Power Trim Stopped Working - please advise

[Katemma Life]

Took her out for a spin, trim worked fine and then just stopped. Pulled over, trailer switch lifted the OD fine. Trim switch wont put it back down.

Does this mean the fuse on the trim pump is fine (because trailer switch worked) and its the dashboard switch?

Also, is there anyway to put the OD down manually? Supposed to take the family out tomorrow....

Thanks for your advise!

 

[Katemma Life]

so it looks like its the solenoid valve.

Question - If I release the hydraulic lines and let the OD down and then reconnect the lines would I be fine to drive it until the solenoids are replaced?
Thanks

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yes, the most common issue with trim pumps is the solenoid. They can often even make an audible click, yet not be making enough contact to pass enough amperage (it's not so much as voltage as it is amperage). You could double check that you have voltage, though, on the trigger wires at the pump - that would tell you that everything else is OK.

Although it would work to crack open the hydraulic lines, you run the risk of getting air in there - and that can sometimes take quite a while to bleed the air out of the cylinders.

Instead... just jump the solenoid. Find the heavier blue, green and red power wires at the solenoids. Use a similar sized wire and jump red to blue to go up and red to green to go down. Get it? Blue for sky, green for earth... easy to remember!

FYI... when you get around to it... those solenoids are commonly available at local stores and run about $20 each. Replace all 4 while you're at it. Loosen the pump BRACKET to bring the whole thing to a better area to work on -- not that ANY place in a boat's bilge is "easy" -- there are a few screws on the backside of the bracket to hold it to the deck.

 

[Bt Doctur]

mercruiser uses only 2 solenoids. If the trim or trailer buttons work there is power available. If trim down does not work take a jumper from the battery to the Green motor wire on the solenoid for down and to the Blue motor wire for up

 

[Espos4]

Took her out for a spin, trim worked fine and then just stopped. Pulled over, trailer switch lifted the OD fine. Trim switch wont put it back down.

Does this mean the fuse on the trim pump is fine (because trailer switch worked) and its the dashboard switch?

Also, is there anyway to put the OD down manually? Supposed to take the family out tomorrow....

Thanks for your advise!

Is this the boat in your signature?

Twins?

Does one drive move up and down properly or are both stuck in the “up” position?

 

[Katemma Life]

guys - thanks a million!

Espos4 - yes - twin BravoIII
one drive works fine and the trailer works fine. Port doesnt work. I went ahead and bled the hyd line before Lazydaze posted. The drive dropped. I reconnected and am going out today like that. It should stay down I believe unless a hard reverse right?
Will replace solenoids this week.

 

[Katemma Life]

failed attempt. OD didnt drop all the way down.

Is there a process for bleeding the air out of the lines once I change out the solenoids?

Going to fully remove the pumps...

 

[Espos4]

failed attempt. OD didnt drop all the way down.

Is there a process for bleeding the air out of the lines once I change out the solenoids?

Going to fully remove the pumps...

Do you have transom mounted trim switches?
If so, do they work?
If not, they are inexpensive, easy to install and they Basically bypass many items that could go wrong (trim limit puck, helm switche(s) etc.