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I have a 1996 Bayliner with a MCM 4.3 LX Alpha One with serial number OF605228 that has a power steering leakFirst issue: I found the leak was it the cooler inlet (hose from control valve to cooler). It was leaking at the cooler fitting. Steps taken to fix:1) Found the hose had a crack in it at the fitting. Cut the bad part off and reattached. It ran ok in the yard with water hooked up to it but when I drove it "harder" on the lake, the leak developed again.2) Found hose was cracked again - tried the same as above but same problem developed again.3) Bought a new hose from control valve to cooler. Replaced. Ran in yard - ok. Drove on lake, developed leak again (hose did have crack it again).4) Took off cooler and looked at it. Barb was a little corrodid and a bump of solder was on it. Filed solder down and cleaned up corrosion to show shiney brass. Applied gasket sealer to it and reattaced the hose and waited 30 hours for gasket sealer to cure. Tried in yard - ok. Drove for 4 minutes on the lake and the hose blew off at the same location.Now I think it may be the cooler is plugged a little. Blew on the bard for the power steering hose and felt some restriction in the airflow.Could this be the problem or is there any thing else I should check?Issue two: I went to order a new cooler from Mercury. On boats.net, I found the part number was 807292T. I called my local marine shop and they said the replacement # XXXXX XXXXX When I searched the internet for this number, the photo looks nothing like the part I have. After additional searching, part number 99356A2 looks like the cooler I have. Do you know why there is this confusion? Does my boat have the wrong cooler (i bought the boat used) and that why I am having the problem? All schematics that I have viewed show a sketch similar to the part I have though.Please help!
Optional Information: Make (of engine): Mercuriser Model (of engine): 4.3 LX Alpha 1 Year: 1996 Already Tried: See previous comments
Hello,where does the cooler mount on your engine,behind the engine on top or on the side of the engine near the motor mount?Capt Ron
Underneath the motor mount on side of engine
The 99356A2,would be the right cooler,they had different coolers for the engines and it can be hard sometimes to get the right one,and sometimes when a manufacture installs an engine,it could be 1-2 years older then the boat,leftover engines,still new just a leftover.Hope this helped.Capt Ron
Do you feel the cooler may plugged a little bit and causing the cracking of the hoses / blowing the hose off?
when you ran it in the yard,did you turn the steering wheel and work the power steering or just let it run.
I turned the steering wheel back and forth several times in the yard, but at low RPM's (3-4 minutes). No leaks. On the lake, I was running at higher RPM's and turning it hard back and forth.
What type of hose did you use to replace power steering hose,have you had the cooler checked?
New OEM Mercruiser part #806221 42. There is a fitting on one end (control valve), and hose clamp on the other (cooler).
the cooler could be bad,i would have it tested,most radiator repair shops can test the cooler,if it test ok,it could be the power steering pump or the control valve
Is there anyway you can tell if the pump or valve is bad. If one of them were bad, why would it continually leak at the cooler
there is no test for the pump or valve,if one were building to much pressure it would cause a leak,it is most likely the cooler
Experience: 30+ yrs. exp. Own a mobile marine shop in SW Florida
The cooler was the issue. Thank you for your help