Volvo SX Outdrive - trim not working?

[adamf]

Help or pointers please?

The trim is not working on my outdrive. The rams were leaking last year, only a little, so I decided that as I rarely use the trim to leave replacing / overhauling them until after the winter. Ie now.

Up until last week the trim was still working. Now it's not. The pump is buzzing away when I press Down but nothing when I press Up?

I'm guessing that I now have 2 issues! The leaking rams one thing but it's the other issue that is puzzling me. I don't want to spend a fortune replacing parts in the hope that I catch it, would rather try and isolate the issue. So faulty switch, faulty relay or faulty pump?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Adam

 

[volvopaul]

Check the oil level, if the motor pump isn't running when pressing up it could be the up relay a bad connection,
Does trim gauge work, if not its the pot sensor on the drive or bad wiring, also look at hoses for leaks. Re rely do sx rams leak.

 

[adamf]

Thanks Paul. Ill check the oil level first then. I'm on my 3rd gauge in 5 years so no it doesn't work and I've given up replacing them!

The leak was defiantly from the ram as you could see the oil drops on the cavitation plate.

Where would the relay be located?

Many thanks

 

[GrahamHR]

Assuming its not an SXA, the (two; up and down) relays are on the trim pump/ reservoir bracket. Sometimes on the engine, but more often mounted remotely. Prone to bad connections ( damp) , unplug the relays and refit, if it doesn't work swap over the up and down relays.

The trim gauge and sensor wiring is not connected at all to the trim circuit, unless its an early unit with an electronic trim limit system ( rare on the SX, standard on the DPS until about 1998). The trim gauges are usually very reliable, it's the trim senders that are not ( they live underwater , unlike earlier senders, and don't like it !)

 

[adamf]

Yes - its an SX-A drive, with the pump mounted on the transom shield.

Sorry, its the sender, not the gauge that is faulty with the trim system. Ive a digital gauge that works fine, but Ive given up replacing senders.

How easy is it to top up the hydraulic fluid in the pump?

 

[GrahamHR]

I imagine the trim relay unit must be fairly close to where the harness comes through the transom shield. As to filling the reservoir, I've never worked on such an unit, so I'm not sure I'm afraid. There is a fill plug on the reservoir, but it looks like it'd be below the water line. What access is like with the gimbal ring, bellows and tilt housing, in the way I can only guess !

From an American boat owners forum I frequent, I gather there have been some issues in the first few years with the pump leaking . They released an updated version, many of the early ones were replaced under warranty..The design concept of having the pump and reservoir under water is not well liked by owners there due to reliability issues and the degree of strip down required to remedy them ( also the cost of the parts, if pump and reservoir assembly fails and the whole thing needs replacing ! It is liked by the boat designers, as it frees up a little space in the engine compartment.