New to me Boat Issue

[andrewterri]

I wrote about a month ago about a 2014 Monterey 196ms with a 4.3 MPI ECT. It was not winterized when I went to by it and was dumping water. Long story short, popped a freeze plug and got extremely lucky the engine was not cracked internally. Local Dealer fixed plug, inspected the engine and cat, checked for codes, ran the engine through cycles for one hour, and warrantied their work. I bought the boat after receiving a discount and took it to the lake. The power steering is not working right. there is to much resistance when driving. I am comparing that to our 89 searay 160 3.0. There is obviously an issue with it as my wife quickly noticed it was hard to turn. I am going to check the fluid when the boat is level and engine cold. The pump has a lot of corrosion on it but nothing else in the engine bay does. Fresh water only boat, sold and kept in Oklahoma. Is there any known issues with the new power steering pumps? This is one thing I was kind of expecting with a boat that has such low hours 27.6 and being four years old. I figured I might run into gaskets and seals that are hard or cracked from just sitting and not being ran. Other than the obvious fluid check, which looked okay on the water, any idea's? thanks in advance guys. Not just for this but also your advice through the buying process on this boat.

 

[alldodge]

I am going to check the fluid when the boat is level and engine cold.

No need to wait for it to get cold or level, it is either between the lines or its not. If it is between the lines there is an issue.

You can replace it with an automotive one, but MUST use the relief valve on the marine pump.

Start with a serial number of the motor

 

[andrewterri]

I will go get into the boat now and get it. Any idea where it is? On the 3.0 it on the side of the valve cover but did not see it anywhere earlier when I was looking the motor over.

 

[andrewterri]

Went and got the owner information packet that came with the boat the original buyer kept and it shows the serial number as being 2A176701 and the drive as 2A120174

 

[Scott Danforth]

the rebuild kits for saginaw ps pumps are $11 at Napa

new reservoirs are about $40

 

[andrewterri]

I take it once I find a diagram or write up they are not hard to rebuild?

 

[andrewterri]

kind of a dumb question here and trying to find it in the manual. when I check the power steering fluid, is it check with the cap pushed past the rubber ring but now screwed down or is it suppose to be screwed down tight to check it? it is the difference between almost no fluid and normal.

 

[Bondo]

or is it suppose to be screwed down tight to check it?

Ayuh,..... Cap in-place like normal,....

 

[Scott Danforth]

I take it once I find a diagram or write up they are not hard to rebuild?

just google saginaw power steering pump rebuild. there must be at least a thousand writeups. the thing has been around for 70 years

 

[andrewterri]

Thank you guys. I will Google it and find the rebuild because with the cap in place the level is normal. Is this normal for power steering that has been sitting for years and not used?

 

[dollar7499]

Is the pump leaking or making noise? I would lean towards checking the steering cable, too

 

[alldodge]

Thank you guys. I will Google it and find the rebuild because with the cap in place the level is normal. Is this normal for power steering that has been sitting for years and not used?

Not normal for just sitting, check the hose connections on the steering ram. While they should be connected, someone doing work they may not have reconnected. Should be quick connects like air hose chuck

 

[andrewterri]

there is no noise coming from the pump. I will check the connections. that is very possible from when the shop fixed the freeze plug