Help! Temp swings and loss of power steering!

[acs2653]

So I have 2008 sea Ray 175 with the mercruiser 3.0 alpha one. It has been great since I bought it in June. Well today, I took it out (we've had it out every weekend) and it started just fine, but once we got going down the river things changed. All of a sudden it felt like someone was pulling on the boat and I lost my power steering. Then the horn warning starting going off. My engine was at 170! I shut it down and started inspecting. First, power steering fluid seemed empty, engine oil may have been slightly low, and gear drive reservoir was fine. Well we get it back to the dock and the outside seems fine. I decide to top off the fluids so I added 2 qts of oil and some power steering fluid. I get it back on the water and the temp gage keeps swinging. It would read 135 and up to 190. So know j think maybe the impeller, but j have no clue. We rode it easy down the water, stopped and came back. Anyone know what may be wrong? Is the power steering issue causing the temp swings or is the high temp causing the power steering to shut down? I may just take it into the shop in Monday, but j really hate paying the high labor costs. Thanks everyone

 

[tpenfield]

Do you have the serpentine belt or the traditional v-belts on the engine ? Wondering if the belt is loose :noidea:

 

[thumpar]

I was wondering about the belt(s) also. The power steering and water circ pump are driven off the crank.

 

[acs2653]

I was wondering about the belt(s) also. The power steering and water circ pump are driven off the crank.

Is there a different belt that I am not aware of? I didn't see any issues with the serpentine belt. It looked to be tight but j can check again.

 

[wahlejim]

Any sign of power steering fluid in the bilge or leaking? I have never heard of a reservoir emptying without any sign of the fluid. When you refilled, did you turn it all the way left and right to run air out of the system?

I am also concerned with the belt, since the same belt runs the water pump and the power steering. Make sure both pulleys are turning freely and it isn't getting hung up on anything.

 

[acs2653]

I got it all taken care of. The bracket holding the alternator fell off causing the belt to slip off. I fixed it and then took her out, hit a wake and the adjustment bolt slipped and shredded the belt. I was towed off the water by a fellow boater that day. My buddy and j spent the last few days tightening all the bolts down and adding some locktite to the bolts on the brackets to ensure they do not vibrate off again.