2003 Johnson 115 hp 4 stroke trim motor

[BobbaLew]

My tilt/trim motor doesn't always want to work. Its definitely not the switch, I have 3 switches to operate on my boat plus the one on the motor. If I stand behind the boat and use the tilt switch on motor, I can hear a crackling noise coming from it. (electric). If I keep trying to get it to work, it eventually does. And once it does work, then I'm usually good for the day. I had my son operate each switch, while I stood in back listening to it, thinking it was just the switch on the motor, but it did it with all the switches. And once its working I can operate it with any switch. So I'm assuming from the crackling noise I must have a short somewhere in there. Can any one give an idea what to look for? Appreciate any help.