trim motor brings motor up but not down...

[bpears]

I have a 1987 16' Doral with a Mercruiser outdrive. The trim motor has been a little suspect over the last little while. It always lifts the motor up no probs, but often I have to flick the switch several times before it would kick in and lower the motor - almost like it has a dead spot... However, the end of the line came today when I was out in the boat and trimmed it up once planed... When I slowed down I tried to lower the motor and no go... I had to pretty much putt all the way back home becasue it would not plane due to being trimmed up too much. The switch is fine at the throttle becasue the trim motor is clicking when I hit the switch... The motor must obviously be fine right because it is working in one direction no probs. It sounds like a relay issue on the trim motor itself or a bad solenoid perhaps - or just a corroded wire?? Please don't tell me I have to replace the trim motor!!!! My trim motor has code 88183A11 on the side of it. I see two solenoids on the opposite side, the upper one has a blue wire going to it while the solenoid under that one has a green wire going to it - I am assuming green is the down solenoid? Can I switch these wires to see if that works?? If it's the solenoid, then the motor shouldn't go up now right?? ANy other suggestions?? Is it tricky to replace these solenoids at all??? It's definately an armpit to work on... I've attached a pic that shows a top view, where you can see the solenoides one above the other on the right side of the trim motor. Yu can see the blue wire leading into the top solenoid and can barely make out a green below that...

Please help!!!

Thanks, Brad

 

[subysti]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

I had this exact same problem and it was with the switch. And not even the switch itself but the cover on the switch was loose so it wasn't actually activating the switch itself. try disassembling the switch assembly and jumping to correct wires to see if the trim still works. thats the quickest way of checking the switch.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

You have a bad down silenoid.You have 2 silenoids on your trim pump,1 for up and 1 for down.The down one has the green wire going to it from the trim motor.Make sure the connection is good.If it is then you probably need to replace it.You can test it by jumping a wire from the large red wire to the green wire and the motor should run down.If it does the silenoid is bad.That's what's clicking when you hit the switch down.Be sure to disconnect the battery when replacing.

 

[Showtime22]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

I agree it sounds like the solenoid has failed.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

Exact same symptoms here last week and it was a dead down solenoid, the solenoid still clicked but was not transfering any power. Marked Kiekhaefer Mercury dated 10-75
Went to get new one and Merc dealer wanted $50, I got the exact same part at Autozone for $10.

 

[bpears]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

Thanks for the replies everyone... You have confirmed what I suspect for sure... One quick question, if I jump from the large red wire to the green, can I leave the green connected to the solenoid when I do this or should I disconnect it from the solenoid before jumping to it?? I suspect I can leave it connected right?

Thanks, Brad

 

[gadget73]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

You can use a screwdriver across the big terminals to make the drive go down. It won't hurt anything if the wires stay attached.

 

[subysti]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

I would check the switch continuity also. start with the easy stuff first.

 

[dubs283]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

from the look of the picture its time to clean all the connections on that pump, lots of corrosion there

 

[bpears]

Re: trim motor brings motor up but not down...

Yes, you are right - it's time to clean all the connections up... I'd like to get the motor right out where I can work on it - or at least get it on it's side... It's going to be a pain to work on it the way it is...