Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

[bumpty-bump]

My new (to me) Suzuki DF60 (2003) has an erratic tilt problem. An hour or so after stopping the engine and mooring for the night, I was woken by the sound of the tilt motor lifting the engine. I pressed the down switch on the throttle lever and the motor stopped turning but as soon as I released the switch it started again. I threw the main power switch and shut all power off until daylight. About 7 hours later I turned the power on and things seemed fine. The engine went down on the button but ten minutes later it lifted again and the pump kept running. I switched off all power again.
To get mobile I disconnected the tilt motor wiring from one of the relays (green wire) and lowered the engine by releasing the manual tilt screw. When I went ashore, I reconnected the wiring and things seem to be fine with the tilt behaving normally once again. I was aboard the boat for the next 14 hours and no more unexpected tilting.
Has anyone any thoughts of what could be wrong?

 

[lakensea]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

You will have to familiarize yourself with the harness connections for the control box and the engine mounted switch so when it happens again you can disconnect them one at a time to isolate them. If the trim motor then continues to run, then you will have to replace the solenoid.

 

[bumpty-bump]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

You will have to familiarize yourself with the harness connections for the control box and the engine mounted switch so when it happens again you can disconnect them one at a time to isolate them. If the trim motor then continues to run, then you will have to replace the solenoid.

Thanks lakeandsea. I disconnected the loom from the control box and the problem persisted so I ruled out any wiring issues with the control switch. The control switch on the side of the engine is new so I knew it wasn't this one.

There are two relays for the trim and tilt system. I presume the solenoid you mention is one of these relays and probably the up relay?

 

[99yam40]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

You need to be testing things to see what is getting voltage to it or through it.
do not rule out something because it was replaced.
could be wiring also

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

relay or switch is making a connection. how many tilt switchs do you have and are any missing the rubber boot as ive had that happen on a bassboat where the front switch got wet and the motor trimmed up as the connections for up are the bottom 2 on back of switch.

ops see you unplugged the loom but the one on the motor can still get water inside it. check with a volt meter and test the up relay

 

[bumpty-bump]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

Thanks to everyone for their help. I tested the up relay today and found it to be ok and the engine sat in a tank of water all evening without tilting. This appears to be an intermittent fault on the up relay so will order one up from a Suzuki dealer this week and keep it in reserve until the issue reappears. Thanks again for your help.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

the tilt switch you replaced on the motor is a suzuki part as it has to be water proof. they get splashed alot and dunked if you come off plane hard so a cheap switch will do what you are seeing

 

[bumpty-bump]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

the tilt switch you replaced on the motor is a suzuki part as it has to be water proof. they get splashed alot and dunked if you come off plane hard so a cheap switch will do what you are seeing

Yes it is a new and original Suzuki part. Interestingly the switch was replaced as the old one wouldn't tilt the engine up. Once replaced it still didn't tilt the engine so the local mechanic suggested it was a relay and not worth worrying about as the engine still controlled perfectly from the control lever.
Obviously I now know that this is worth repairing but I don't understand why the control box worked fine but the engine switch didn't? I'm still waiting on a price and availability for an 'up' relay.

 

[99yam40]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

there is only one up relay, so if it works from one switch and not the other then you have a problem with a switch or wiring

 

[bumpty-bump]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

Thanks 99yam40. As its a brand new switch and still doesn't work, I guess then the wiring between the motor switch and the up relay is at fault. I'll check continuity in the morning. If it's broken then that should be a cheap and easy fix. Do you think this is linked to the original problem of the motor tilting on its own or is that likely to be linked to the relay?

 

[99yam40]

Re: Suzuki tilts on its own after being switched off

very possible that a short or corrosion in harness could cause the tilting and finally opened up wire so no worky now