Play in steering wheels, 02 x-star, Anyone had this problem?

Norcalz71 · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 24 City: Benicia/SLO

so I havent ridden in it yet, but my dad said one of the only current problems with our new to us x-star is the steering pretty loose, it has i would say 20-30 degrees of play in the wheel before it picks up....NOT cool. Anyways i guess my dad said the guys at the dealer said it is a fairly common issue and that its with the rack and pinion, but that the full rack/pinion/cable assembly is one whole unit to replace which is about $200 and the labor to install is about $200. For fixing the steering, it is definitely worth it, but has anyone else run into this problem? and if so, how did you go about fixing it? we could easily do the replacement ourselves its just re-running the cable that i guess is challenging, and not something we would care to maybe screw up.

thanks

jhilly8982 · Addict Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 782 City: Northville

i haven't paid too much attention, but i recall there is 'play' in alot of inboard boats to the right

Chattwake · Posted: Jun 18, 2007 5:02 am Post subject:

I had an 01, and I never noticed an issue with stearing. However, I would heavily advise you to PULL YOUR PLUG each and every time you get this thing out of the water and ALWAYS leave your bilge on the "auto" setting. I had some water build up in the front of my 01 one time after a rain. I didn't pull the plug at the time, and my bilge was not set on auto. When we went out to ride I filled the ballast and took off with a rider. The water in my bilge rushed to the back of the boat and over the transmission, which on your year model boat, has a vent on the side. Water got sucket into the tranny and blew my tranny seal. (now I'm not talking about all that much water in my bilge, just an inch maybe). Unfortunately, the only way to replace the seal is to pull the tranny from the block. $$$$$

I loved my xstar and I'm sure you will too. Just make sure you don't ever let water build up in your bilge. You should ask about the redesigned tranny vent MC has to rectify this problem.

biglouie · Outlaw Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 135

02lightning, Wow, never heard that before? I should be concerned seeing I have that boat and it seems to take on some water. I do always pull the plugs. Isn't the transmission in front of the engine, I don't get how that could happen unless you had a lot of water in the boat?
Norcalz71, I have just the opposit problem. Steering too tight! I've read that a corroded steering cable is very common in this boat too. I'm in the process of replacing mine right now and running into some problems. Another good reason to pull the plugs after each use and keep the steering assembly lubricated well.

Chattwake · Posted: Jun 18, 2007 8:40 am Post subject:

With that model xstar, water tends to build up in the front of the boat, and when you take off with the ballast full, you know how high the nose gets before you get on plane. All of the water rushes back at the same time and washes over the front of the tranny. Pull your rear seat and the black plastic container underneath it and you'll see how low the tranny sits. I loved my xstar, but by the time I traded it in, it had a new tranny in it, new alternator, new perfect pass control module, all new ballast pumps, new water pump, new bilge pump, and a new interrior - all under warranty. I never abused my boat, and I had two other friends who had the exact same issues with their 01 and 02 xtar and x30. My boat wasn't even supposed to be warrantied, but I raised so much hell after finding out about so many others having the same problems that they took it in and fixed it.