www.iFourWinns.com

Hi

Not sure if I should post under Horizon, Audio/Radio, or Electrical. I will go with Horizon in hopes another Horizon owner has seen my issues. I have seen lots of great info on the forum so far, thanks!!

I am the new owner of a 2002 Horizon 180. I have had the boat out on the lake four times now and it has run great, but I have noticed a couple issues as follows:

1. Trim Indicator – from time to time it goes haywire, bouncing from all the way up to all the way down. This usually happens when the water is real choppy or if I am making a sharp turn.

2. Radio – the radio goes in and out and there is a fair amount of static/crackle. The static/crackle is even present when the radio is off. I finally just disconnected the wire harness and the static/crackle went away. This behavior did not have any correlation to choppy water or making a sharp turn. The behavior is experienced while just floating with the motor off.


I am not sure if these issues are related or not, perhaps an electrical issue associated with a ground wire?? There are a lot of wires behind the dash, not sure if there is one central ground location I should be looking at.

If anyone has any experience with the above or any suggestions on how to fix this I would be most grateful.

Thanks,
Ralph

I doubt the two problems are related. The trim indicator is probably either a failed trim sensor or (more likely) chafed/damaged/shorted wires to the trim sensor.

Static in the speakers even when the radio is off is very odd. I'd think it's either a problem with the radio head unit, or something outside of the stereo system making contact with the speaker wire conductors.

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

I actually had a problem with the Trim Indicator this weekend too. Trim itself if going up and down fine. The dashboard gauge would work and then not work all weekend. Needle stays in the all the way down position constantly when not working. I had the shift cable replaced this spring and also had the battteries moved from starboard to port side. Any thoughts that it could be a loose wire somewhere? Any suggestions where to check first? Thanks!

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Eric, not sure how close the shift cable is to the trim sensor wires (someone will jump in here who does know), but it makes me wonder if they damaged those wires when they did your cable.

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

That is what I am starting to suspect too. I am wondering if they are damaged or perhaps just loose.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Had the same problem with my trim gauge. Turned out it was the trim sensor on the drive. The wires were exposed and the signal would be intermitent and cause the needle to jump around.

I've had the same problem on my SX drive. I tracked it down a couple years ago to a bad connection where the wires go into the sending unit on the outdrive. I was able to solder the bad connection and seal everything back up and it lasted two more years, but now the seal must be broken or the wires have broken loose as the water is causing the gauge to bounce around again.

Have someone watch the gauge and try wiggling the wires going to the sending unit on the outdrive. If the gauge moves, it's probably a broken wire.

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2001 Four Winns Horizon 180LE, VP 4.3GL/SX
2006 Ford F-150 Extended Cab 4x4, 5.4L

Thanks guys. Heading down to the boat this weekend. I am not too mechanically inclined--but I'm going to see if my buddy can help me locate these wires and take a look.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum