Trim fault

[b_arrington]

At the end of last season the outdrive trim sensor on my 2006 BIII went all wonky (reading too high, put engine in limp home mode). It tested bad this spring and and a new trim sender set was installed.

Since then I've been getting a trim fault that my mechanic can't seem to figure it out how to resolve.

Here are the symptoms. When first started the proper trim is displayed on the Smartcraft LCD and trim gauge. The readings look good and will change when the drive trim is adjusted. After some time - any where from a few seconds to a minute or so - the system beeps and displays TRIM FAULT. The drive can be trimmed but no trim setting values are displayed on either gauge.

Both mechanic that worked on it and the yard owner are stumped. They seem to think there is a fault in the computer that can't be cleared. I tend to think that since data is displayed for a time and then faults out, there is some sort of short in the trim sender circuit.

I can run the boat with the fault but would rather know the trim position. Anyone encounter something similar, or have any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Redhook98]

I would change out the sedning unit, and go from there. At least start troubleshooting the situation with a known-good sending unit. Besides.... That is most likely the problem anyway....

 

[At Ease]

Did you re-calibrate through Smartcraft?

 

[b_arrington]

Did you re-calibrate through Smartcraft?

Yes. The calibration looks good and seems to correspond to the actual trim position. But then the system invariably gives a Trim Fault alarm and gives no info.

 

[Suthrn]

I have the same problem on the same boat. Anybody got any advice on replacing the sending unit? How hard a job is this and what all might be involved? Thanks for any help.

 

[DaleM]

A friend of mine had a problem where the SC would indicate trim fault intermittently. Finally after pulling the boat they figured out that the sender wires were getting pinched in the gimble when he was turning the drive. When this happened it would kill the engine (no voltage to the ECM). Usually would happen at the most WRONG times.... (docking)!

 

[millz90]

BIG Job. I changed my trim limit and sender on a 1995 and had to pull just about everything out from the back end. Im not sure if its the same as yours but it was a pretty big job.