VP sterndrive trim instrument

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SimonD

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I have 290 DP sterndrives with the circular trim instrument that has a diagram of a boat with a LCD display of trim angle and a circular row of LEDs. The owners manual says that the instrument does a self test when powered up. This lights the LEDs in sequence before showing angle and a corresponding LED.

Mine does the self test then finishes with the top right LED permanently illuminated. Clearly there's a fault somewhere, but does the LED indicate where the fault is? There's no clue in the manual (of course)
 
Unless I'm mistaken, the trim sender has to be calibrated, using the trim sender wheel above the steering helmet on the outdrive. Don't know the answer to your specific question sorry.
 
It's not uncommon for the trim sensor wheel to break., it's made of plastic and get brittle over time. If broken and stuck this is how it would look.
 
Thank you for the suggestions. However, the sender wheel was replaced last year, so I doubt it's that (but will check). I've searched high and low, but although the operators manual says the unit runs a self-diagnostic test on start up, I can find no reference at all to what it's testing and what happens if it fails. I suspect it's no more than a bad connection somewhere, but had hoped the diagnostic would give me a clue. Ho hum.
 
If it's stuck in the all the way up position your sender itself is probably goosed. However I would look again at the sender wheel. Not the gear strip on the helmet, the wheel it turns. If barnacles do get between it and the helmet yoke as they grow the push the wheel down and out from the sender unit.

part 28

12650.jpg
 
The sender wheel has a small indent on one of its spokes/sprockets, usually painted white. This must be aligned with the first slot on the gear strip on the helmet, with the helmet in the fully down position. You'll have to remove the circular locking plate, held in with two Allen bolts to let the helmet down.
Maybe worth a mention?
 
Thanks, I'll check this out as well. However, I'm still struggling with the idea that the operators manual says that the unit does a self-diagnostic and then says nothing about the result. Does anyone know what it is testing and what happens if it fails?
 
There are numbers that should be displayed on the trim display on the dash. I "think" it should show - 4 in the fully up position and 7 in the fully down position, or vice versa! Mr Google should tell you more. Also think there are some YouTube videos online showing calibration. I think the "self calibration" just shows you how far you're out! I don't know why the indicator doesnt go from zero at fully down, to whatever number at fully up.
 
APOLOGIES to anybody trying to view the above video ....this exactly why i hardly ever post here now as its way to "technical" for my one brain cell to use .... its my video, i watched it before i copied the link and i cant delete it !!!!....... all this going round the houses to post pics n vids just aint werff the bover ......ho humm
 
this is a guess but by self test....I would take that to mean it checks the out drive is not in the “beach” range. It acts as a safety device so the engine cannot be started when in the beach range...otherwise you’d wreck the UJ.

what position is the out drive in when you are turning the key?

does the gauge change when trimming up and down?
 
Okay, I think I'm a bit closer to solving this mystery. The port indicator, when switch on, flashes all the LEDs in sequence and turns on all the segments on the LCD. It then shows -4 on the display, a yellow LED and one of the red ones. This is as it should be. The starboard one does the same routine, but finishes with the last LED in the sequence flashing red and the LCD display blank. What I hadn't realised is that it does this to indicate the leg is at the top of it's beach range. I had assumed that it indicates some fault condition following the self-diagnostic test.

I'm now wondering if the "self-diagnostic" is actually no more than showing the operator that all the LEDs and LCD segments are working. I had thought that is did something more sophisticated such as testing the relays were working.

Anyway, it now looks like I've got a duff sender unit or wiring. Once the sender tells the indicator that the leg is at the top of it's beach range, it will not allow the 'up' relay to close, but does allow the 'down' relay to close. Indeed, on pressing the down button, the motor runs, but with no effect as the leg is already fully down. I'll start checking through the sender and wiring.
 
That makes more sense....could either be the sender unit or the trim wheel hasn’t been installed...calibrated properly.

If it worked after the trim wheel was changed....sounds like the sender is knackered. Bit of a bugger to remove from my experience. Make sure you note the orientation of the unit/shaft on removal. Helps put the new one in correctly orientated.
 
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