What's the most likely problem ...

I have a 1999 Merc 2strk/3cyl 90hp (low hours/use) ... and the tilt/trim (tilt down) has been giving me a problem lately. Tilts UP just fine, but last time I tried it, it wouldn't tilt DOWN.

It's in storage, right now, so I'll not be fooling with it until March, but I'm just looking for the easiest & cheapest option to get it working again.

I've watched some DIY videos, and most point to the brushes being gunked up or worn down as the most likely culprit. It's not the battery, or connections from battery to switches (throttle or one on side of motor) since the motor will tilt UP ... and until just recently it would almost always tilt DOWN, though there were instances when I had to hit the tilt up button for a second & quickly hit the tilt down button before it would respond & tilt down.

I'm pretty sure I can remove & replace the motor part, but I'm a little uneasy about removing it and taking it apart & cleaning it, then putting it back on. Looks simple enough, but that's always a red flag to me :Rofl
I could probably get a buddy of mine to do it, and that would likely be cheaper than the local marine mechanic shop. And I doubt they'd take it apart & clean it, anyway ... they're more into the yank off the old & put on a new part kinda operation. :Doh:

I will take a meter and test the current flow, just to rule that part of the equation out. But, I'm just curious if anyone knows of any other things to look for, or check out, before I even think about starting on repairing it ??

check relays, sounds like the DOWN relay is going bad and sticking.that's my first thought, maybe yes maybe no. just guessing.

Yep, try swapping the relays first.

Good idea !! Thanks guys !!

Might also be that switch. Does it have more than one? Try another if you do. I have 4 on my boat. One on shifter, one on steering, one on motor housing and one at the bow. More places to have problems. lol

Swap the two relays or solenoids out and see if the problem reverses itself...if it does you have one thats bad. Its easy to do and a good way to check.

everytime this has happen to me it was a relay....I took it to a electrical parts store and paid like 8.00 about 5 years ago''''' and at that price I bought both of them and kept the good for a spare

Good stuff, guys !! Thanks !! I'll keep them all in mind when I start repairs.

The relays are side by side....just swap wires to test

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Originally Posted by "G"

The relays are side by side....just swap wires to test

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Yeah, and I saw on a video that the contacts can get corroded ... so removing the plug (male posts) ends and cleaning the posts is a possible fix.

Swapped them out see the one was not working starts working. If one is bad been told best to buy the pair.
LittleJohn

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Originally Posted by LittleJohn

Swapped them out see the one was not working starts working. If one is bad been told best to buy the pair.
LittleJohn

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If they are the problem and cleaning the connections doesn't work, then putting on a pair of new relays will be done. Thanks LittleJohn !!

If it just does it using one switch could possibly be bad switch but more than likely it's the down solenoid that's fine bad. Pretty easy fix and common thing...

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Originally Posted by shortdraw

If it just does it using one switch could possibly be bad switch but more than likely it's the down solenoid that's fine bad. Pretty easy fix and common thing...

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That's what I'm hoping is the maximum extent of the problem. Tilt "up" works fine on throttle and on the switch on the side of the motor, but tilt "down" doesn't work on either one. That's why I think it's most likely a corroded relay or a dead one. It's doesn't "click" or make any noise like it's trying to work ... so it may have just finally died. :dono But that'll be the first place I will start.

Most of the time the relay will sick a few times before it go's completely bad. (Sealed component no fixit) Power up the down side of the relay by holding the switch in on the side of the motor and tap the relay with butt end of screwdriver and see if motor makes any kind of movement. It should go down. And when you let off switch. Try it again. Sometimes they will work for awhile but will need to be replaced.

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Originally Posted by Fishfryed

Most of the time the relay will sick a few times before it go's completely bad. (Sealed component no fixit) Power up the down side of the relay by holding the switch in on the side of the motor and tap the relay with butt end of screwdriver and see if motor makes any kind of movement. It should go down. And when you let off switch. Try it again. Sometimes they will work for awhile but will need to be replaced.

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Yeah, that seems to have been what I've experienced with it over the last few times I used it. It would go up, but not always go down ... then I'd bump the up button & quickly hit the down button and it would work. Then when I took it to a storage facility, and tried to tilt it down (after taking it off the transom saver) to fit in a 10x20 ... it wouldn't go down at all.
So with what you are saying ... the down relay is likely dead & will need to be replaced. I can deal with that (replacing both relays), if that's the case. I don't think it's the brushes on the motor, because it does go UP just fine. But, if replacing the relays doesn't fix it ... that would be my next area to consider.

Easy test,......swap places with your relays this will confirm if its a bad relay. Only takes a few minute.....then you will know for sure.

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Originally Posted by "G"

Easy test,......swap places with your relays this will confirm if its a bad relay. Only takes a few minute.....then you will know for sure.

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Yep ... that's Plan A !!

