Oldav8tor wrote:
The trim indicator gauge on my '87 Sundowner is unreliable, sticking frequently or not working at all. I know that issues with the sender are not unusual also but I'm tackling one thing at a time. I'd like to rig an auxiliary gauge somewhere that will give me a more accurate indication of stern drive position. To do so, I need to understand how the indicator works and what is coming from the sender to the gauge.
The sender has a ground and a single wire that runs from it to the indicator gauge. The gauge is also grounded as well as supplied with 12 volts. My question, what does the sender do? Is it a variable resistor that modifies the 12 volts going to the gauge or is something else happening here? I purchased a set of manuals for the engine and drive but they don't go into such nitty-gritty details.
I'll appreciate any help you can give me.
Tim
I understand it to be like a rheostat....
Here is something I stumbled on, not sure that it would help or not...
Testing the sender..
1 Check trim sender Black lead for proper ground.
2 Trim drive to full down position.
3 Place ignition switch to On postion.
4 Disconnect brown/white trim sender wire from trim sender harness at the motor.
5 Connect Ohm meter (Rx1 scale) leads between drive ground and brn/wh on the trim sender.
6 Depress the up button. Ohmmeter needle should move up as the drive is trimmed up. If the needle does not move sender is bad.
Good luck!