Power trim Issue

[No1uNo]

I have a 1992 mercruiser 3.0 stern drive. While getting my boat ready for winter last week I noticed an issue with the power trim which it didn't have a few weeks before when we last had it out in the water. I found I could lower the leg just fine but the up button on my trim switch wouldn't do anything. However, I could still raise the engine by using the trailering button. Trailering the engine I was able to bring it into the full up position. I tried several times and each time it would lower normally but would only go up by using the trailering button. Since the trim itself seems to be working fine, I'm guessing it's likely just a switch issue but wanted to get some more expert opinions since I've only had my boat for 2 seasons and am still very much a learner.

Also, if it is just a switch issue, my trim switch is built right into the thumb position on my throttle lever and the trailering button is lower down but still on the throttle lever. Is it possible to just replace the switch or would I have to replace the whole throttle lever attachment? Also, would it need to be replaced with the exact same lever or could I upgrade to a newer style as long as it has both trim and trailering buttons on it? I meant to take a picture of it all before I tarped the whole thing up and drove my boat away to her winter sleeping location but forgot. It's almost exactly like the below pic though except I don't have whatever the switch thing is at the bottom left. The rubbery lined square thing a few inches from the top is the trailering button which slides up and down.

 

[harringtondav]

My first guess is your trim limit switch is bad or misadjusted.

 

[alldodge]

Agree check trim limit first. At the trim pump there is normally 2 black wires which go to the outdrive. These two wires will be connected with banana jacks to one Blue/White and one Purple/White wires. Disconnect these wires and connect the Blue/White and Purple/white wires together.

If you trim switch now works, then its the limit switch on the drive, if it does not, its probably the switch on the throttle.

 

[zellerj]

I had the same exact issue with a slightly different control lever. What I found was that the wires are connected inside the lever with bullet connectors. My up bullet connector was a little loose. So I cleaned up the connector and pinched it a little with a pair of pliers, and it has been working since. Don't be afraid to take apart the control lever. It is not that difficult to get back together again. Might not solve your problem but it worked for me.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... The Odds are, the trim limit switch, or it's wires are the problem,......

Could be the switch, but is less likely,.....

 

[No1uNo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I store my boat a little out of town at a friend’s acreage so I may not get a chance to look into it until spring as I live in Alberta so my boat will probably be covered in snow before I get back there again. I’ll dig this thread out again come spring and let you know how it goes. Thanks again!

 

[achris]

You might find this helpful. And there's a write-up on how the system works HERE...



Chris.....

 

[No1uNo]

Awesome stuff. Thanks Chris.

 

[kulle]

i had similar issue...fact that it went up and down with some button means solenoids are good. i had gunk on contacts of trim limit switch....then later found the ground bolt on trim pump connections loose. "B" in the diagram chris shared

 

[Ed Harris]

I have taken my pump soleniods apart (not very easily though) and cleaned out corrosion in order to get it working again. Mine are still original from 1985. I dont know why I posted this I guess just to let someone know that it can be done if your in a pinch. It was working intermitingly it the reason I pry-ed the little clip ears back in order to do this.

 

[No1uNo]

Well, it's been almost 8 months since I posted this. I recently got my boat out of storage and this evening got around to seeing what the problem was. It was in fact the trim limiter switch. It wasn't faulty, just had dirty contacts and may have also gotten itself misaligned. My son and I (mostly him) were able to diagnose it with the help of you guys and a little bit of YouTube to help us locate the switch. Everything seems to work perfectly now. Thanks so much for all your help everyone. That saved me a bunch of money and some precious boat downtime.

 

[No1uNo]

Another issue came up with my power trim that seems to have come as a result of our tinkering. For some reason the trim gauge on my dash no longer works and shows full down. Is there maybe some kind of wire we accidentally loosened while fixing the trim limiter or did we not put the limiter back in place properly? Any assistance would be most appreciated.

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

Could be a number of things--

For a start ;

--Does the needle on the gauge move from up to down when you turn the ignition key ?

---Did anyone spin or adjust the trim send on the port side? --( as in -- opposite the trim switch on the starboard side)

-- Are you comfortable using a DVM to check dc voltages ?

 

[No1uNo]

I think the needle just stays put and doesn't move at all but I'll check the next time we are up at the lake. And yes, when we were looking for the trim limiter, we did at first go to the wrong side and opened up what I now suppose is the trim send. I'm guessing we didn't put it back on correctly then. How should it be put on?

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

Pretty easy
Rotate it to a point where it reads correctly -- Gauge needle down when drive is down etc.

 

[No1uNo]

It's parked at a slip with no lift right now so it might be a while before I get a chance to pull it out of the water and give it a try but thanks for your help.

 

[alldodge]

You can adjust in the water, just loosen the screw on the gimbal ring