Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

[fulano]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here, and thank you for all the valuable information you all share. This is my first boat and I came here knowing nothing about boats and boating. You guys make it easy and fun for someone to become educated. Thank you for making that possible.

Before I ask my question....

I have a Merc 3.0lx serial number: 0k006992
and Alpha One drive serial number: 0k077388

The problem I'm experiencing is that my trailer button and trim up button are not working.

I have tried jumping 12v positive from the battery to the blue/white on the "up" solenoid and I was able to bring up my outdrive. So I know the hydraulic pump and the solenoid are working.

If I am not mistaken, I think the trailer button bypasses the limit switch. So if it was a limit switch problem, the trailer button should still work. So it's unlikely that the problem will be limit switch, correct?

So what should I do next to troubleshoot? Maybe disconnect the harness and check the switches for continuity? Does anyone know the color code for a Mercruiser commander classic 3000, and which pins operate the up/trailer function?

Other than that, any ideas on what else it might be?

Thanks.

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Sorry,

I forgot to mention that I do have 12v going to the red wire that feeds both solenoids, and the down trim is working fine.

Thanks

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

The problem I'm experiencing is that my trailer button and trim up button are not working.

I have tried jumping 12v positive from the battery to the blue/white on the "up" solenoid and I was able to bring up my outdrive. So I know the hydraulic pump and the solenoid are working.

If I am not mistaken, I think the trailer button bypasses the limit switch. So if it was a limit switch problem, the trailer button should still work. So it's unlikely that the problem will be limit switch, correct?

OK.. there is your biggest clue. You're getting power to the solenoids, the solenoids, motor and pump are working. So the problem has to be in the control switches... I'd look for a broken blue/white wire between the control switches and the solenoid... Or a bad connection either at the pump or at the control switches (what type of trim panel? Photo?).

Chris..........

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

+1 with Chris, look to the blue/white wire. The trailer switch bypasses the TL switch at the connector in the stern. Look for the black wire going into the connector with two B/W wires. Unplug, and with a voltmeter (+ in the connector - to ground) press the trailer switch. If you have 12V there the problem is with the B/W wire between there and the solenoid.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Here is the troubleshooting charts from the manual.
You will find the wiring diagram in the back of the file.

View attachment A1G2 Trim Troublelshooting.pdf

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

WOW! Thanks everyone for all the help. I'll be working on it today, so I'll let you know how I made out.

I love the manual / troubleshooting guide. Is there more stuff like that that I can download? Like for the engine and drive?

Thanks!

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

.... Is there more stuff like that that I can download? Like for the engine and drive?

ENGINE MANUAL
DRIVE MANUAL

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

ENGINE MANUAL
DRIVE MANUAL

AWESOME! thanks Chris!

ok, here's the update. I've been getting beat down by the Las Vegas sun for the past couple hours. And to be honest, the beers are going down pretty easily, so I hope this is coherent.

I bypassed the trim limit switch, disconnected the harness from where it plugs into the pump solenoids, and tested for continuity. I am getting continuity on the up and the down, but not the trailer switch.

My original problerm was that all of a sudden, my trailer button and my trim up button stopped working. Did my TL switch and trailer button go out at the same time? That's seems weird right?

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Sounds like bad connections somewhere being intermittent.. (Intermittents are the worse to try and find...:facepalm I'd be physically checking every connection, for clean and tight. Not just the reds and other colours, but the blacks too.

Chris.......
BTW... fixing boats and beer don't mix so good... Put the beer away until the job's done. Stick to water for liquid relief while on the job...

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Thanks Chris,

So my remote control is a quicksilver 3000. do you know which lead goes to the trailer switch. I have red (positive), green (down) blue and purple. I know blue is up, and purple goes to the TL switch, just not sure how it ties together.

The way I had pictured it in my mind is when I hit the up trim, it sends a signal to the purple wire, through the TL switch and back up to the blue which is attached to the up solenoid. BUT, if I hit the trailer button, it bypasses the TL switch and goes directly through the blue to the Up solenoid.

Does that sound right?

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

In post #5 (http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...er-button-not-working-607939.html#post4236259) Don gave you a PDF for troubleshooting the trim system. On the last page of that is the wiring schedule.

In brief...
Red/pur wire - Power for the switches to switch to the solenoids.
Green/wht wire - Connected to DOWN solenoid.
Blue/wht wire - Connected to UP solenoid.
Pur/wht wire - Connected to trim limit switch.

