Power Trim Stopped Working?

[Huicho]

Just picked up a 1991 Four Winns 170 Freedom for what I feal was a steal! Took it out for the first time yesterday and the boat ran awesome and all was good until we went to load the boat and the power trim just stopped working. I looked over all the wires and connections and couldn't find any issues. Looked for some kind of breaker/ relay or fuse for the unit pump with no luck. I found the bleeder valve and used that to get it to go up manually.

Any idea where I could start to look for the problem?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,....... With a test light, start at the trim pump, 'n see where you have power, to where ya don't,.....

 

[Huicho]

Ayuh,....... With a test light, start at the trim pump, 'n see where you have power, to where ya don't,.....

Great thought, I'll do that. Do you know if there is any breakers or in-line fuses that I should be looking for?

 

[Scott Danforth]

start at the battery, cleaning every connection all the way to the motor, then up to the helm. most likely a bad connection vs a bad circuit breaker

 

[Huicho]

start at the battery, cleaning every connection all the way to the motor, then up to the helm. most likely a bad connection vs a bad circuit breaker

That's a good plan, I'll start with this just like Bondo had said as well. Glad to see that you all agree, makes me feal better.

Thank you,

 

[Huicho]

I have another question... I have been trying to find a good wiring diagram for my boat and only find very vague schematics at best. Any downloads that you are aware of?

 

[Bondo]

I have another question... I have been trying to find a good wiring diagram for my boat and only find very vague schematics at best. Any downloads that you are aware of?

Nope,.... Not for the boat, but there are for the motor, 'n drive, but you haven't said what you've got,....

 

[Huicho]

That's a good plan, I'll start with this just like Bondo had said as well. Glad to see that you all agree, makes me feal better.

Thank you,

1991 Four Winns 170 Freedom, 3.0 IL4

 

[alldodge]

Assuming Merc

 

[Scott Danforth]

Schematics for boats generally DO NOT EXIST

Schematics for the motor and controls are in the factory service manual for your motor

 

[Huicho]

Assuming Merc

View attachment 403176

Its an OMC outdrive, but this looks very close to what I have, just newer.

Thank you

 

[Huicho]

So, I started looking into the wiring and when I got up to the trim switch at the throttle it kind of came apart. Don't think that it was the issue though, but I will need to get another switch if that's even possible? Might there be another option of a switch that will work, similar in size that you all know of?

 

[alldodge]

Look for power tilt trim switch and several come up. Might need to use another type

If you know the model throttle handle it is possible to find the original but chance is slim.

 

[Huicho]

Look for power tilt trim switch and several come up. Might need to use another type

If you know the model throttle handle it is possible to find the original but chance is slim.

That is what I thought would be the case, Thank you

 

[Lou C]

1) is this boat powered by Merc or OMC? Many Four Winns boats came with OMC power. Ah saw your answer, OMC.
2) it’s not unusual for the wires inside the remote control to break; this is why doing the electrical checks is important.
3) if it’s an OMC Cobra boat like mine the older ones had large relays kind of like a Ford starter relay but the later models used a smaller relay holder set up. The main things to check is power & ground to the relays and that the trim switch is sending power to the appropriate relay.
Blue wire = up relay
Green wire = down relay
Red wire = power to relays & trim switch.
OMC does not have the trim limit switch that Merc has otherwise it’s very similar.
On mine the wires inside the control were grounding out on the handle! So make sure your relays have power & ground and then have someone work the trim switch to see if the up or down signal is getting to the appropriate relay….

 

[Huicho]

1) is this boat powered by Merc or OMC? Many Four Winns boats came with OMC power. Ah saw your answer, OMC.
2) it’s not unusual for the wires inside the remote control to break; this is why doing the electrical checks is important.
3) if it’s an OMC Cobra boat like mine the older ones had large relays kind of like a Ford starter relay but the later models used a smaller relay holder set up. The main things to check is power & ground to the relays and that the trim switch is sending power to the appropriate relay.
Blue wire = up relay
Green wire = down relay
Red wire = power to relays & trim switch.
OMC does not have the trim limit switch that Merc has otherwise it’s very similar.
On mine the wires inside the control were grounding out on the handle! So make sure your relays have power & ground and then have someone work the trim switch to see if the up or down signal is getting to the appropriate relay….

Great advice, thank you. I will do this and let you know how it go's.