2018 Nitro Z20 switch panel issues

[Tarponstalker]

I have read a number of threads on here about Nitro switch panels getting wet and malfunctioning. I've been wondering when my turn would come. It happened this week.
I was staying at a fish camp for a few days with my boat tied up at the dock and we had a hard rain one night. The next day, my engine trim switch kept trying to go down. Every time I would turn the power on at the main switch on the console, ( the panel that has livewells, bilge, horn etc) the trim switch would activate trying to make it go down.
The other trim switches on the boat all worked fine. I assumed the problem was at the bow panel since it has a trim up and down button. however, when I unplugged the bow panel completely, the problem still exists.

i'm now wondering if there is a short in the main switch panel at the console where the power button is. I'm trying to decide if I should take it in to a dealer to have them work on it to find the problem or should I just order one or both of those switch panels and replace them myself
it seems strange to me that the main switch panel doesn't even have a trim button on it and also that I have completely unplugged the bow mounted panel that does have a trim switch, but it doesn't cure the problem
When it comes to my basic knowledge of electricity switches have never been my strong suit.

Do any of y'all have any thoughts on what may be causing this problem?
Thank you in advance.

[Tarponstalker]

Nobody??

[Mcjenson]

It’s hard to troubleshoot over the internet. Could be the touch panel, could be the Ecu as well. It doesn’t sound like you are super confident troubleshooting yourself I’d recommend a dealer rather than throwing parts at it.

[IronMj]

I have replaced my helm switch panel 2 times both times I had been on an out of state trip moored my boat and it was in heavy rain for a day, mine is garage kept usually so it sounds like you could try replacing it? I also had the trim switch go bad on my Merc those are my only issues with my boat in 3 years.

[Tarponstalker]

It’s hard to troubleshoot over the internet. Could be the touch panel, could be the Ecu as well. It doesn’t sound like you are super confident troubleshooting yourself I’d recommend a dealer rather than throwing parts at it.

Thanks for your reply. The only reason I replaced that panel is because I have read numerous other posts where people had the same issues after the panel got wet. Which mine did. Even service bulletins from the manufacturer showing that these panels go bad when they get wet.
Anyway, I did decide yesterday to take it to my local marine mechanic to see if he could run down the problem. I just prefer to fix things myself when I can.

[Mcjenson]

Thanks for your reply. The only reason I replaced that panel is because I have read numerous other posts where people had the same issues after the panel got wet. Which mine did. Even service bulletins from the manufacturer showing that these panels go bad when they get wet.
Anyway, I did decide yesterday to take it to my local marine mechanic to see if he could run down the problem. I just prefer to fix things myself when I can.

When mine went they had to replace the touch screen, Ecu and power button.

I eventually ended up doing a rocker switch conversion. I just don’t trust that switch panel.

[IronMj]

Tarponstalker,
Let us know what you found to be your problem when you get it back

[Tarponstalker]

Yes. I will do that once I find out

[zachmoe28]

I have the same problem with my boat at the moment. 2019 z21. Trim on motor, throttle, blinker switch all operate normally. But when I turn on master power, trim automatically goes down. I’ve found that many people disconnect the bow panel switch and it fixes it. Unfortunately mine still has the issue. I found two spots under the console that I’ve isolated the wire grouping to where if I pull that plug out it cuts the power and it fixes it, but I lose other accessories that are tied into it. Any help/luck with your issue so far?

[Tarponstalker]

It's so funny that you posted the same problem today. I told my boat mechanic the same thing. I isolated what seemed to be a problem in the wiring harness. When I wiggled a certain wire, it would interrupt the motor trimming down. After he did some research, he found that it had a bad plug in the fuse panel. He ordered a new panel and it's supposed to be in here Tuesday. I should know for sure if that fixes the problem by next week.
i'll update once I find out

[Andrebass]

Alot of talk about having issues on wet days, so I put a thin bead of silicone on top and sides of the power switch and the control panel for livewell and lights.

