New (used) boat... got it in the water and now Trim and Trailer UP not working?

[keston925]

Hi there, This is my first of what I am sure will be many posts for you fine wonderful iboat'ers.

2001 Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha One, I believe it sat outside for some time and hasn't been used much. The engine sounded great when I bought it with a hose attached, TRIM worked, TRIM UP worked....but the next day when I took it out it died anytime we went over idle... I had to get towed but miraculously all the sudden it does engage and stay on after idle...

But the TRIM and TRAILER UP does not work. Also the stereo cut in and out, but that is probably a different issue.

When the key is turned OFF the trim gauge is all the way up? When we turn the engine key ON the trim gauge shoots all the way back down? Which I thought was strange. Either way neither work at all now.

Any thoughts?

 

[poconojoe]

Any clicking when pressing the trim button? Or is it silent? There are two solenoids at the trim motor/pump. One for up and one for down. Many times these things sit for a while and if you keep pressing the button back and forth, they can free up. If not, they are an easy and cheap fix to change the solenoids. If that's the problem . You need to check for 12 volts between the big red wire and the big black one at the solenoids. If that is good, then it could be the solenoids , the switch at the helm or the wiring.

 

[poconojoe]

Oh, and the trim gauge only shows the position of the drive. It has nothing to do with the trim not working. Once you get the trim working, you can adjust the sender for the trim gauge. There are two puck shaped devices on the drive bell housing. The one on the starboard side is the sender for the gauge. Just loosen the two screws and rotate it until you gauge reads correctly.
The one on the port side is your trim up limit.

 

[JaCrispy]

Sounds like you might have a bad connection at the bulk connector, if your boat has one, or just bad electrical connections in general.

 

[keston925]

Any clicking when pressing the trim button? Or is it silent? There are two solenoids at the trim motor/pump. One for up and one for down. Many times these things sit for a while and if you keep pressing the button back and forth, they can free up. If not, they are an easy and cheap fix to change the solenoids. If that's the problem . You need to check for 12 volts between the big red wire and the big black one at the solenoids. If that is good, then it could be the solenoids , the switch at the helm or the wiring.

No clicking... thank you for responding

 

[poconojoe]

Also, the wires from the helm switch plug into the solenoid mount with a round rubber plug. Sometimes it gets corroded inside. Mine has a clamp on it and if you remove the clamp, you can pull the plug apart.

 

[keston925]

Crazy boat... went out and bought an Ohm meter, went to the boat and now out of no where the trim and trailer up is working??? Did I just buy Christine?

 

[Fun Times]

Crazy boat... went out and bought an Ohm meter, went to the boat and now out of no where the trim and trailer up is working??? Did I just buy Christine?

It's best to still remove, inspect, clean and tighten and wiggle the wires checking for intermittent problems as they still could occur.

 

[JaCrispy]

+1 to what Fun Times said.

You need to go over all the connections, check the fuse box too.