Trim sender on smartcraft equipped boat with dts intermittent error

[paulswagelock]

So this weekend on a few occasions, my trim sender would go into error and cause a smartcraft error. It happened during long runs on plain, with the through hull exhaust off. Once I came back to idle, within a minute or two it would come back to life and the error would clear. If I kept the through hull exhaust open, it wouldn't happen.

any thoughts on this odd one?

 

[paulswagelock]

Did some investigation today. The wire that comes through the transom was routed within 2 inches of the exhaust y pipe behind the engine. Since I only noticed the issue when thru hull was off, I am thinking the exhaust was overheating the wire and there must be a weak spot somewhere.

i re-routed the wire and will monitor it this weekend. If it stays solid with the thru hull off, then I know I found the issue and will inspect the wire closely.

 

[gumbyjb]

If you get a chance, can you snap a pic of where this wire is located? Or even how you determined which wire it is. I have a similar issue and wondering if you've found the culprit... I likely won't be able to get to my boat until Labor Day, so I'd like to have a plan to check it once I get there.

 

[barley998877]

Similar problem with intermittant error, any info would help

 

[MikeWood]

Me too, keep us posted!

 

[paulswagelock]

Well, moving the wire did not do the trick. Plan to trace it down to the inside of the gimbal and see if it is against the exhaust lower in the bilge also.

on my boat, the wires are plugged together right at the top rear of the engine, closest to the transom. They are also labeled nicely so finding them was simple. Labeled as trim analog and trim digital. Trim analog are single wire connectors and the digital was a 3 wire plug.

if you have a flaky trim sender, and you do NOT have the DTS system from Mercruiser, then it is likely the rheostat in the sender puck on the outdrive which is readily changed with a Phillips screwdriver and costs around $16. Found that gem troubleshooting the issue on my previous boat. Mercs with the DTS use a different sender puck that is not serviceable.

 

[gumbyjb]

Well, moving the wire did not do the trick. Plan to trace it down to the inside of the gimbal and see if it is against the exhaust lower in the bilge also.

on my boat, the wires are plugged together right at the top rear of the engine, closest to the transom. They are also labeled nicely so finding them was simple. Labeled as trim analog and trim digital. Trim analog are single wire connectors and the digital was a 3 wire plug.

if you have a flaky trim sender, and you do NOT have the DTS system from Mercruiser, then it is likely the rheostat in the sender puck on the outdrive which is readily changed with a Phillips screwdriver and costs around $16. Found that gem troubleshooting the issue on my previous boat. Mercs with the DTS use a different sender puck that is not serviceable.

Rats... Was hoping you had found the easy answer!! Of course I have DTS, so it is never going to be easy...

Please keep us updated with what you find.

 

[gumbyjb]

Any updates? I'm headed to the lake this weekend and would love to have the ability to get this annoyance corrected.

Thanks for any guidance you can provide!!

 

[paulswagelock]

Same issue still. Going to have the lower unit removed next week for service and will see what the cause was.

 

[paulswagelock]

Lower unit serviced. Low water pressure was caused by a restriction in the inlet hose as I suspected.
replaced the trim sender since it was apart. No longer fails after a while like before. Didn't really see any chafing in wires, but there must have been.

 

[gumbyjb]

Awesome!! Guess what I will be doing at the end of the year!! Thanks for the info!!!!!