[treylebon]

Tarponstalker,

I am having the same problem and I am just wondering if the new fuse panel fixed the problem?

Thanks,

[Tarponstalker]

Tarponstalker,

I am having the same problem and I am just wondering if the new fuse panel fixed the problem?

Thanks,

I'm sorry for the late reply. It may or may not have fixed it. Shortly after he installed it the issue came up again but only once.
He tried for two weeks to get it to act up again but it never did. I took it home but have only run it on the lake once and it was fine.
I still think it's a problem when it gets wet but he and I have both sprayed water on it and left outside and so far all is fine. I feel like it's gonna happen again sometime.

[Tarponstalker]

Well, I'm about as frustrated as I could be. This issue goes away for a while and then comes back again. My mechanic spoke to Spyder Controls who is the manufacturer of the switch panels. At their recommendation, he replaced that ECM/fuse block. That seemed to work for a while. This morning I'm out on the lake and the motor starts trying to trim down again. As long as I turn the power switch off at the console, everything is fine. But then I have no livewell, lights or gps/depthfinder. My mechanic has given up on this issue. He has been working with spyder controls, but can't seem to figure out what the problem is. I just spoke to Spyder controls a few minutes ago and although they were trying to be helpful, they said they have not heard of this problem before and don't know what's causing it.
they recommended that I call White River Marine since they are the manufacturer of the boat. I tried that once before and they were no help.
if I could figure out which wire coming out of the ECM that controls the down trim, I would terminate that wire and do without the bow trim and tilt
I'm at wits end.
I know others of you on here have had the same or similar problems with their nitro boat. Hopefully someone eventually will be able to provide some ideas.
Thank you.

[BMCD]

My throttle trim switch gave me issues when my boat was new and it got wet. But alas somehow it resolved itself, never had the issue again.

Use a hose on it to test

[IronMj]

The trim switch on my Mercury motor went out when the boat was only about a year old was trimming up on its own just sitting in the driveway. As I stated before I’ve had switch panel problems 2 times since then, seems like the new switch panel design with the stainless steel plate mounted on the back fixed the cracking problem I’ve run 1 1/2 years now with no problems and we had major rain in Minnesota this year it poured down all day in the past that trip was where the switch panel problems arose if it rained.

[Tarponstalker]

The trim switch on my Mercury motor went out when the boat was only about a year old was trimming up on its own just sitting in the driveway. As I stated before I’ve had switch panel problems 2 times since then, seems like the new switch panel design with the stainless steel plate mounted on the back fixed the cracking problem I’ve run 1 1/2 years now with no problems and we had major rain in Minnesota this year it poured down all day in the past that trip was where the switch panel problems arose if it rained.

Thanks for the reply. The first thing I did was replace the switch panel on the console. It did not fix the problem. Did you replace the switch panel on the bow or at the console?

[Tarponstalker]

My throttle trim switch gave me issues when my boat was new and it got wet. But alas somehow it resolved itself, never had the issue again.

Use a hose on it to test

thanks, Bryan. My trim switches at the motor, on the throttle, and blinker switch all seem to work fine

[IronMj]

No I haven’t replaced the bow trim switch, I’ve replace the console switch panel 2 times and the trim switch on the motor once. I did seal around the switch panel with silicone this last time as well when I installed it and zip tied the wires going to it to support them.

[Tarponstalker]

I think I have finally gotten it fixed. At the advice of Spyder Controls my mechanic replaced the ECU under the console. That didn't fix it. But it left me with an extra ECU. Last week a friend of mine was helping me with this and he put my "extra " ECU in the stern to replace the one that is in there. Bingo!! Problem solved. Hopefully it stays fixed. Spyder told me that ECU didn't have any thing to do with my issue. I guess that was wrong. I've run the boat twice with no issues and I keep the power switch on for several minutes at a time in my carport just to see if my motor trims down again. So far so good