www.iFourWinns.com

Just curious if you keep spare trim relays aboard and if so, how you store them. I think I'm going to start, but my tool bag is packed already and I don't think having them bounce around in a storage compartment is ideal.

The ones used on my generation (at least) of VP drives are mechanical (coil actuated), which means they WILL eventually fail.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I don't, but have thought about it since my trim has had some issues over the years. I'm going to add it to my list to add before my next trip out to Lake Mohave (next month).

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

We carry spare fuses, I think it makes sense to carry these too since they only cost around $8 each. I think I'll look for a small container to hold both.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Yeah, I've done the up-down relay-swap, cleaned contacts, whacked the pump motor and jiggled wires. I actually think I may have corrosion where the pump motor wires connect (under the shrink tubing).

~$20 for a couple of spare relays is inexpensive peace of mind. Are they available at auto stores?

Thanks for the suggestion!

Erik

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

I can't be certain we use the same relays (I would think so), but mine are both Hella #931680011. If yours are marked "4RD 931 680-01," then they're the same. $7.52 on Amazon. Some places have them cheaper but I have Prime so I usually stick with them when I can. For Hella relays the marking on the relay has to be cross-referenced to an actual part number.

Might you have a wiring or switch issue at the throttle?

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

The issue is very intermittent and has historically been "resolved" by whacking the pump motor with whatever is handy, or flexing the wires back there.

That being said, when I had my throttle cables replaced last year, my mechanic did mention that the wires were all messed up at the shifter...

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Eventually the wires get frayed because of the movement of the shifter/throttle control. I had this on my original OMC control and I was getting a little shock if I used the trim when holding on to the steel steering wheel. I took off the handle and fixed the bare spots with liquid electric tape.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I've had to do the "pull & reset connectors" at trim pump routine. It worked, but the spare relay is a great idea.

Regarding wiring at shifter, I had my shift cable replaced last season. The tech, who didn't mind telling me how good and experienced he was, failed to secure the trim wiring at the shifter when he completed the job. I had put about five hours on the boat when I noticed some wires peaking out of a gap in the shifter. Knowing they weren't supposed to be there, I disassembled the shifter and found the trim actuating wires were being chafed by the shifter. The wire-tie that had kept the wires out of the way before the tech replaced the shift cable was laying below the shifter, right where it fell when he cut it. One of the trim wires was nearly chafed through. I repaired it and properly secured the wires. I didn't take it back to the shop because it was an hour away, the boat was in the water on a weekend and I had a bunch of guests ready to boat the next day. Sometimes dragging my tool boxes along on boating vacations pays off.

It was dumb luck that I was able to see the unsecured wires. So the punch line of this story: If your trim stops working not long after shift cable replacement, check the wiring at the shifter!

Also if the trim switch on the shifter fails, sometimes its possible to replace these without having to install a whole new unit. For Mercury engines, Merc could probably source the switch, late model Volvos seem to come with the Teleflex shifter, so you could get it from them most likely. Liquid electrical tape and some zip ties you should be back in business. Of the three wires, green is down, blue is up.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

In the 10 years we had our 2004 Sundowner we never had a trim relay fail. No spares carried. In the first year with the 2009 Vista in 2014 we had one fail; something overheated, the casing melted. 2 spares carried now ( genuine bagged Volvo ones, I think they are Hella, cheap on Ebay;) I paid around USD 10 ! I can get the part numbers if anyone is interested.

Exactly what my most recent tech discovered.....

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Bought a few of these for my sons '98 Jeep. Years back I added a headlight relay harness from Painless Wiring with those same relays but plugged into their weather proof connector. I installed it in 2002; just had to replace the high beam relay after 14 years! Hope the made in China ones last as long. I also used the same set up with the roof lights we installed last summer. Gave him 3 spares for the glove box.....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes, Hella has always been great stuff. I think the outsourcing just happened recently with them, so there's a guinea pig factor here.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic