My Trim Quit working!! Help!!

[brumble06]

I have a 1996 Sea Ray 190 with the 4.3 Merc. I recently took my boat to have it all checked for the summer and when we went out it seemed to run fine for about 10 min. Then it kept shutting off. I would start it then it shut off. I then looked in the engine area to find the motor half under water. When i took it back to the guy he said the freeze plugs had busted etc so i again paid him to fix something else. Now I pick it up and the trim no longer works. He says he thinks it is the trim motor but I need to know before i spend more money with this guy. I am very capeable of doing quite a bit myself I just need to know where to start. I checked the wiring at the trim motor and at the switch but all seems fine. Could someone help me out?

 

[QC]

Re: My Trim Quit working!! Help!!

Hey Brumble, welcome aboard!!

I am moving this to the I/O repair section as you will get more specific help with this type of problem. Marine engines and their issues are rarely a boat brand specific deal, so you'll pull from a much larger group over here.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: My Trim Quit working!! Help!!

Try jumping a screwdriver or piece of wire across the solenoid.Terminal with heavy red is hot.Blue and white is up,Green and white is down.Motor should run as long as your red is hot.If not you may be able to disassemble the motor and clean it up and try again

 

[brumble06]

Re: My Trim Quit working!! Help!!

Man oh man, thanks for the inspiration!!!! I did not know what each wire was other than ground so i was afraid to hook it up out side the boat. I went out and tested the old motor, (I went and bought a new one today) with my drill battery. When i did it started turning both ways. So, i then go to the boat and test the new one the way you suggested and it still didn't work. Then it clicked, This whole time I have only been testing the power sides off the factory wires. I then pulled the ground wire that runs under the motor and it just pulled right out without a terminal on it. I then grounded it and tested with confidence! It worked! However, now the up doesn't work but the trailer button works and down works. What do you think that could be? Thanks again for the advice!

 

[picklenjim]

Re: My Trim Quit working!! Help!!

That would be a problem with your Trim Limit switch.The limit switch is the one on the port (left) side of the gimble ring.The one on the starboard (right) side is the trim gauge sending unit.Limit switch only allows the drive to raise to a safe height then you must use the trailer button to go the rest of the way up.It is adjustable as you will see the 2 screws are in slots.Very simple switch and are usually just dirty.Loosen the screws and turn it back and forth in it's slots while someone holds the up switch.It may start working then.If it does adjust it to stop when the drive is about 1 inch from coming out of the guides at the bottom of the gimble ring.If it don't work take it apart and clean it up and sand the contacts.Try again.