This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

[golfer_66ky]

I have a 1996 19' aquatron with a 4.3LX Merc. You could eat out of the engine compartment this boat is so clean...never had a problem til now. My tilt trim guage doesnt work, but the controls on the shifter all work and the outdrive does what its told from the shifter...guage not functioning is my problem....dont really need it but I like all guages to work<br /><br />Turned the key on. Checked the power wire and the ground wire leading to the guage with a volt meter...power is there. Checked the sending wire and the ground wire on the guage...no power.<br /><br /> I also loosened the screws to the sending units on the gimbel housing, put some WD-40 on them and worked them back and forth. Re-tightened the screws on the sending units to the same position. After all this still no guage function.<br /><br />Do I need a new guage or is one of the sending units out on the gimble housing.<br /><br />Brian

 

[clanton]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

Locate the 2 sender wires in engine compartment, insure the connection is good, if I remember one wire goes to ground, the other to guage, connect a ohm meter between the two wire, move sender back and forth, meter should change with movement of sender.

 

[sho305]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

I would start with the sending unit. Corrsion a problem back there. See if you can get it apart and check any contacts in there, or take it loose so you can move it (simulate trim movement) and test wires for voltage change as that is what most sensors use. Most have hot wire and then other wire is varied back to gauge dependant on position. Not sure about your particular one though. Also could be connection too, try to find power there. <br /><br />You can get a DVOM(digital volt ohm meter) for $10-15 now if you do not have one. These can test things without worry of trashing something sensitive to current, and are much more accurate than the needle type. Required for testing automotive engine sensors as you can blast the computer with analog. Probably not needed for boat non-motor wiring, but way easier to use.

 

[clanton]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

Sender wire should not have power, only goes to ground thru sender.

 

[clanton]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

Ground sender wire close to guage, should peg meter. Meter pegs, bad sender or wires.

 

[butlp]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

What is your gauge reading? If it is hard on the stop one way then the wire to the sender unit could be grounded. I had a similar problem on an older Mercruser and it was corrosion in the sender unit. You can check the gauge is working by grounding the wire from the gauge to the sender unit. The gauge should read fully one way ungrounded and the opposite way when you ground it.

 

[butlp]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

Sorry Clanton,<br />We were both thinking the same thing and posting at the same time<br />Peter

 

[clanton]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

No problem.

 

[hondon]

Re: This could be a simlpe answer---please help!

Let's try it simple and common.The tilt pin might be turning in the gimbal housing instead of the steering ring as it should.This means that the pin turns at the same rate the drive tilts and gives no reading at the guage.Happens alot and if you discredit my bretheren again I will give you no further advice.