The way I had pictured it in my mind is when I hit the up trim, it sends a signal to the purple wire, through the TL switch and back up to the blue which is attached to the up solenoid. BUT, if I hit the trailer button, it bypasses the TL switch and goes directly through the blue to the Up solenoid.

Absolutely correct...

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Oh man guys, I really can't thank you enough for all your support. You can prob imagine how it is to be a first time boater. I was so hesitant to bite the bullet and buy it, it was a big purchase for us, but the kids are getting bigger and time is slipping away. I want to make some memories with them you know.

It really feels so reassuring to know there are folks like you out there so willing to help. I'm learning a lot and I hope someday to be knowledgeable enough to reciprocate, and help someone else.

Well, an update on my issue here... the trim limit switch was a little out of adjustment, and the trailer button just quit working all together. So, for the long run, I intend on changing out the remote control to a teleflex (or any other suggestions???), but in the meantime I adjusted my TL switch to work properly, and I'll prob hookup some kind of temporary separate switch to replace the trailer switch so I don't have to keep jumping 12v to the solenoid.

But the main lesson I learned here is to keep a cool head when things go wrong at the lake. Even if the trim was all the way down, and I didn't know how to do the jumper trick, it's not the end of the world... I could have always taken the rams off and used a tie down to hold the drive up and trailer it home..

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

OK.. there is your biggest clue. You're getting power to the solenoids, the solenoids, motor and pump are working. So the problem has to be in the control switches... I'd look for a broken blue/white wire between the control switches and the solenoid...
Chris..........

LOL, you were right on the money Chris! Thanks again!!!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

the trailer button just quit working all together. So, for the long run, I intend on changing out the remote control to a teleflex (or any other suggestions???), but in the meantime I adjusted my TL switch to work properly, and I'll prob hookup some kind of temporary separate switch to replace the trailer switch so I don't have to keep jumping 12v to the solenoid.

I think you still need to check for 12V at the connector with the two blue/white wires, to know for certain that your switch is the problem. Here is the parts diagram for your control: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...bdesc=Commander+3000+Classic(827270A+1+-+A11)

If it is the switch, there is a Commander 3000 manual, but I do not have a link to it. Here are instructions for removing the control handle from the manual. BTW I don't see any reason to change the control. Good luck.

Remove control handle by first removing throttle only
button. Place the control handle in the
throttle-only position. Push ?In? on button and
place control handle forward. Throttle-only button
can now be removed. If button cannot be removed
with fingers, use a small screwdriver and
pry out gently.
Remove 11/16? retainer bolt holding handle to
module.

 

[TheSeasLife]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here, and thank you for all the valuable information you all share. This is my first boat and I came here knowing nothing about boats and boating. You guys make it easy and fun for someone to become educated. Thank you for making that possible.

Before I ask my question....

I have a Merc 3.0lx serial number: 0k006992
and Alpha One drive serial number: 0k077388

The problem I'm experiencing is that my trailer button and trim up button are not working.

I have tried jumping 12v positive from the battery to the blue/white on the "up" solenoid and I was able to bring up my outdrive. So I know the hydraulic pump and the solenoid are working.

If I am not mistaken, I think the trailer button bypasses the limit switch. So if it was a limit switch problem, the trailer button should still work. So it's unlikely that the problem will be limit switch, correct?

So what should I do next to troubleshoot? Maybe disconnect the harness and check the switches for continuity? Does anyone know the color code for a Mercruiser commander classic 3000, and which pins operate the up/trailer function?

Other than that, any ideas on what else it might be?

Thanks.

I had problems the same as you. I just removed all connections one at a time, cleaned very well and re-connected. All went well.

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Remote control manual

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Chris comes through as usual

 

[fulano]

Re: Alpha one outdrive trim up button and trailer button not working.

Awesome guys!

Thanks for all the replies. I had a busy week and haven't had a chance to work on the boat. Thanks for the parts diagram and the manual.

I checked voltage all the way up to the harness that plugs into the remote, but I haven't taken the remote apart yet. In my rookiness, I broke the little rubber housing that holds the trailer button together (kind of a funky button right? ) and I don't know if I can even find that replacement part at a decent price. I found one for 100 bucks, but I don't think its worth it. I would just assume put that money towards a new remote all together. Plus I've read about many people being unhappy with this remote, saying that it gets really stiff. I've read that once that happens, you have to rebuild it, and that's about 150 bucks for the kit. Mine is not bad, but a little stiff.