Trim position sensor adjustment?

[noclutch]

Please excuse my terminology if incorrect, but hopefully you can help a noob out here. I have a 2007 Regal 2000 with a 5.0 GXi- J and SX-A outdrive ( I'm pretty sure) My trim gauge is a Farina. For a couple of years the gauge has been "sticky" in that it took a couple of seconds to catch up with changes in trim, but it reflected the out drives position well. I mentioned this to the dealer when it was just in for 100 service and while they fixed the gauges sticking problem and it moves smoothly now, unfortunately it is out of sync with the out drives actual position. ie when it is down all the way the gauge reads a little more than 3/4.
Is there a sensor that is out of adjustment here? Is it likely to be related to the spline and gimbal bearing servicing and alignment check that was done? I called the dealer and discussed it and they pretty much said that a sensor is going out and to replace it would be in the $400 range including labor.....:blue:
Thanks in advance. Yes, I did a bit of searching but found no identical problems from others.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

The sensor is on the right side of the drive. Unless they took off the gimbal tilt assembly to service the gimbal bearing, there would be no need to touch the sender. If you want, take the sender off and rotate the shaft and see if you can get the gauge to show full down.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Thanks Bruceb58. The sensor on the right side is that stethoscope head-looking piece with wires coming form it and two bolts securing it, right? So I'm presuming from your post that there is a shaft underneath it, or is it attached to it? If it is attached, it doesn't appear to have slots to allow for rotation? If the sensor just covers the shaft, is the shaft indexed or have splines? Anyone have a diagram or schematic?

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Here is from the manual on adjusting the trim sender.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Don- I've yet to pull off the sensor, but on initial inspection it does not appear to have slotted bolt holes, but maybe they are covered by the bolt head? I'll see tonight.
Where is the sending unit connector located? Is it that box below the sensor in the above pictorial?
Thanks again.

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

The connector is inside the boat. Find where the wires come through the transom shield and follow them to the connector.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Gotcha and thanks for the help. This oughta be "fun". The transom is waaaay back in there

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Don- IF my sensor truly doesn't have any slotted bolt holes on which to rotate, how would one make any adjustments? These last two entries have been sent while at work and unable to work on it at all. I need to verify also that it is an SX-A ( not another SX-xx) since your pic and my memory of the sensor don't quite jive :/ I'm dreading trying to crawl back to the inside of the transom area to find the sending unit- ugh.
Thanks for the help though! This seems within my skill set and I just need to get over my trepidation... I want to know where my rear end is, so to speak LOL

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Take a picture of the starboard side of the drive pointed at your sender.

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

They are slotted, if not, then you can't adjust it and have a part defective from Volvo. Look at the picture of item 27, that is the sender.

Look at the drawing below item 16 is actually bolted to the inside of the pivot housing (#7 in the drawing) and is what drives the sender.

If that part is broken or loose, it could be your problem. You would have to remove the pivot housing just to see it.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Thanks guys. The sender is as you describe and show. I didn't notice the slotted-ness on the lower bolt as it is rotated mostly counter clockwise, thus the rear of the slot is hidden by bolt head. I missed seeing/feeling the slot on the other side of both of the bolts. My mistake- DOH! Oh and it is indeed a SX-A 1.60.

So this might sound kinda lazy ( which I'll own. And if I have to crawl back in to the transom area I might not make it out!) ) but what might be the chances of just by rotating the sender some clockwise that the gauge will more accurately reflect what's going on down there?? If rotating it (clockwise) should, but doesn't change the gauges accuracy, I guess that would mean either part # 16 or 27 may have a broken shaft, or bolt 17 came loose?? Or some sort of electrical gremlin?
I can conceptually deal with degrees of rotation and splined shafts MUCH better than ohms :/
Thanks again!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

You realize the sender is on the outside of the boat right?

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

BruceB58-Yes the sender is on the outdrive, but

The connector is inside the boat. Find where the wires come through the transom shield and follow them to the connector.

and I assumed that I'd have to get to the connector (inside the boat) if I were to test for resistance.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Just go out there and undo the 2 screws and try turning it while it's all the way down.
Someone inside the boat as you turn.
Then if it does nothing(which I doubt)then you'll need to think about replacing.
Try cleaning the sender arm and contact?

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

BruceB58-Yes the sender is on the outdrive, but

The connector is inside the boat. Find where the wires come through the transom shield and follow them to the connector.

and I assumed that I'd have to get to the connector (inside the boat) if I were to test for resistance.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

If it's working at all?? It probably needs to be cleaned or adjusted.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

You can't clean them.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Jerry- yes it is working. Before the 100 hr service the gauge moved notch-ily ie as I was trimming up or down the gauge would stick temporarily but within a few seconds would "catch up" with the outdrives actual position. I had the service technician address this, and though they fixed the stickiness, now the gauge is not in sync with the outdrives position- it reads almost 1/4 higher than the motor is, so now when the motor is fully down, the gauge says about 3/4 down....ugh. I'd rather have the sticky accurate gauge vs smooth inaccurate Arrrgh.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

You can measure the resistance of the sender up at the gauge vs finding the connector in the engine compartment. Make sure you disconnect at least one of the wires off the gauge before making your measurements.

Those senders fail often. I replaced mine once and won't bother after this one goes. Not worth the trouble/expense for a pretty worthless gauge.

 

[noclutch]

Re: Trim position sensor adjustment?

Bruce- re: checking with ohm meter @ the gauge- good to know and a heck of a lot easier to get to! So I wouldn't check across the two (?) wires leading to the gauge after disconnecting both of them?

re: worthless gauge- while I admit that the boat will run just fine without the gauge, I find it useful quick reminder as to where the trim is say after coming off plane/before throttling up again, and occasionally in very shallow waters when idling along and wanting to run as little draft as possible (though I'm not sure just how high it can be run safely at an idle speed- I arbitrarily chose 1/2 way down as the highest..?.) It is also useful in that I used to know what the max cruising efficiency trim position was on the gauge and just went to it when resuming cruising speeds. Now I have to extrapolate the "1/4 off" to my previous trim setting standards then fine tune by speed.
But yea, all of those things can be determined by "feel" and trial and error, repeatedly, but the gauge is standard for a reason, IMHO.