Electrical problem on a Johnson 200 hp outboard.

[Pye2]

I have recently purchased a boat, everything was working fine on it except the trim started to give up a couple of days ago. So much so that we had to lift the motor up manually to chock it for traveling. When trim up is pressed, the solenoid just clicks, and the trim down nothing happens. I pulled the solenoid off and tried to bridge it with wire, and managed to short the whole boat out, including the stereo. Now I don't know where to find the fuses to replace to get an electrical current going again. Any ideas/suggestions would be great. Cheers

 

[jjhjrcmh]

Re: Electrical problem on a Johnson 200 hp outboard.

What Year? Do you have a manual? On this site there are wiring diagrams. Trim works with 2 relays one for up and one down. By shorting out you blew the main fuse for engine. This fuse on 1997-1999 is located inside the cowling next to fuel pump. Here should be a red rubber plug, pull this out and your main fuse is located here. Should be a 20or30amp fuse. Hopefully the fuse shorted before you blew trim motor or relays.

 

[boobie]

Re: Electrical problem on a Johnson 200 hp outboard.

Model # ????

 

[Pye2]

Re: Electrical problem on a Johnson 200 hp outboard.

The model is '76.
Replaced that main fuse, and everything has power now. However the trim is still not working. I was thinking of replacing the solenoid to hopefully get some power to the trim.
Cheers for that guys!!

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Electrical problem on a Johnson 200 hp outboard.

That 76 trim system has a single solenoid in a remotely-mounted box under the rear splashwell. The trim box has it's own set of leads direct to the battery, similar to the engine itself. It is truly a separate electrical system from the engine. Inside that box should be a fuse holder, like the one on the engine harness under the cowling. There should be a 20 amp fuse inside. Likely that fuse blew. The trim down wiring is routed directly to the trim switch on the control box handle. The trim up requires all the power, so the "up" positon on the trim switch activates the single solenoid in the box, which transfers the large current draw to the trim motor. A couple of things to check: See if there is continuity through the trim switch in the control box-both up and down. Direct wire the motor to the battery to see if it works. (it's a 3-wire motor.) Also, possible the contact tips inside the solenoid are burned and may not transfer current properly (for the up movement.) That can happen on an old solenoid.

 

[Pye2]

Re: Electrical problem on a Johnson 200 hp outboard.

The fuse in the solenoid box is fine, so im pretty sure the solenoid is buggered. Whereabouts is the trim motor located? im only a new boat owner and havent sorted out these outboards yet.
Ill have a look now and try and find the trim motor, then Ill run a direct line to the trim motor from the battery and see if i get a kick, If i do, im assuming the solenoid is buggered, and order a new one.