3.0L Mercruiser: trim won't go up, trim goes down, and trailer switch works

[benjames]

I've combed through the forums and read different threads with a variety of different starting points and potential solutions. I don't know where to begin, I've read about "jumping" different color wires and testing solenoids..I just don't know what these things are. I'm no mechanic, but would like to attempt to fix this myself. Any help or pointers and especially pictures would be a big help!

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

The trim limit switch is broken or disconnected.

Trim limit switch stops trim from going too far up. When the limit kicks in, only the trailer switch can raise the drive.\ the trim in or down works.

So search for trim limit switch or wait for one of the guys with Mercruiser experience to join in.

 

[benjames]

Thank you GA boater! I've read a little about trim limiter switches in my digging for this issue. If I knew what the heck that looked like I would be in business. Thank you for a point in the right direction

 

[benjames]

So I went out and found the trim limit switch wires. They were two black wires and one of them had two blue wires connected and the other had one purple wire connected, in disconnecting these and attempting to inspect them...I realized I didn't keep track of which black cable was connected to the blue wires and/or purple wire. Does it matter which black wire they are plugged into and if so, how do i figure out which goes into which?

 

[tpenfield]

The trim limit 'switch' is located on the port side of the outdrive. The wires (black) feed through the transom assembly into the engine compartment to mate up with the connection wires at the rear of the engine.

Check the trim limit switch on the outdrive for frayed wires, as that is the most common failure.

You can Google search the wiring diagram for your engine, as that will show you the colors of the wires they mate to, etc.

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[benjames]

I looked and the sleeve isnt a color as shown in that diagram, the sleeves look like they were clear at some point but its a yellowish color now from wear and age.

 

[Bt Doctur]

doseant matter how you plug them in

 

[benjames]

alright thank you. the up trim seems to be working now, maybe unplugging and plugging them back in fixed what was going on, but it doesnt look like its going up very high, it stops at a certain point. Do you know what my next step should be to make sure its the right trim height? or its going up high enough?

 

[Bt Doctur]

measure the distance between the mounting nuts on the rams. from rear anchor to front anchor is about 20 1/2 to 22 inches
or there abouts, then trailer button must be used

 

[GA_Boater]

If it's stopping, it sounds like the unplugging/plugging fixed it.

The trim limit is to stop the drive going up so high it will damage u-joints and the like. The trailer switch should only be used to raise the drive if the motor is off.

This may be your outdrive, Alpha 1, and the adjustment of the limit switch. Check that it is for your drive and the length of the cylinder when the trim up stops. http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/manuals/mercruiser6.html#/564