Trim and Tilt problem

[Dan Gurney]

Was down at the boat today to tuck her in for the winter. I turned on the electrics to trim the engine in to vertical so that the hub wouldn't fill up with water. I trimmed it in and all seemed well. Afterwards, as I climbed into the boat (not touching any of the switches), the engine raised itself up all the way. And wouldn't go back down. I turned the electrics off and lowered the engine manually. Then as soon as I turned the electrics back on it raised up again. Ive dropped it manually and left the electrics off. Has anyone experienced this? Any idea what's fried?

It's a Suzuki DF140 btw.

[spartacus]

If it's on the remotes, then check the actual switch-gear micro switches. If you can remove loom at engine you can isolate to determine. I assume Suzuki has manual trim switch on engine too? You can also check the solenoids on the engine. Remove wiring to check no oxidisation, wire brush contacts with copper bristle wire brush or sandpaper and reconnect.

[Dan Gurney]

Thanks man. I'll have a look tomorrow.

[Dan Gurney]

I decided that rather than messing around with an engine that is still under warranty I'd get it dealt with at service time.

Service said he'd taken it all apart and couldn't see anything wrong, and also that he couldn't reproduce the problem. So i figured that re-seating everything had maybe fixed the issue. The Mrs and I went out for a shakedown cruise 2 weeks ago and all appeared well.#

Then today, as we were packing up to take bring the boat back home before setting off for the ERR on Thu the engine suddenly trims itself up without us pressing anything. We turn the electrics off and let it down. Waggle the wires under the power head, which has previously worked to get it to work again. Then turn electrics on again, and it appears to be fine again (both the throttle and engine switches work). So we cross our fingers and home that it will be intermittent and maybe won't show up on the water, and bring the boat back to West Yorks. On getting it back here we turn the electrics on and the engine is tilting up on it's own again. It doesn't always do it on it's immediately but if you use either of the switches (powerhead or throttle) briefly it will then just raise the engine on it's own again after you release the switch. I addition I can here a load clicking from the little box which has the relays in it. I've tried to capture this is a video:

https://youtu.be/0yT2AkQdb4E

Also: when it's raising itself up, if you press 'down' on either the engine/powerhead switch or the throttle switch it will stop. As soon as you release the switch it continues to tilt up.

So, with time being of the essence:

• Do people think it might be a relay?
• If so how easy is it to change/how much would it be/ where can I get one on next day delivery?
• What else could it be?

Hoping this doesn't kibosh Easdale for us!

[Chris Caton]

can you try swapping the relays over Dan, see if it trims down? if it does that might suggest a sticking relay ......

[JimRib]

Have you checked the wiring loom from the helm end back to the engine ? Sounds like a short somewhere, check where the loom goes into the engine !

[diver 1]

Had a similar problem with mine once. Was a sticking trim/tilt relay. there are 2 relays for this - one up one down. They are interchangeable.

I took mine off to swap them around and found them both to work when I tested them. I put it all back together as it was and its been fine since. Probably a dodgy connection.

Try disconnecting cleaning and reconnecting. They are on the port side of the engine right next to the ECU.

I can have a quick look at ERR if you're still struggling.

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by diver 1

Had a similar problem with mine once. Was a sticking trim/tilt relay. there are 2 relays for this - one up one down. They are interchangeable.

I took mine off to swap them around and found them both to work when I tested them. I put it all back together as it was and its been fine since. Probably a dodgy connection.

Try disconnecting cleaning and reconnecting. They are on the port side of the engine right next to the ECU.

I can have a quick look at ERR if you're still struggling.

I had a look in the box where the clicking was coming from and found:


The one on the left in the pic is marked as "engine relay" and the other is "main relay". Am I looking at the wrong thing?

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by JimRib

Have you checked the wiring loom from the helm end back to the engine ? Sounds like a short somewhere, check where the loom goes into the engine !

