small brass wire brush. You can soak them in clr overnight.
Make them shiny clean. While your at it do your battery terminals the same way. Also check the oil in your pump instead of getting down on your knees I would just take the pump off it's easier

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Here is the

Service Manual #7 GM V6 1983 - 1993 (587 MB)
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mne...anl/7/7cov.pdf

For your boat I think there might be a schematic in there so you can see where the wires go.
Rob

 

[Don S]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Go up to the Adults Only sticky at the top of the forum and download service manual #14. It covers the drive and trim system, nothing in the engine manual for the trim.
Section 1C has detailed troubleshooting instuctions for the trim system.

 

[lowkee]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

I 2nd the corrosion issue. Remove every wire and either wire brush or sand every terminal, then apply a tiny coating of grease on each one (to prevent this from happening again). Br sure to also wire brush the bolts and nuts the terminals are mounted to.

You stand a good chance of solving your problems simply by doing those things. Luckily, solonoids are not expensive and if one has gone bad (doesn't click when power applied) you can replace it with a generic solonoid from an auto store ($10 I think). Someone may yell at me for recommending a non-marine one, and if the cost isn't much more I'd prob recommend the same.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Corrosion kills! tare it down after reading up on the Manuel's schmatics ,diagram and troubleshooting given by the Don. Replace anything in question a little dialectric lube will do wonders to protect electrical contacts. Also I would suggest find the source of why that happened.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Thanks to everyone. Yes I plan to tear everything down and clean every connection, and reassemble with dielectric grease.

The boat is new to me and has seen lots of salt water. I plan to build some sort of enclosure to try and keep it dry from now on.

Can anyone tell me where the red 14 ga wire with the fuse holder goes?
Does anyone have a photo of how it's supposed to look?

Thanks
Grant

 

[lowkee]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Here you go. I happen to have the exact same one.

EDIT by Don S:
Click link for picture.
Too big for screen.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2cidvrt.png

 

[Don S]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Can anyone tell me where the red 14 ga wire with the fuse holder goes?

There are pictures in the service manual. Look at the section of the manual on trim pumps.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

I finally managed to download one of those manuals (took 10 or so tries so far)! Awesome stuff - I have some reading to do.
Grant

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: What's wrong with this picture?

Ya I'm installing Complete Volvo engine/stern drive Package, Don S gave me a link to installation and wiring diagram pdfs thanks to him it's going great!