If Your switches ever quit on you outon the water or at the ramp when You need to tilt motor up for hauling, You can jump off the hot post of the starter to the same relays to bypass the switch.CF

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Originally Posted by crappiefarmer

If Your switches ever quit on you outon the water or at the ramp when You need to tilt motor up for hauling, You can jump off the hot post of the starter to the same relays to bypass the switch.CF

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Good to know, O killer of woods goats !! Thanks !!

Just an update :

Took down relay off to check for corrosion on posts ... clean as a whistle !!

First step ... switch relays with each other to check and see if the down relay is fried. If it is, then --

Next step ... remove both relays & replace with new ones (on the advice of members here & my local Merc dealer mechanic).

I'm doing the switcheroo just to make sure it's not something else, along with a bad relay.

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On another note : I did find a dark brown with white stripe wire with a male connector ... that wasn't plugged into anything. And a light brown or cream colored wire with female connector, also nothing connected to it. Both connections LOOK like they would fit together ... but there's no fuse connection or shrink tubing on either wire, like there are on the other wires in that area.

SO ... anybody KNOW what those wires are for, and IF they are supposed to be connected to each other ?? I don't want to connect them, just because they LOOK like they should be connected, and take the chance of blowing something up when I put the battery back in and fire it up :Doh:

Now ... my speedometer did quit working last year, for no apparent reason. And that was my first thought of what it could be the connection to, but will defer to someone more qualified/knowledgeable on these matters.

Brown/white goes to the tilt/trim gauge. If you don't have one then of course it won't be connected. Can't find the other wire. What type speedometer do you have? Pitot pickup??

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Brown/white goes to the tilt/trim gauge. If you don't have one then of course it won't be connected. Can't find the other wire. What type speedometer do you have? Pitot pickup??

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OK, thanks Bill .... no, I don't have a tilt/trim gauge, so that accounts for that wire.

I found this : Wiring Color Codes for Mercury & Mariner Outboard Motors. ... so I'm thinking the cream (tan?) colored wire is for a temp gauge and/or temp warning horn. I know the low oil warning horn connection works, because it's gone off before ... but, since I didn't see any place or wire that this wire could connect to, I'm going to check much closer on my next visit to the boat.

Since your warning horn is working OK then I would agree with you about being the temp gauge.

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Since your warning horn is working OK then I would agree with you about being the temp gauge.

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So, you think I don't need to worry about those wires, and just leave them be, as is ... ??

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

What type speedometer do you have? Pitot pickup??

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Bill, I'm sorry ... I meant to check on the speedo when I went to install the new relays, today, and completely forgot.

ANYHOO ... new relays are in and all is well with the tilt/trim Jumping Jacks Icon yay !!!

And since I already know the top speed of my boat (via GPS) and I don't fish waters with a speed limit ... I'm not really missing the speedometer.

Now all I need to do is clean it up a bit, and have one of the trailer tires looked at (it leaks air) ... and it'll soon be Crappie Chasing Time !!

You can get relays at auto parts store same thing happened to mine they're much cheaper than oem

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Bill, I'm sorry ... I meant to check on the speedo when I went to install the new relays, today, and completely forgot.

ANYHOO ... new relays are in and all is well with the tilt/trim Jumping Jacks Icon yay !!!

And since I already know the top speed of my boat (via GPS) and I don't fish waters with a speed limit ... I'm not really missing the speedometer.

Now all I need to do is clean it up a bit, and have one of the trailer tires looked at (it leaks air) ... and it'll soon be Crappie Chasing Time !!

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Not sure if you checked this, but my speedometer intake on the front of lower unit always gets plugged and I just clean it out with a very small drill bit. I just lightly twist it in with my fingers, not on a drill, and it pulls the debris out.


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Originally Posted by novalee

You can get relays at auto parts store same thing happened to mine they're much cheaper than oem

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I heard about that, but couldn't find any that were "hooded" ... they all had exposed connector prongs. I also read where some had used the auto type relays and they didn't last very long. :dono

I found OEM replacements at a local Merc dealership, and at the same price as online venues. If these last as long as the old ones (almost 18yrs) I will consider their price a bargain. And I'm keeping the "good" one as a backup.

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Originally Posted by Marine4life

Not sure if you checked this, but my speedometer intake on the front of lower unit always gets plugged and I just clean it out with a very small drill bit. I just lightly twist it in with my fingers, not on a drill, and it pulls the debris out.
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Thanks, I will check mine to see if that's the problem !!

Just an update on the speedometer not working problem.

I did use a small drill bit to core out some "gunk" (looked like wood) from the entry hole (as suggested by Marine4life and every Youtube DIY video I looked at) and even without uncoupling the rubber tube and blowing air thru it, the speedometer once again works !! :woohoo

The woody substance that I cored out of there was likely from the motor bumping into or dragging over stumps or logs and collecting in the hole. :Doh:

But, at least now I know how to quickly remedy the problem, should it arise again. Thanks ya'll !!