(Problem Solved) Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Battery???

[thedukeryan]

Edit to add that after slapping the crap out of the hydraulic motor it is now working great!!!

I replaced the up/down solenoids today with the correct ones from a near by marina and using the wiring diagram previously posted. Now the problem is that they are just clicking. I believe the cause is from my battery being dead. With that said I hooked up a booster pack and started the engine. Even with the engine running I was only getting a clicking noise but no movement. Every now and then I thought I could hear the hydraulic motor turn but it was hard to tell with my engine running. Would a dead battery cause the solenoids to just click even with the engine running? I have the battery hooked up to a charger now but may not be able to try it again till tomorrow. If not the battery any other ideas?

The boat is a 1990 Wellcraft 233 Eclipse with a Alpha 1 Generation 1 outdrive. The engine is a 5.7 350. I thought the solenoids where bad due to having to jump them to ge the trim up. Now after replacing them they are just clicking. The battery was dead but I had the same problem even after jumping and running the engine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Ayuh,.... Sounds like you might need a new trim pump,...
Does it run if you jumper the solenoids,..??

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

The pump would run yesterday if I jumped the solenoids... Didn't try today just cause the battery was so low.

 

[Don S]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

You might get a lot more replies if we knew what you were working on.
Read this thread.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220416

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Updated the original post but here it is as well... Guess thats what I get for not reading the stickys..

The boat is a 1990 Wellcraft 233 Eclipse with a Alpha 1 Generation 1 outdrive. The engine is a 5.7 350. I thought the solenoids where bad due to having to jump them to ge the trim up. Now after replacing them they are just clicking. The battery was dead but I had the same problem even after jumping and running the engine.

 

[Don S]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Head back up to the adults only sticky, then go to the Mercruiser service manual link. Download manual #6. In the troubleshooting section there are detailed instructions for troublshooting your trim and tilt system WITH wiring diagrams.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Ayuh,... With the motor Running,... The battery shouldn't be an issue....

Check ALL your Grounds...

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Ok I am stumped here. All the connections to the solenoids, motor, ground etc should be tight and clean. I brushed them down with steel wool before connecting them and then applied a blob of Dielectric grease to each connection. I have been doing some looking on this site and others but am having little luck. Right now the battery is still charging. It was DEAD. Is it possible that the alternator pumps juice to the engine but does not send enough juice to the pump? The only things I can think of is either the solenoids are hooked up wrong (they each do click when I engage the switch) or the pump is going out. Do pumps go out over time or do they die all at once? I will try jumping the solenoids once I can get enough juice to do so.

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Ok... I hooked up my booster pack to the battery and when I hit the switch I would get the slightest little turn from the motor before cutting off. After that it was the usual click. Same with jumping the solenoid. I would get a nice spark and just a slight turn of the motor. If I didnt wait a bit between hitting the switch or jumping the solenoids I would just get the click. This is really leading me to believe that the dead battery is the cause of it not trimming up/down. With that said i was running into the same issue even with the boat running. Any opinions? Now this all leads to my second question. Is it possible that a bad solenoid could cause a battery to drain over night? Started having battery problems right around the same time as the trim problems...

 

[Don S]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Did you download the manual, read it and follow the troubleshooting steps?

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Downloaded it but the problem is that my tool collection is some what lacking and I have removed the battery from the boat to charge. I can confirm that the solenoids are new, correct and hooked up as shown in the wiring diagram. All connections should be clean and have a dab of electrical grease on them. Until I get the battery charged up it will be difficult for me to test the fuses and confirm the pump is good. Really i think I am on hold until I get the battery charged and put back in.

 

[Don S]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

problem is that my tool collection is some what lacking and I have removed the battery from the boat to charge.

Without the proper tools and a good battery, you are just wasting your time.
You could just throw a bunch of parts at it and hope for the best, but it would probably be cheaper to find a qualified Merc tech to find the problem.

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Couldn't agree with you more but unfortunately the only boat shop within reasonable driving distance is 2-3 weeks out. I will charge the battery overnight and report back tomorrow what I find out. I do know that the up solenoid was bad but went ahead and replaced the up and down at the same time. Only reason was because I had to drive almost 2 hrs just to get them and figured for the price I might as well buy both.

 

[thedukeryan]

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

Re: Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Batter???

After wasting who knows how much time on this damn thing I finally got it working again. Hooked the battery up with close to a full charge. Still the same old thing clicking with a random engagement of the motor for a few seconds then nothing... Arghh very frustrating.. Put a wrench to the solenoids and again I would get a slight engagement of the motor but only hit or miss. Anyways while down there I decided to slap the crap out of the motor several times. Hit the solenoid again and the motor ran like a bat out of!!! went tried the switch again and trailer button and it is now working like a charm... This is probably a cake walk to most of you but I feel great knowing that I got it is back up and running.

 

[Zeeter]

Re: (Problem Solved) Solenoid Just Clicking No Movement... Battery???

It will fail again at a most unfortunate time. At least you know what part is suspect.