Do trim and tilt relays ever go bad intermittantly?

[Sailorchlud]

I have a 2002 j115pxsnf with a trim /tilt intermittant failure. Down trim works every time on the down button on the the motor switch and on the throttle switch. Up trim works only intermittantly when either up switch is activated. I have no apparent corrosion on the wiring, and all wiring connections seem solid. If I unscrew and jiggle the relay bracket I can get it to work for a bit, then it stops working after 3-4 activations.

I had suspected vibration from the motor running was working a wire connection loose, but I cannot find any weak connections.. and it stops working after a few tries even without the motor running while in the driveway.

Should I replace the up relay?

 

[Boobie]

Try swapping the relays and see what happens.

 

[OldArie]

Did you ever find the problem? I have a similar issue and it appears to be a poor connection in the relay holder.

 

[timguy]

Relay, brother. But we will probably never know for sure.

 

[Tegweni]

Sometimes they arc across the faces of the contact points and when this happens enough times the power doesn't come through it builds up with carbon across the faces

 

[racerone]

I thought carbon was a pretty good conductor of electricity ?

 

[Tegweni]

You are correct carbon is used in battery's ,i should rather have used the terms such as Carbon Tracking which does cause damage to relay contacts over a period of time .

 

[timguy]

When contact points get tired, the surfaces get pitted and oxidized, thereby loosing continuity.......how's that folks? Carbon does not conduct electricity, but it's allotrope, graphite will. For instance, charcoal and diamonds are also allotropes of carbon. Chemistry class for today.