my trim is acting funny, every now and then it will decide to stop working for about five minutes, then work fine again. any thoughts?

probly trim relay. they act up alot with temp changes
R

+1

It could be the switch inside the control arm. I had a 99 Skeeter that the trim switch did the same thing, sometimes it would run and not shut off with out some tinkering. Replaced the switch inside the arm and it worked fine after that.

Sounds more like a short in the switch. Common problem on engines. Find out if it's the one in the control arm or the cowling and replace it. Most repair shops carry the switch assembly.

Had one doing same and found the connection plug from control to harness needed cleaning. Sounds like a connection, trim motor or relay problem. You need to see where you are getting voltage while trim is not working. Does trim quit working on all switches?

It stops working on all of the switches.

Check your voltage and connections on your relays.

Had the same thing happen on my Merc 150 the three switches are in parrallel to each other hitting the relays. 1st time mine quite working could not get the boat out of the water because it was trimmed all of the way down fortunatly had a dock to work from pulled both relays and any switch was working them trace wires to motor and with the digital meter connected switched up and down and saw 12volts goin to motor put it all back together. Slapped the engine in a bit of a tantrum and the thing went to working. Loaded it on the trailer and couldn't duplicate it. Six months later it happened again fortunatly this time it was trimmed up enough to get it on the trailer where i could open the relief valve and took me and the wife both to lift it up and stab it on the transom saver. Again checked all the same thing same reults. Drug it home from Bob Sandlin and made a few pit stops and checked to see if it worked no it didn't. Got home and Dad walked up to it and low and behold it worked. The only thing I could figure is maybe bad spot on the motor armature so call the dealer and took it to them to replace and do lower unit service and hadn't had another problem in 3 years. Funny thing and Dad even said it first the original motor didn't ever sound right. The dealer was able to get an aftermarket motor so it save about a $100 from the Merc OEM. But this sounds like the same hair pulling thing I went through.

If they all quit qt the same time it is a problem common to all three switches and that would be a relay or motor but i am guessing relay.

What engine? Year, model and make?
If it's an older OMC...tap the trim motor with a hammer. See if that helps. ( but it's on it's last legs if it does)

if its a newer OMC, it sounds like the PDP (power dist panel)
its the panel that holds the fueses and relays, follow the blue and green trim wires to it, wiggle the plug where it plugs into the PDP, if it starts and stops, then thats the issue, thats what mine was, IF you have an OMC, mine is a 99.

Check the ground connection screws to the block. Mine loosened up and caused periodic failures until the connections loosened to the point of no connection. Tightened couple screws, back in bizness.

Mine does to, that's why I got a divorce!

Dont tap w/hammer unless you want to buy a new trim motor,yours can be rebuilt if its bad.