Everything seems to be heavily wrapped in black tape. All the connections I can see are in the form of plugs. The fact that 'wire waggling' made it go away before made me think it was a loose connection or something somewhere but I can't even see where to start with the wiring.

I've had advise separately suggesting a faulty switch either on throttle or the engine, and to disconnect the engine one to take that out of the equation.

[RMS]

Originally Posted by Dan Gurney

I decided that rather than messing around with an engine that is still under warranty I'd get it dealt with at service time.

Service said he'd taken it all apart and couldn't see anything wrong, and also that he couldn't reproduce the problem. So i figured that re-seating everything had maybe fixed the issue. The Mrs and I went out for a shakedown cruise 2 weeks ago and all appeared well.#

Then today, as we were packing up to take bring the boat back home before setting off for the ERR on Thu the engine suddenly trims itself up without us pressing anything. We turn the electrics off and let it down. Waggle the wires under the power head, which has previously worked to get it to work again. Then turn electrics on again, and it appears to be fine again (both the throttle and engine switches work). So we cross our fingers and home that it will be intermittent and maybe won't show up on the water, and bring the boat back to West Yorks. On getting it back here we turn the electrics on and the engine is tilting up on it's own again. It doesn't always do it on it's immediately but if you use either of the switches (powerhead or throttle) briefly it will then just raise the engine on it's own again after you release the switch. I addition I can here a load clicking from the little box which has the relays in it. I've tried to capture this is a video:

https://youtu.be/0yT2AkQdb4E

Also: when it's raising itself up, if you press 'down' on either the engine/powerhead switch or the throttle switch it will stop. As soon as you release the switch it continues to tilt up.

So, with time being of the essence:

• Do people think it might be a relay?
• If so how easy is it to change/how much would it be/ where can I get one on next day delivery?
• What else could it be?

Hoping this doesn't kibosh Easdale for us!

Had the same issue with a Suzuki 90 about 10 years ago. The quick fix was to disconnect the tilt switch on the engine so it only worked from the throttle until I got it fixed properly. Bit worrying when it tilts up at full speed on the water.

Hope you get it sorted Dan

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by RMS

Had the same issue with a Suzuki 90 about 10 years ago. The quick fix was to disconnect the tilt switch on the engine so it only worked from the throttle until I got it fixed properly. Bit worrying when it tilts up at full speed on the water.

Hope you get it sorted Dan

Thanks Richard. Interesting to here yours turned out to be the engine switch. I hopefully have a replacement throttle switch arriving today (finger crossed) which I'll fit tonight and I'll disconnect the engine one. Hopefully that'll do it.

Thankfully I've never had it happen on the water but that's definitely the worry! 🤤

[boristhebold]

Bad Relay
Bad wiring
Bad switch

salt effects everything.

I would clean all connections with an electrics cleaner, re wire connections, check for bad earth conncetion, change relays.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Dan Gurney

I had a look in the box where the clicking was coming from and found:
Attachment 124503

The one on the left in the pic is marked as "engine relay" and the other is "main relay". Am I looking at the wrong thing?

Are those not the Starter Motor (engine) and ECU (main) relays?

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by Poly

Are those not the Starter Motor (engine) and ECU (main) relays?

Having consulted exploded parts diag on boats.com I believe you are correct. Haven't been able to identify the PTT ones yet.

[Chris Caton]

can you get at the engine switch wiring Dan, assuming you can trace it back to a plug n socket connector that seems an easy option

[Dan Gurney]

Just a quick update. Unplugged the engine switch at the beginning of Easdale weekend and no further problems. So looks like that's the culprit.

[RMS]

Originally Posted by Dan Gurney

Just a quick update. Unplugged the engine switch at the beginning of Easdale weekend and no further problems. So looks like that's the culprit.

Sounds like a similar problem to mine. Glad you have a quick fix that works. Once mine was replaced I had no further problems.

[Dan Gurney]

Yeah I should have said "RMS nailed it".