www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 2008 224 Funship with a volvo penta. I noticed that my trim gauge works but the needle will not drop below 3/4 down. The trim appears to be 100% down. I checked the wires behind the gauge and they look tight. Any suggestions

The trim sensor is on the starboard side of the outdrive, a round black puck looking device held on by two screws. There is an official way to set it but I think the concensus is that they are really only accurate at one position. I put my drive at level with the bottom of the boat and then adjusted the sender so that is where the gauge reads. It is fairly accurate up and down but not precise. I think some others have set it with the drive trimmed all the way down that is where the gauge is most accurate.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

My 220SS does exactly the same thing

Everyone like to adjust a tad differently, so many will say there accuracy is off, no, just the adjustment.
Drop drive all the way down, adjust the sender to read what you want to read on the gage.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

There's actually a specified way to adjust it, using a voltmeter, but I doubt many people ever do that. Graham posted it here some time ago.

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

Mike, forgive me, but how does a volt meter come into play with loosening bolts on sender and adjusting read head placement w/regards to drive location.
That is what we were talking about, no??

I have had to replace my sender once already, dealer tells me they go out often on the volvo (just a side note). Replacment didn't require a volt / multi meter to replace or adjust.

I did use meter to check resistance of sender to know it was faulty vs, the gage at the helm.

But replacement was due to gage didn't move at all when moving drive up/down.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I'm not saying it's a better way to do it - not at all - and a voltmeter is definitely not required. I'm just saying there's a documented method... since Graham hasn't chimed back in, I'll copy it from one of his earlier posts:

"It has to be adjusted in the down position; the official method calls for the drive to be fully down and the sender adjusted so it has a resistance of 11 +/- 1 Ohms. The connector that the multimeter needs to be connected to is adjacent to the port riser; the two halves are held together with a metal clip. In practice, it's just as easy to adjust it so the trim gauge reads fully down!"

I also thought VP came out with a redesigned one that's supposed to eliminate the "frequent failures" (and that the new one costs about 5 times as much).

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

I guess the only advantage of using a multimeter to measure resistance is that the sender can be adjusted by one person more easily as the meter can be outside the boat. On my boat, it's impossible to see the trim gauge from the ground level at the stern as the sender is adjusted (with a multimeter, no need to climb in and out of the boat repeatedly to check the trim gauge reading, or to pay the hourly rate for 2 VP technicians; one to adjust, one to read the trim gauge !). Also, if no-one is in the boat it's impossible for someone to start the engine when you're crouched down near those sharp shiny propellers !

I'll be fitting my third sender this winter; mine have been lasting about 3 years each!

Graham

VP trim senders are notorious for going bad and mine have been out for years but once you get a feel for your boat, you really don't need them. You can tell when the outdrive is all the way down when you hear that whining noise. More than likely, it is bad given their reputation.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Thanks for the advice. I will look at replacing my trim sender.

I see now, he is using a meter vs. someone reading the gage needle placement!!!

If your trim gauge moves up and down when you raise and lower your outdrive, it seems as though you might want to adjust the sender as described above before replacing it....

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe