[bustah]

Hello
Any suggestions on how to fix the trim gauge on a 2000 182
Volvo penta 4.3 L have not long purchased and the trim gauge doesn't move from the full up position
would it be the gauge or the sender unit and can any one tell me were that is
Thanks

[ColoradoDiablo]

Welcome to MOC!
There is about a 90% chance it's the sending unit. The other 10% is loose or corroded wires.
I'll tell you right now..........they are a PITA to change.
The outdrive needs to be removed to access the sender.
To test ,
disconnect the wires where they join the boat/engine harness, follow them from the inside of the transom. if the guage returns to normal your sender is bad.
They are expensive and difficult to change. Consider carefully before you decide to replace it.
If you like having a working trim guage the easiest way to get access to it is thru the transom port. Remove the outdrive and pull the helmet pins. then cut the wires from the old sender close to the grommet and push it thru from the inside once you have removed the small stainless clip holding it in place.
If you are not "very" comfortable working on the drive system , leave the job to a Marine Mechanic.

[bustah]

Thank you for the advice Larry
I'll test it and see what happens if they are that expensive I'll just trim by feel

[ColoradoDiablo]

That is what I , and probably 70% of boaters do bustah.
If/when you pull the drive for service of the boots , gimble bearing , etc , you can change sender/senders out then.

[Andy b]

Originally Posted by ColoradoDiablo

Welcome to MOC!
There is about a 90% chance it's the sending unit. The other 10% is loose or corroded wires.
I'll tell you right now..........they are a PITA to change.
The outdrive needs to be removed to access the sender.
To test ,

Not true Larry,
Not on a Volvo.
just replaced my sender and it was a half hour job tops

give me 10 mins and i'l do a write up

[ColoradoDiablo]

Gotta see this.
The writeup I saw said just the opposite.
Go figure!

[Andy b]

do you want me to stick it here or start a new thread?

[ColoradoDiablo]

Stick it here. It's very related to his ? Andy.

[Andy b]

It’s a well-known fact that changing the trim sender unit on a murcruiser is a big job.
But what is not so widely understood is that it is quite an easy and quick job on a Volvo.
I will try and explain.
The cable simply runs through the transom shield and is held in place with a ribbed, cone shaped grommet that is bonded to the sender unit wires.



Step 1
Locate the wires from the sender unit on the inside of the boat. Disconnect them from the boats wiring loom.

Step 2
Attach a piece of string to the end of the wires at the end that you disconnected.
Electrical tape will do the job just fine, but try and make the connection as small and tidy as possible because you will need to pull the connection through the transom shield.
At this point you could cut the bullet connectors off of the old sender wires if this helps.

Step 3
At this point it’s handy to have a second pair of hands.
Whilst one person pulls on the cable from outside the other should feed it through from the inside.
If the rubber grommet is stuck then you may need to give it a poke with a long screwdriver from inside.

Step 4
At this point you should have the trim sender wires outside of the boat and a piece of string going through the transom shield.

Remove the trim sender from the leg hinge, disconnect the wires from the string and throw away that old sender unit……
Connect the string to the end of the wires of the new sender unit. And pull them back through the transom shield.
Apply some marine grease to the rubber grommet. This will help it seat in the transom shield.
Once the grommet is seated reconnect the new wires to the boats wiring and fix the new sender in place on the leg.

You may have to do a few up’n’downs to get the range right on the gauge but basically you’re done…

[ColoradoDiablo]

Nice write up Andy.
I did put a copy in the "How To's" forum section.
This will help many a VP owner in the future I'm sure!