Hot water on bilge - spare blue plug

[Nando23]

Getting tons of hot water on the bilge of my 2016 G21 after de-winterizing. Pouring from hole beneath the batteries. Obviously I missed a socket. I installed 9 blue plugs (as per PCM manual) but have two left (instead of one) I suspect the one left is heater but cant find a socket. Help appreciated!

[NautiqueJeff]

Heater does not use a plug. The two red hoses need to be reconnected on the right rear of the engine (when facing the rear).

If you have two plugs left over, you missed a plug though. Just start the engine and watch where the water comes out and install the plug. The one at the bottom of the transmission would be an easy one to miss. You can't see it, and you have to reach way down in the little compartment under the rear seat to get to it.

[Nando23]

Thanks Jeff. I didnt disconect the heater hoses. Wonder if the exchange got damaged with cold. Cant find a way to access it. Btw, theres no water coming out of the engine and yes, got the vdrive plug in.

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[Nando23]

Funny that the PCM manual doesnt mention the heaters in winterization. Cant believe CC wouldnt do a better job given how much we pay for these...

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[NautiqueJeff]

If you didn't drain the heater, that's almost certainly the source. The heater core is under the dash I believe, and that's usually the first thing to freeze. Still odd that you have two extra plugs though. Normally you would only have one spare.

It wouldn't be in the PCM manual because the heater is not a PCM product. It is added at Nautique.

The 2016 Nautique owner's manual does have instructions on page 9-4 for winterizing the heater, although I think they made a mistake when listing it as for closed-cooled engines only. Closed-cooled engines have antifreeze running through the heater, and those heaters do NOT have to be winterized. It is the raw water cooled engines that need to have the heater winterized.

[Nando23]

Thanks Jeff. Yes, this is confirming my fears and frustration... will try to find the heater core. Or better; call a mechanic

[Nando23]

Funny thing is; why would the hot water come from the aft if the source is below the dash? Unless there's some hidden drain compartment under the bilge... mystery continues

[charlesml3]

Funny thing is; why would the hot water come from the aft if the source is below the dash? Unless there's some hidden drain compartment under the bilge... mystery continues

The source isn't below the dash. The source is from the engine. It exits the engine through one tube, goes up and through the heater core and then back to the engine through another pipe. Sounds to me like the pipe going TO the heater core is connected, but the one coming FROM isn't.

-Charles

[Nando23]

Thanks Charles. I will check but I think both hoses are connected. I was just in the phone with a mechanic who suggested I pinch the hoses with pliers and check. If no water on the bilge then the core is damaged.

[NautiqueJeff]

A short-term fix would also be to buy a short piece of the proper size hose and just run that hose between the two connections on the engine, eliminating the run to the heater core. That won't hurt anything, you just won't have use of the heater.

[Nando23]

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[Nando23]

Bingo!

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[NautiqueJeff]

That'll do it!

[sarasetp]

Nando23 , is all fixed now? I hope so. Sorry I couldn't be of more help when we were launching the day I saw you at the boat launch trying to figure out your issue. I was the one pulled up next to you in the Black and Red G23. I hope to see you soon on Lake Samm. PM me when you go out. It is always great to know other local Nautique owners.