86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

[bayliner19]

I have a pre-owned subject boat and somewhere along the way someone has removed the little red indicator light above the tilt trim switch that is unlit until the stern-drive is raised and it then lights up to indicate the drive is not all the way in the down position. I would like to replace this light but cannot find the wire that connects to the worm gear relay. According to the repair manual wiring diagram this should be fairly easy, one side of the light connects to the live side of the ignition switch when in the on position and the other side of the light connects to the green & yellow lead from the worn gear relay. I have tried testing this by connecting a test light to the positive side of the battery (emulating the ignition connection) and then touching the lead from the worm gear relay while manually pressing and releasing the push rod retaining pawl on the stern drive. It should light when released and be dark when depressed, but it just lights all the time. From the looks of the worm gear control head, it appears that it may have come off of a 280, I think most of these were interchangeable anyway. Any suggestions or ideas?When I was young the fish were so big we had to fish from shore with a tow truck line.

 

[Don S]

Re: 86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

The power for the light comes from the switch the light is above. The other wire that goes back to the mechanical lift relay box is the ground. That switch on the top of the box is in the ground wire system.
A common problem that keeps the light of is either a bad ground connection in the relay box, or a bad switch in the top of the relay box.

PS: A test light will not work like that, it's not a jumper wire.

 

[bayliner19]

Re: 86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

Looking at a wiring diagram of a 280 relay box, it shows that a +12v power though the light continues out to the -12v side to both an end position switch (the one the push rod opens) and the relay. With a 12v continuity probe connected to the +12v power and then probed into the negative side of the switch and the relay, it should function the same as a light wired into the system. It should light when the push rod is extended and go off when the push rod is retracted. My information is coming from the Clymer Volvo shop manual. I suppose it is possible the end position switch is faulty and perhaps that is the next thing to check. Thanks for your comments and I welcome any further information on this subject.


When I was young the fish were so big we had to fish from shore with a tow truck line.

 

[Don S]

Re: 86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

 

[Don S]

Re: 86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

Are you looking at the international wiring, or the US method. Clymers may not be giving you the correct informaiton.
What a surprise! :|

 

[bayliner19]

Re: 86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

Are there other manuals available that are better? OK, I think I got a grip on it now. In checking another section that shows how the actuator rod works, it appears that the leg has to be all the way down in order for it to make contact with the pressure switch. I thought I could just check the action of the push rod with the leg up and that is probably my problem. I will get out there today and check it with the leg all the way down and see if that makes a difference. Will let you know results.


When I was young the fish were so big we had to fish from shore with a tow truck line.

 

[bayliner19]

Re: 86 Bayliner 19' Volvo aq131 & 275 sterndrive

dOK, success at last. I was able to verify the switch was working properly and I was able to track the wire to the light (it was the yellow with green stripe) and found that the light had been broken and tucked way back under the dash. I will be connecting a new indicator light shortly and I am cautiously optimistic that all will be well. Thanks for your input "Ketchikan Man",


When I was young the fish were so big we had to fish from shore with a tow truck line.