Bravo III trim sensor intermittent

[rwf]

The subject almost says it all. I have Bravo III stern drives. Last trip out I kept getting a SmartCraft warning that the port tilt sensor had failed. Reading would drop to zero, then come back a few seconds later. Most worrying was that when the reading came back, it would be different by a degree or so, so I may always be getting a bad reading.

Any ideas where to look? Hopefully it is a loose connector inboard. Where is this sensor? Will I have to haul the boat to fix it?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[scoflaw]

The sensor is located on the drive, yes you will have to pull the boat. Just because your gauge shows it off by a few degrees does not mean your drive is.

With a 310, your drive is probably always down anyways, I wouldn't sweat it. Fishing those sensor wires through the transom is not easy.

 

[JimG]

Yep... those sensors are junk. You can find several threads here on the subject.

 

[daddyox]

I have given up on my display of my trim sensors. Could never get them to work correctly...usually trimmed down anyway.

 

[rwf]

Thanks for the insight, folks. I trim down for stability, but 3-5 degrees gives me better mileage on flat water.

In other words, I prefer they work. I'll hunt down the connectors if no one knows where they are; otherwise, will go after them end of season.

Rich

 

[Bt Doctur]

hit the trim buton and count one thousand and one

 

[matthewmiller01]

Try here...

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/51005-Need-help-with-trim-position-error!-HELP!

See if that thread helps and keep us posted. I still haven't gotten mine fixed.

 

[rwf]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. I'll see if I can fix it at the end of the season, not hauling for this mid-season.

As I said (but didn't quantify), I can get almost a 10% fuel use improvement by trimming the drives properly, so I'd really like for this to work. I like the "just count to the correct trim" suggestion from Bt Doctur, but whenever I trim the drives my gauges are way off; starboard flies up, port is delayed. So I've always used the gauges to match them.

I can hear the screams of horror already. So, do my drives really move in unison and I should ignore the slow port gauge?

Maybe that would explain why starboard burns more gas?

Please enlighten the newbie. Well, almost newbie, 2nd season boater.

Thanks, Rich

 

[rcmafgny]

Had same issue last season. Fixed it as i had an extended warranty. Mechanic agreed with others on this thread that they are junk and go bad all of the time. Lots of boat owners dont fix them. I use the trim and like the guage to work.
Ron