Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

[Chaparralboater24]

hey guys New guy here !!

I have a Chaparral 1800SL ( 1991) with a 3.0LX 135HP. Mercruiser motor and outdrive alpha 1 gen 2 I believe

I just De-winterized my boat and noticed my trim (tilt) switch is acting up. It will go up but not down. It was twitchy going up sometimes but goes up none the less. When I hit the switch down it just clicks once at the pump.

I am wondering if I can just order a new switch. I doubt anyone will have a switch for my boat just sitting on their shelves.

I took the shifter panel off to get to the switch and noticed the wires didn't have good connections. I cleaned the connections off and resoldered the wires and still no difference.

I am wondering what you guys think I should do??

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

Welcome to iboats!

If you hit the switch and it clicks at the pump, it ain't the switch. It's the pump.

 

[Chaparralboater24]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

but why would the trim go up but not down. If I get lucky I can get the switch to go down. It might go down once out of ten times hitting the switch down.

Ahh I hate crappy boats

 

[achris]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

Welcome to iboats!

If you hit the switch and it clicks at the pump, it ain't the switch. It's the pump.

or the solenoid.

 

[achris]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

but why would the trim go up but not down. If I get lucky I can get the switch to go down. It might go down once out of ten times hitting the switch down.

Ahh I hate crappy boats

Do you have a service manual with a wiring diagram?

The up and down circuits are quite independent. there is a separate solenoid for each and the pump motor has 2 windings, one up and other down...

 

[Chaparralboater24]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

One thing I noticed too, I was at the boat twice. The first time I saw the pump tank was empty, thats when the down action didnt do anything. I went and got the fluid, re-filled it, hit the switch and it went up and down. Now a week later I still have fluid but no down.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

or the solenoid.

Yeah, but I figured if it was "clicking" then the solenoid was making that noise, and therefore doing its job.

Is this system self bleeding? If not, If it was empty it may need the air bled from it, or if it was run dry, it may be time for a new pump.

 

[achris]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

Yeah, but I figured if it was "clicking" then the solenoid was making that noise, and therefore doing its job.

Is this system self bleeding? If not, If it was empty it may need the air bled from it, or if it was run dry, it may be time for a new pump.

Even if the solenoid clicks it can still be faulty with bad internal contacts. The system is basically self bleeding...

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

Even if the solenoid clicks it can still be faulty with bad internal contacts. The system is basically self bleeding...

Tru-dat. Good for him its self bleeding. Looks like its time to break out the Fluke meter, and take some voltage readings.

 

[Chaparralboater24]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

so where should I start. Is there a check list?

The trailer up button works. Or I guess it did its all the way up now so I can tell. But the switch just feels like crap to me.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

You can swap the relays and see if the problem moves with the relays. If it does, you have a bad relay.

 

[Chaparralboater24]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

where would the relays be?..

Could I just take the wires going to the switch and just swap them?

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

In stead of all this replacing parts and hoping for the best, here is a link to the OEM service. Section 1C has detailed troubleshooting steps and wiring diagrams, might as well find the real problem, and fix it properly.

http://www.4shared.com/document/dPQUcyn_/Service_Manual_14.html

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: Trim Tab problems. Up but not down ??

trim tabs, Arnt they like rain gutters on a house? we are all told they are essential, then we spend a fortune installing them, and alas, they never ever work properly. and then, eventually, we get pissed n off enough to rip them down, and have that epiphany, where the light bulb goes on, realizing properly trimming the drive, proper loading of the boat, and wala, all is well.....