Trim Up Works Intermittently, and Sometimes has to "Load Up" Before Moving

[GIJeff]

Hi all,

2006 Tahoe Q4 Sport here w/ a 4.3L Mercruiser and Alpha 1 Gen 2 lower unit. Sometimes, my unit doesn't like to trim up. It doesn't click, doesn't make any noise, doesn't do anything at all. After pressing the trim up button on my throttle a couple of times and waiting a minute or two, it'll often start working. It doesn't do this often, maybe once every 4-5 trips to the water. Any idea what would could be causing this intermittent failure?

Also, sometimes the unit "loads" up before actually moving. I'll press the trim button on my throttle, it'll sound like its moving but it isn't, and then it'll finally kick in (the sound changes when it is actually moving).

I do have my engine pulled at the moment, so it is easy to access all parts of this. I'd like to do as much troubleshooting as I can while the engine is out.

Thanks for the help,

Jeff

 

[Bondo]

Any idea what would could be causing this intermittent failure?

Ayuh,.... Most likely corroded wirin' ends at the battery, 'n solenoids,....

 

[Starcraft5834]

I second what Bondo said,, clean and check all your connections from the switch on your throttle to the trim motor, and battery. if it's working intermittently, its working.......so why is it intermittent? bad connection... being an 06 trim motor, that should be fine... they tend to last a very long time... you can always jump test your trim motor to be sure it's not the motor failing

 

[GIJeff]

Great, thanks for the feedback, guys. A faulty connection does seem the likely culprit - I recently found out my trim motor has not been attached to the boat the entire time I've owned it. At some time before me, the screws wore out and the motor has just been bouncing around in the engine compartment. Awesome, right? I'll jump in there tonight and clean up all of the connections, reattach the motor and see how that works.