496 Seawater pump question

[TheEduKATor]

Just fired the boat up for the first time in a while and noticed a steady drip of water coming from behind the seawater pump pulley. Its a 2002 496 mag and I'm pretty sure that it was doing the same thing on the last trip out because of noticable water splash marks in the engine compartment around the pulley that were just noticed today as well. However the boat ran absolutely fine the last time out. Is this drip an indication that the seawater pump is going bad or is this normal? If it needs to be replaced, does anyone know of a good shop in the Murrieta/Temecula area, Inland Empire or the San Diego area that could fix this tommorow. We planned on leaving tomorrow evening and already have a lot of money invested in this weekend with the house rental, river supplies, and friends who are taking days off for the trip to ride along.

 

[digger]

Sounds like the pump shaft seal is leaking, no biggy. Personally I wouldn't let it spoil my week end, just keep an eye on the water in the bilge area and have the impeller and seal replaced when you get back home.
Leave the bilge pumps on auto.

 

[HPBoats83]

Two shops you might be able to try in your area are ECM (Extreme Custom Marine) in Lake Elsinore as well as my first choice, Quality Performance Marine in Corona, CA. Maybe if you can't get one of the shops to do the repair, just buy an impeller kit and take it with you so you could change it on the water if absolutley necessary.

 

[Retired Member]

Two shops you might be able to try in your area are ECM (Extreme Custom Marine) in Lake Elsinore as well as my first choice, Quality Performance Marine in Corona, CA. Maybe if you can't get one of the shops to do the repair, just buy an impeller kit and take it with you so you could change it on the water if absolutley necessary.

Typical forum/ mag reader answer, but it won't fix the problem.


It is a shaft seal, as mentioned above, won't ruin the weekend. Fix it when you get a chance.

 

[HPBoats83]

And the problem with buying an extra one to have on board is what? If he can pinpoint what the affected part is then buy that and fix it. But he doesn't know what the affected part is or he wouldn't have asked.

 

[Outdrive1]

Like someone already said, it won't ruin your day, go ahead and run it. As for changing the seal, I'm pretty sure they don't sell the seal seperate anymore. I looked one up recently but with the wear to the housing and the seal leaking, we just replaced the entire pump. I've done plenty on the old style pumps with the plastic housing. The brass pump on the 496 is a pos. You might as well replace the entire pump. The brass wears anyhow, and then you have problems with the computer reading the correct water pressure. They are just problem-matic to begin with.

Depending on which version you have, the earlier version is about 400 bucks, the newer verson is in the mid 5's. The difference is in the backing plate.

 

[purrfecttremor]

Arnt some shops braising the brass housing and remachining them ? I thought arron at absolute told me that a couple or years ago. Thats one poor design by merc.

 

[boatnam2]

extreme marine in elsinore...

 

[Outnumbered]

Arnt some shops braising the brass housing and remachining them ? I thought arron at absolute told me that a couple or years ago. Thats one poor design by merc.

Yep, Absolute did my Ultra 496 that way several years ago. Seemed to work out fine.