Yamaha tilt, am I losing it?

[gpag]

I need someone to tell me if I am gaslighting myself.  I swear that the tilt switch on the engine (200SX) worked even if the batteries were off.  Same with the bilge pump on auto.    I just tried to tilt the engine and it didn’t work.  Thought maybe I left the batteries on and now they were dead but they are fine.  If I turn the batteries on everything works.  Am  I nuts to think tilt and bilge on auto worked with the batteries off?

[Juan]

All I can say is my bilge pump will run with the batteries off and the switch in "auto". The tilt and trim motors require the batteries to be on.

[mikesimonelli]

My bilge has never worked without battery on . All original wiring from 04

[Juan]

Mike, have you tried putting in the plug and filling the bilge using a garden hose to verify if the bilge pump works with the batteries in the off position? It should run and should have been wired that way from the factory. Important more for those who leave their boats in the water than for us who trailer.

[gnrphil]

If the switch is off there should be no connection between the battery and the outboard, thus the tilt switch won't work.