5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

iop

iop

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Hey Guys,

Got a Merc 5.7 LX with bravo 3.

Did not use the boat for several months. Driveway kept.
A few weeks ago however I started her up, changed the oil, gave it a look over.
Everything seemed fine.

Today I was going to out. I started her up in the driveway to warm up. Always at idle. I'm standing there watching the ears making sure they are over the intake holes on the lower... all of a sudden I realize NO water is coming out of the exhaust. I jump on and turn it off. The temp seemed to be OK 130. BUT it usually takes a while for that temp needle to move.

I think I need some help to figure out where to TS first...
No weird noises, spinning nice always... just no water circulating.
No water spilling into the hull anywhere.

Any ideas??
thanks in advance!!!
Al.
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

I should add I have not had any cooling issues at all since I own it ( 04' ).
all the belts are fine and water pump pully is spinning like champ.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Check the raw water pump impeller.
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Don S said:
Check the raw water pump impeller.
Click to expand...

thanks Don!
I'm a little confused though... is the impeller a factor when the drive is "out of gear"?? ( running on ears )
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

iop said:
thanks Don!
I'm a little confused though... is the impeller a factor when the drive is "out of gear"?? ( running on ears )
Click to expand...

Ah never mind!! I'm learing here. ;) its in the pump.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

There are no pumps in Bravo drives, only Alpha style drives. You have a belt driven pump on your engine.
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

I have started the impeller research to get the right kit.

But in the meantime is there anything else that could cause the same symptoms?

Is it common for the impeller to fail " abruptly" like that??

thanks!!!
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

If the impeller is over 2 years old, you really need to look at it before you get involved with anything else.
 
Bondo

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

iop said:
I should add I have not had any cooling issues at all since I own it ( 04' ).

I have started the impeller research to get the right kit.

But in the meantime is there anything else that could cause the same symptoms?

Is it common for the impeller to fail " abruptly" like that??

thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Has the impeller been changed since ya owned it,..??

If not, bein' 6 years overdue really ain't to " abruptly".....

Those pumps don't prime well either,...
When ya launch, the pump is a flooded inlet,.... Primed in other words,...
Not so much with muffs though....

'n a few seconds, run Dry,.... is Fatal......
 
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iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Bond-o said:
Ayuh,... Has the impeller been changed since ya owned it,..??

If not, bein' 6 years overdue really ain't to " abruptly".....

Those pumps don't prime well either,...
When ya launch, the pump is a flooded inlet,.... Primed in other words,...
Not so much with muffs though....

'n a few seconds, run Dry,.... is Fatal......
Click to expand...

Yeah... never changed it. Gonna change it and see if that fixes it.
I'm hoping thats it.
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Well.. took apart the raw pump and impeller was completely shot in pieces. It's a 2 piece body.
Got the kit and installed a new impeller with the plates and the gaskets. made sure of rotation etc.
Started it up and still no water out of the exhaust bellows.

DAMN!!!
Going down the line... I think some of those impeller pieces are jammed up somewhere. Next stop is the OIL cooler connection.
 
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TilliamWe

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Remove the inlet hose from the thermostat housing and back flush with as much water pressure as you can get in your garden hose. Find the pieces in the bilge.
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

TilliamWe said:
Remove the inlet hose from the thermostat housing and back flush with as much water pressure as you can get in your garden hose. Find the pieces in the bilge.
Click to expand...

oK THANKS!! I'm assuming take the other end off the raw pump.
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Ok now i'm stumped.

I was able to verify there are no blockages.
Water passed through the OUT hose from the raw Water pump to Therm Body ( both ways ).
From Therm body out to exhaust ( out to driveway ) .
From outboard intake holes to pump IN ( both ways ) , I had to press the ears against the outboard body to get it to go up.

However... water still fails to circulate as it did before for years.
I removed and opened the pump again to make sure the impeller and the gaskets are in correctly...they are an were.
there is no water going into the bilge.

COuld it be there is an air leak in the raw pump body???
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Also the hoses are on correctly on the pump.. ;)
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Hoping for any suggestions before I upgrade to the one peice body kit... arhg!!! more wrenching ;)
 
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Pete104

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

You know what the impeller looks like intact. You know you what took out, minus the pieces that flowed into the cooling system as it deteriorated. They are there, you MUST find them! Check the therm hsg & hoses going to exhaust manifolds. I've found them right at the risers in the past.
As Bond-O stated, that pump can be tough to prime. You can use a heavy tape to seal the muffs the best you can, then with the IN hose disconnected turn on the water. As the water is running thru it, re-install the "IN" hose & start it. Stab the throttle so impeller creates a good vaccum, that should get it pumping again. By stab I mean rev it to like 2000-2500 rpm in short blasts. Like your a street racer!
Should have gone the 1 piece from the get go!
 
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iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Pete104 said:
You know what the impeller looks like intact. You know you what took out, minus the pieces that flowed into the cooling system as it deteriorated. They are there, you MUST find them! Check the therm hsg & hoses going to exhaust manifolds. I've found them right at the risers in the past.
As Bond-O stated, that pump can be tough to prime. You can use a heavy tape to seal the muffs the best you can, then with the IN hose disconnected turn on the water. As the water is running thru it, re-install the "IN" hose & start it. Stab the throttle so impeller creates a good vaccum, that should get it pumping again. By stab I mean rev it to like 2000-2500 rpm in short blasts. Like your a street racer!
Should have gone the 1 piece from the get go!
Click to expand...

I think before I do anything else I'm gonna wait for the one piece kit to get here.

A lot of the pieces of the old impeller are accounted for.
 
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Pete104

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

The pieces won't keep you from getting water thru it! And at low speed may not be problem but definitly @ hi-speed, in the water, 3K & up will cause issues. It'll be important to keep on the temp gauge, if it gets past 160-170 degrees, slow'er down and hunting. It's major PITA!
 
iop

iop

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Re: 5.7LX Bravo 3 no water to engine!!!!

Pete104 said:
The pieces won't keep you from getting water thru it! And at low speed may not be problem but definitly @ hi-speed, in the water, 3K & up will cause issues. It'll be important to keep on the temp gauge, if it gets past 160-170 degrees, slow'er down and hunting. It's major PITA!
Click to expand...

Thats what I'm saying... I cant even get water into the pump from the intake holes it seems.
 
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