Sport Jet 175....HELP

[BONES]

My sj 175 starts to overheat when idling after 10 to15 minutes. I have to rev up to 3000 rpm for it to cool off again. I can't see anything lodged in the intake. I took it in to a local marine shop but they could not find any problems. When I asked about the motor I was not impressed with their knowledge of it.

I would like to get it serviced but I need to find an excellent shop. Any help would be appreciated.

[Lipripper]

Had a friend who had a problem with his 175 over heating at idle. How old is your motor? Do you have a tell tale(stream of water out the back)? His didn't and had to have this installed. Everything is fine now.

[AuntyM]

Overheating sport jet? :grin: I will give you the abbreviated version without the whining. :smile:

First of all, you DO need a good shop. Many of the problems we had would have been easy fixes if we went to the right shop. Up here that would be Three Rivers Marine. Of course, we had to learn the hard way. (we, as in our stubborn husband) :tongue:

We blew a head gasket after about 20 hours and had to have it fixed.
:depressed:
Then we had to have a bad sensor in the oil filler cap replaced. :rolleyes:

We still get occasional and/or intermitant overheating though, which the mechanic explained can be caused by sucking up small debris, which disintergrates eventually. This is one of those that angers customers and frustrates mechanics. Boat overheats, you take it in, it doesn't overheat for them etc..... :shocked:

And last but not least, our gage is off several degrees and one sensor may not be mounted in the correct place. :whazzup:

Hope this gives you a little insight. I would tell you it's all OK now, but as of this minute, it's still being worked on to fix things the OTHER shop screwed up. Lucky for us, it's still under warranty. :grin:

[ 12-01-2002, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: AuntyM ]

[WaterDog]

I had this very same problem and it ruined a trip to B10. Put in at Warrenton and about 1/3 of the way out alarm goes off. :mad: Took it to my dealer. The problem was the engine idle was set too low. The SJ needs to idle around 1200rpms or more to circulate the water in the cooling system. Remember, unlike other inboards the pump is always "in gear" and the jet pump itself is what moves the water through the cooling system.

[Leatherneck]

The problem is very obvious, never buy a Hewe's craft again. You can ride in my Alumaweld any day. :grin:

[timinthegorge]

Ahhhhhh....... Mercury outboards. On a cold morning, you may have to pull that black 9.9 twice..... I consider it exercise! :cheers:

[BONES]

Leatherneck, what Alumaweld? I heard you sold the mini-beast? Of course if you want to rent a seat in the Hewes???? :tongue:

[whitewaterbill]

Ask boater.....He can help you with S J' s

Oh....Is it in a T J ???

Ask boater...........

:wink:

[HOGTIDE]

Heard of a pal having a similar problem with an older SJ. Said the problem was a 'heat riser valve'...no, don't know what that is.

Don't all 2 strokes have a tell-tail????

[BONES]

I think the motor was manufactured in 1998 but was new in the boat when it was made in1999.

Not sure what you mean about the water coming out the back?

[Pete]

The early SportJets did not have a tell tale ... a stream of water to let you know that cooling water is circulating. It sounds like there may be something in the coolant intake, not necessarily where you can see it. I'd take it to a Mercury dealer. I've been reasonably happy with the shop I use in the Portland area. Drop me an e-mail if you want to know which one.

When you say it's overheating, are you determining that with a temp guage or the warning beep? It's possible that you have a bum sending unit or guage.

[BONES]

The temp gauge and the warning beeper both are indicating a problem.