alarm going off on boat..

Was out in my 02 X-star yesterday. As always, when I start the boat I lift the engine cover to listen to the engine then crawl back there and check to make sure everything is looking OK. Took off from the dock, went about a mile then a steady alarm was going off. Gauges looked fine, temp gauge fine. I opened the hatch as the boat is idleing and a fine spray is coming from the impeller cover. The gasket was pushed out a bit. I check the screws and one of the screws backed out. I shut the boat down, realigned the gasket and tightened down the impeller cover screws and the boat ran fine. I guess I didn't tighten them down good enough this spring when changing the impeller. I kept reading on here "make sure you don't overtighten them or they will snap". Guess I was a little gun shy. What caused the motor to sense this? Was water getting somewhere where it shouldn't have. I noticed the belt got wet and was squeaking, could it detect the belt slipping? I'm just curious as to what triggered the alarm exactly. Thanks.

I have an 04 X2 old X-star and my belt slips a little and makes little squeak every now and then but my alarm doesn't go off. The only time my alarm has gone off was when i was installing my system and had everything runnning off one battery. The battery would get low and set the alarm off, but i wired another battery and alarm hasn't gone off since. So to answer your question i don't think it would be the belt slipping that set it off

It was probably overheating and telling you to check your cooling system. It could also have a water psi sender somewhere? I don't trust gauges tha much.

(Message edited by Olskooltige on June 14, 2007)

Like I said, the temp wasn't normal, a little under 160. The engine compartment did seem pretty warm though..maybe the gauge isn't accurate.

Possible the gage and alarm uses different sensors. Gage may have been reading low because water was not getting to it.