Over heat light and horn

[Texoma Toon]

My youngest daughter and her hubby and I are out fishing early this morning when my oldest daughter calls and says " I am at the dock". I said ok we will come get you but are about 5 miles up the lake in Oklahoma. After running to get her at the dock I fire the engine up and the over heat light and buzzer goes off. I checked to see if the motor was peeing and yes it was. I had to tell all that that was it for fishing from the boat today. Lucky we caught a couple good sized stripers early. After breakfast we go down to get the boat onto the trailer and no overheat light. Get it loaded with no probs and will be off to the dealer Tuesday. Probably for a new impeller and anything else they find while doing a 100 hour check. I just hope it is done before the 29 th as we have 5 days scheduled at the lake.

[Ron Burgundy]

My father in-law has the same issue occasionaly with his 250 Yamaha. It only happens if he idles for a long time. I think it's either the impeller or he has some sand sucked up into the system somewhere.

[GregF]

It could be something like a stuck thermostat but simply seeing water come out the pee hole does not mean you are pumping enough water to cool the engine. That is why I have a water pressure gauge. It is hard to tell the difference between 3 PSI and 15 PSI by looking at the stream but 3 will not cool the engine above 1000-1500 RPM.

[Texoma Toon]

I ran at about 4200 rpm's back to the dock and idled into the marina, maybe a 100 yds. shut it down for a few minutes and then when I started it the overheat light came on and the buzzer. After about two hours Idled over to the launch ramp no over temp light.

[Texoma Toon]

The toon is at Blackbeards in OK. Dropped it off at 10:30. They said it should be done Friday............we will see how they do.

[Texoma Toon]

Mechanic who is working on the toon called to let me know the impeller had 3 blades missing and that they replaced it and was gonna flush out the motor to make sure none of the blades got into the block. So far I am feeling good about Blackbeards Marine.

[Ron Burgundy]

It's always good when a repair isn't a major repair.

[BoatCop]

An annual impeller change is cheap insurance against an overheated and possibly fried engine.

Engines that aren't run all that often or sit idle all winter are especially susceptible to failed impellers, due to the vanes being held in one place for so long and getting brittle.

If you have basic mechanical skills, it isn't all that difficult to do yourself and the kit runs only $20-$40 bucks, depending on the engine.

[Texoma Toon]

I will be getting a manual and doing it my self next time....especially after I get the bill. The mechanic said change it about every two years. It has been 5. My bad!

[GregF]

I agree motors that sit have more impeller problems but even when you use them 3-4 times a week they eventually take a set and you get low water pressure at low speeds. Centrifugal force flings them out at high speed and it is almost normal water pressure.

This is one that ran 1848 hours. You can see there is no particular wear problem and it was still flexible but the tips do not reach out far enough to fill the can at low speed.

This is running a lot in shallow water with a sand bottom.

[Texoma Toon]

Boat is done and ready for me to pickup first thing in the morning.... now if all works ok when I get it on the water I will be a happy camper!!!

[Texoma Toon]

Picked up the toon this morning and hauled it back to the lake house. On the way back the temp started going up on my Acadia. Figured it was just a hot day. Got the toon unhooked and covered and stated back and the temp gage shot up to 250 and I am thinking ohhhhhh sh*t.
Pulled into a gas station and called my service rep at my GMC dealer. He gives me the number to GMC roadside assistance. I called and they sent a tow truck which towed me to the closest GMC dealer, Stanley Buick, GMC in Sherman Texas. The service manager meets me and pulls it right into a stall and a tech starts working on it. Two and a half hours later, and a new water pump I am out of there and the charge for the tow and new water pump exactly $0 dollars.
This week I have been lucky to work with two dealers that have not forgot what service is all about. Blackbeard Marine and Stanley GMC! Highly recommend either one!