1987 Evinrude XP150 power trim pump runs by itself

[crashpro]

Yesterday, my 1987 Evinrude XP150 power trim pump motor started running without any of the three trim switches being pushed. I was outside and heard the pump turn on and looked and the motor was raising and no one was near the boat. I pushed the tilt switch located on the throttle arm down and the motor went down and the trim shut off when I released the switch. However, after sitting there for about half a minute, the motor started rising again. Any of the three trim switches, when pushed to the down position will make it go down and will stop when released. But when I use any of the three trim switches to go up, the motor will continue to rise even after the switch is released. I have to bump them to the down position to get the motor to stop. My battery had to be disconnected to get it to stop. When re-connected, the power trim turned on again after less than a minute. Any ideas?

Also, the power trim gauge has not worked since I got the boat a year ago. How do I diagnose it? It has to be either the sending unit or the gauge, I would think.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1987 Evinrude XP150 power trim pump runs by itself

Sure, rain water into a toggle-type switch can cause the motor to trim up. The ones on the throttle handle are succeptable to water.

Trim gauges are not real useful IMHO. However you may test the sender with an ohmmeter. The resistance should change as you push on the trim lever (plastic, likely in the transom bracket). Next ohm out the wiring to the gauge. It obviously should not be grounded. The gauge is getting +12VDC and ground right?

 

[crashpro]

Re: 1987 Evinrude XP150 power trim pump runs by itself

Hey Chris,

The advice on the switches worked. I had been fishing in a steady rain for several hours. I took out all three switches and warmed them up pretty good with a hair dryer, re-installed them and the system works perfectly. Haven't had time to check the gauge, but should be easy enough to figure out with your tips. Thanks ever so much.