How to Troubleshoot the Trim on a Seadoo
- 1). Set a multimeter for the volts scale. Place a positive multimeter probe on the positive battery terminal and the negative meter probe on the negative terminal of the battery. It should read 12.5 standing volts or more. If it reads less, the voltage will be insufficient to activate the trim control box.
- 2). Open the engine access panel case and look down at the trim motor case in the bilge. Unsnap the trim motor case by depressing its sides by hand. Examine the inside of the motor and fixtures for moisture or rust corrosion. Water, especially saltwater, will corrode the winding in the motor and electrical contacts, causing a direct short. Examine the motor case ring gasket for deformity and cracks that might have allowed bilge water to enter the trim motor case. Check the socket and bullet wire connections for corrosion or loose fit.
- 3). Remove the three 10-millimeter nuts attached to the motor circuit board cover, using a socket. Go to the outside of the bilge and place a Bombardier specialty socket tool (part number 2500-000-133) on the plastic nut that holds the motor cover box on the bilge side wall. Unsnap the wire connectors and cut the zip ties loose with wire cutters. Pull the box forward and out of its socket from the engine compartment side.
- 4). Check the sliding shaft for the presence of marine grease. If it appears dry, lubricate it with marine grease. Check the seal gasket on the plastic nut for cracks and crushing. It should be replaced if deformed, since it will allow water to enter the bilge and wet the control box.
- 5). Place a multimeter probe on the red-purple wire and the other meter wire to the black wire inside the control box connector. If it reads 1 meg, or is under 10 K ohm, too much resistance has built up in the motor winding. Place the meter wire on the purple-white wire and the other meter probe to the black wire. It should read 10 K ohm in both directions, when the trim is in the midpoint position. Refer to your owner's manual for the position of the sliding collar on the shaft to set it in the mid-point position.
- 6). Place the meter probe on the purple-white wire and the other meter probe on the red wire. You should see a reading of infinite resistance. Check the push button wires on the selector switch by unplugging the wires and placing the meter probe on the blue-white wire and the other meter probe on the black wire. You should read around 32 K ohm. Any more or less ohms means the push button switch is defective, or has high resistance.
- 7). Locate the wire connector that has three wires coming out of it. Place the meter probe on the black wire and the other meter probe on the red wire. It should read infinity. A defective control box unit will read 180 ohm, or less than 10,000 ohm.
