Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have a 2004 Yamaha 50 hp 2 stroke. The tilt/trim isn't working. Both the throttle switch and the switch on the motor do not work. When I use either switch I hear a click sound coming from the outboard. I have read that this may be a faulty relay. Has anyone had this problem. I am fairly mechanically incline but have no experience on outboard motor repair. Is this a DIY project or do I need to spend $$$ for a mechanic?

It could be the relay but if up and down are both broke that would mean you had 2 bad relays at the same time. I would start by looking for a fuse or a loose/corroded connection from 12v (or ground) to the relays or from the relays to the motor.. Bad news is this might be a bad motor. $$$
You might fix a motor with brushes but you have to get it off. Usually the motor separates from the pump so you are not in the oil system but I am not a Yammy guy so YMMV.

Why would it be a bad motor? Everything else seems fine, and it's only five years old. I have read a few articles and it seems that this is a fairly common problem.

Just trying to cover all the bases. There really is not much between the switch the relay and the motor but a fuse, some connectors and some wire. Both switches fail in both directions so that pretty much makes it one of the other things beyond the relays that pick.

Do you have a meter?

I actually just skimmed your response and freaked out thinking you were talking about the whole "outboard motor". Your right, it could be the trim motor, but I'm hoping it's just some small electrical issue like a fuse or bad ground. I'm probably going to take it to the mechanic on Thursday if I can't figure it out by then.

I can probably borrow a meter. I don't even know where the fuse and relay is located though. I tried to find them but couldn't, and I can't seem to find a good diagram of my engine online. If you can point me in the right direction I'll give it a shot.

Ron,
Check out this website, it will have the parts diagram for your motor.

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamah ... parts.html

The relays are the things clicking. They are probably the little square ones like you have in your car.



The fuse will usually be an inline holder in the wire that goes to the relays. Your owner's book may guide you to that. Other than that you are just looking for something out of whack on the wires from the relays to the motor or the 12v feed to the relay.

The Yamaha color codes are here

http://gfretwell.com/electrical/boatwireColorCode.html

Thanks for the tips and the links. They are very informative. If the fuse was bad do you know if the relays would still be clicking? It looks like the diagram shows a blade type fuse located inside the stator assy. Looks like I have to unscrew it and take off the top to find the fuse. I couldn't find the relays on the diagram. Are they actually located on the outboard, or are they somewhere else on the boat? I alled a mechanic and they said if it was a bad motor it would cost about $600 to replace. Thanks again.

The relays can be another style but that is where the clicking is coming from. The fuse may only be going to the contacts of the relay and on to the motor with the pick circuit on the instrument circuit fuse that goes to the controller.

You kinda lost me there...

Follow the wires up from the trim motor....the relays are not square like the ones pictured, they are round w 4 posts(one capped off w a plastic cover) and are located under the black cover on the stbd side in the motor... once you've found them remove the trim motor wires from the relays....should be 2 wires 1 green and 1 blue as I dont remember yamaha ever using a 3 wire motor(make sure there are 2 and not 3 before doing this test) ..once they are off take your blue and go to "+" then touch green to "-", the engine should trim up...then reverse connections and it should go down...if it doesnt move your trim motor is bad....if it does you need a relay....ck this first. Then we will go to the relays.

Thanks, I'll give it a shot and tell you what happens.

I ended up taking my boat to the shop. Turns out it was a bad trim motor. They said saltwater got into it and messed it up. It's gonna cost about $400. Oh well....

These motors do take a beating, just because of where they are. It stays wet. I took mine off and shot several coats of paint on it to try to stop the corrosion but the last time I was working on the boat I saw it is rusting up on me.
That is one thing that should really have a stainless steel case on it for an extra $20 or so but then the manufacturer would not have the chance motor to sell you that $400 replacement. If this was exactly the same motor on a car, it would be $100 and people would gripe about that price. I know Mercury, Yahama or whoever does not really make that motor and I am going to try to see who the manufacturer is. It might cross to an industrial part you can get for a hundred bucks but I will have to put on that $300 cable connector so it plugs into the wiring harness.

BTW it looks like Iboats has one for $228.

http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfinder/? ... =323390279