Trim Tab Problem

[02-310]

Hi,
I took my boat out for the first run of the season.  Late I know, but in some parts of Canada we don't even get our boats in the water until late May.  I have an 02-310

Anyways, the starboard side trim tab didn't work,  and the port side worked fine.  There is lots of fluid in the tank, I checked the connections at the helm switches and all looked fine too.  I also check the wiring and connections at the pump.  There was an inline fuse at the motor, and that looked fine, is there another fuse somewhere else that I can check?  Has anyone else had a problem similar to this, or can you direct me to an areas to check into this further.  

This seems like it may be a pain in the a.. to troubleshoot.

Thanks!

[Ronnie]

aren't all Rinkers using lenco tabs   if so they're electric  so ck' your connections

[Babyboomer]

aren't all Rinkers using lenco tabs   if so they're electric  so ck' your connections

I have a 99 and mine are hydrolic Boat Lift

[02-310]

aren't all Rinkers using lenco tabs   if so they're electric  so ck' your connections

If feel pretty bad about this one, I guess I assumed they were hydraulics because my last boat, which was a 1990 had hydraulics trim tabs.    So, when I was in the engine compartment I saw the two hydraulics type motors on each side I just assumed that's what they were for the tabs.  I now know they're not, I think they're for the transmission...

Anyways, back the the trim tabs.  I checked the connects and the switches at the helm today.  I switched the wires over from one switch to the other and it still didn't work, and the one that was working before continued to work.  I followed the wires up in the engine compartment where they come inside the boat at the stern and there was a 4 wiring connector within the black wiring housing.  I had someone operate tab that was working and I metered it at this point and got 12V, and then I metered the one that wasn't working and got approx 3V.

Because I got power there I now assume that there is no fuse (or at least a blown fuse).  Because I wouldn't get any power at all if the fuse was blown.  Actually I find it surprising that there is no fuse for something that has such a draw on the power system.  

What would cause the 3V, basically at the actuator?  Is there a solenoid?  Is there any other connections that I can check? From what I can tell, the wiring comes straight from the switch at the helm to the engine compartment, they connect at the point where I metered them (transom wiring harness) and then they go out to the tabs.  Is this correct?

Thanks again!!!

[Babyboomer]

I smell CORRISION

[merwin10]

Ok! If you have Lenco tabs there are two wires Black wire with a red or grenn trace and a white wire with red or green trace - Red is port side green is starboard - Now either of the wires are positive or negative depending on the direction you want the motor to go up or down! The other wires are control wires to sense the position of the tab -

To check out the tab motor you only need to do is disconnect at the plug and put the battery negative on the Black wire and the positive on the white listen for the motor to turn - reverse the wires and the motor will turn in the oposite direction - If the motor works in both directions it is not the motor it is the controller -

Hope this helps -

Mike -

[02-310]

Babyboomer,
I'm not sure where I would check for corrosion, because I only saw connections at the helm switch, and then again at the transom.  I didn't see a controller at all.  I was told that there was a controller at the helm, but the wiring appears to go directly from the switch to the engine compartment.

Mike,
I will have to give that a try, because I was at the conclusion on Sunday that it was the motor.  This is the only way to confirm the motor or not.  I will let you know.

Thanks!!!

[Dream 'Inn]

aren't all Rinkers using lenco tabs   if so they're electric  so ck' your connections

If feel pretty bad about this one, I guess I assumed they were hydraulics because my last boat, which was a 1990 had hydraulics trim tabs.   .  Sorry, I can't help much with the tabs, except to say go with applying power directly to them like Merwin states.  Good luck.

[Babyboomer]

Babyboomer,
I'm not sure where I would check for corrosion, because I only saw connections at the helm switch, and then again at the transom.  I didn't see a controller at all.  I was told that there was a controller at the helm, but the wiring appears to go directly from the switch to the engine compartment.

Mike,
I will have to give that a try, because I was at the conclusion on Sunday that it was the motor.  This is the only way to confirm the motor or not.  I will let you know.

Thanks!!!

When you saw 3 Volts that's what made me say that,I had a similar problem with my stero a couple years ago and kept getting low voltage ended up my ground was corroded I ran a new ground wire and my problem was fixed.

[02-310]

Well, it's still raining here so I didn't have a chance to apply direct power today.  But I did have an opportunity to call Lenco and talk to their tech support.  He told me that there would be no requirement to apply direct power to the motor itself, because I already switched the wiring at the helm rocker switches.  The wiring from the not working side of the switch controlled the tab that was working before the switch, and the working wiring was switched to the not working tab and it still didn't work.  Apparently there in no controller on the 02 models, unless someone can tell me were it may be mounted at, but I didn't see it when I opened up the dash.

Thanks!

[Ronnie]

I think there is a control box only if the tabs  have the  position indicator light bars  on the switch  panel ,If I remember correctly when I replaced my standard switches , there was no box.  I had to add it for the indicator switches

[merwin10]

Well what the tech said is some what true - However, what he did not tell you is if there is a bad wire on that trip tab after the switch and before the plug it would act the same even when you switched the wires at the switch. The only way to eliminate the wire is to make connection at the plug in the engine room - Hope this makes sense to you! If the trim motor works at the plug then the problem is forward from the plug - if the trim motor doesnot work then it is the motor - either way it is the only way I know to be sure where the problem lies -

If you have a corrode or partly cut wire under the gunwale going up to the switch at the dash switching wires at the switch will not tell you anything -

Mike -  

[02-310]

Well what the tech said is some what true - However, what he did not tell you is if there is a bad wire on that trip tab after the switch and before the plug it would act the same even when you switched the wires at the switch. The only way to eliminate the wire is to make connection at the plug in the engine room - Hope this makes sense to you! If the trim motor works at the plug then the problem is forward from the plug - if the trim motor doesnot work then it is the motor - either way it is the only way I know to be sure where the problem lies -

If you have a corrode or partly cut wire under the gunwale going up to the switch at the dash switching wires at the switch will not tell you anything -

Mike -  

Mike,
That makes perfect sense to me, and I will still try this.  I intended to despite what the tech told me.  I should be able to try this on Friday or Saturday.  Again, I will let you know how I make out.  

Thanks again for your suggestion Mike, and thanks Ronnie for confirming the controller situation.

[Black_Diamond]

You will only have a controller if you have the newer Lenco setup that auto retracts the tabs and lights up, otherwise all the wiring is done at the switch to reverse polarity to the tabs.  As noted above!

I'd check the ground...then move from there.

FYI the newer tab controller from Lenco is great!  I see the tab positions at night too.

[proffsionl]

I'll throw in one other note on the trim tabs...my port tab suddenly stopped working a week ago while we were out (no indicator lights, either).  When we got to our destination and dropped anchor, I did an inspection and found the entire tab (and actuator) hanging straight down.  Turns out ther is a small plastic pin that holds the upper end of the actuator in the mount and ours broke.  When this happened, all that was holding it was the wires, which then broke, too.  

It is being covered under warranty and all it well now.  Just make sure that if you lose function on the tabs, just check to make sure it is still attached.

Just my $.02 worth.