Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I have HUGE PROBLEMS NOW! I just bought my 94 29' Fountain as some of you know (and some don't) about 3 weeks ago. I put about 15 hours on it. Now I have a huge problem.........

I had the boat ready to go out for the 4th weekend on Friday and I headed out for the weekend. It was a bit colder out on Friday and the boat was running differently. At first I paid no attention to it as I thought maybe the temperature was the reason. I also posted in another thread about one of my engines not wanting to idle right at low RPM's which it was still doing.. but I didn't think it was a MAJOR ISSUE.

Anway I fueled up, and left the dock for about an hour to an hour and a half destination, and on my way I went. I had 2 of my uncles with me and we took off going about 50-55mph.....I got into a channel where the water was real calm so I gave it some more throttle and the engines weren't responding like they usually did..... I just backed it down and stayed at 55.......I was watching the guages and I noticed that my starboard engine water pressure was through the roof.......my guage was burrying 60psi.....then I was listening to the engines and something definitely sounded different......I guess I would describe the sound as somewhat like metal rubbing ....not loud just faintly........we were also smelling something at this point so... I shut her down to take a look under the hatch...........unreal.........I saw smoke coming out of the air breather/filter on the Starboard Engine.......not the Port where the water pressure was 60 so I was shocked. I'm no mechanic by any means so I didn't know what that means. I wanted to see what would happen when I tried to turn it over, so I did and it was turning but VERY VERY SLOWLY like it didn't want to turn over almost as if my battery was dead...........however it did fire up........then it stalled....I did it again, and it started again but this time when it did stall it made a VERY BAD NOISE as if it siezed up, I could hear metal for sure..........not a knocking but more like a metal clanging...........at this point I said, that's it for that I'm not going to try and start it again.........I had to drive 30 miles back to my house on one engine at about 8 miles an hour..........not good.........not good at all. Probably the worst night of my life............
To me I think the engine is blown and seized up.......again I'm not a mechanic so I really don't know what the problem is.
Which leads me to my real problem. I bought the boat "as is" no warranty...........however it was bought from a very very reputable dealer........I'm thinking I'm totally on my own with this one but some people say the dealer should fix it. I don't know if there is a law that says I have a number days if something goes wrong and the dealer would be responsible (like the Lemon Law) or if I'm really screwed here and it's totallly on me. Does anyone know if I have a leg to stand on? That's really it...........I think I'm going to go puke now............AGAIN! :mad:

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I would not count on the dealer handling it free. Mine did the same exact thing, no power, kept running, suht off, restarted fine, shut off agian, restarted - bang thunk. I ended up with a couple of valves in the combustion chamber. New head, pistons and $6,500 later things are back to normal. I did not have the water pressure problem but everything you said was exactly how mine went. Sorry about your problem but the more time you spend haggling about the $$$ the longer the boat is out of the water. You may be able to have the dealer pay for some but dont count on it. :(

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

P.S. I would reccomend, Art Cook. He is on Harsens Island but he can take care of your re-rigging and engine work better than most. Sterling send customers to him for warranty work ect... (810) 748-8944

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

sounds to be like you learned the hard way about the Fountain Water pressure problems. My boat is at the me ch. right now getting pressure relief valves installed. from what i have heard you don't need much more than 15psi of water pressure to run the boat....I wish you the best and check into the relief valves in my oponin it is good insurance...BZ

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I wonder if your water psi gauges are swaped at the dash indicating the wrong engine......

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Hows the engine oil look? Hopeing for your sake its the upper drive instead of the engine.... cheaper to fix but sux either way :(

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

there was no water at all in my oil. I honestly thought the engine I drove home on was going to be the problem, because of that water pressure guage however maybe because the other engine wasn't working correctly it threw the Port side out of whack.......what the hell do I know. I'm just disgusted by all of it. I guess I should have bought new......... :mad:

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

sux man :( :( :(

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Nothing to do with Fountain, that's a Merc problem. Fountain just installs WP gauges as a standard, so we are more likely to notice it than the other makes that do not install pressure gauges.


Sorry about your problems DR. Run it past the dealer. Who knows, they just might help ya out. But remember, you did buy and understand it was an As-is, no warranty purchase.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

just saw your thread but don't know what you bought -

what engines are in the 29 ?

also -- this is a copy from your post of what you said --

".........I was watching the guages and I noticed that my starboard engine water pressure was through the roof.......my guage was burrying 60psi.....then I was listening to the engines and something definitely sounded different......I guess I would describe the sound as somewhat like metal rubbing ....not loud just faintly........we were also smelling something at this point so I shut her down to take a look under the hatch...........unreal.........I saw smoke coming out of the air breather/filter on the Starboard Engine.......not the Port where the water pressure was 60 so I was shocked..........."

I assume the high water pressure was indeed on the opposite motor -- but just wanted to check

Its a ***** to do, but i would crawl in there and pull each of your spark plugs. Number 1 cylinder is the left front -- 1, 3, 5, 7 are on the left side going back -- 2, 4, 6, 8 are on the right side going back --

pull the plugs then let us know what they look like (exactly) -- you may have to look very closely to see anything different or wrong -- for instance, if you were running really lean at mid-range throttle (which is very possible), you may have had some detonation and you will see little tiny metallic balls of aluminum stuck to your spark plug -- use a magnifying glass if needed --

anyhow - it may not be that, but pull the plugs and report back

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I have 502 EFI's.............it's at the dealer..........they are checking it out !

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Let us know what they say --

By the way -- did you happen to feel the exhaust risers when you raised the hatch that day, to see if one motor was HOT ??

when you have a water pump fail, the exhaust gets really hot quick - a simple check is to touch the risers (Briefly!!) -- when you have 2 motors, you can compare temps. and tell immediately if one is acting up.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

New does not mean "no problems.".

I got a "great deal" on my boat because the factory mis-installed the engines, and the dealer never figured out the problem. The original owner got sick of getting stranded, and bailed (traded in on a different kind of boat). At 3.5 years old, I bought the boat for 30% the new price.

Only after taking the boat to Teague, and having the engines pulled, and pouring about $25000 into it, is the boat finally pretty reliable.

There is still a problem: the wiring from the dash to the trim and exhast cut-outs is too small guage, and so I burn up the trim pumps and cut-out solenoids all the time. So, the next BIG CHECK is going to fix yet another from-the-factory blunder.

So, I may not have such a great deal after all. But at least I really, really understand the issues.

I tried to buy a new boat from the factory with all the things fixed that were wrong with this boat, and the factory simply and rudely REFUSED.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Risers weren't HOT........Well they are pulling the engine out...........they THINK it's a blown head gasket and possibly an unseated valve........he said it was taking water in the cylinder. I can only imagine what they will find once it's apart..............I still don't know who's paying for it...........I'm assuming they will take care of it, I have my fingers crossed ! We'll see.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I would not waste the time crossing your finger. I would be very suprised the dealer will pay. If this problem happened within the first hr or 2, I would say maybe. AFTER 15 hrs, not a chance.

If by the small chance he does I would make a BIG thread saying so & giving his name because he went way, way, way above & beyond.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Well maybe all you have is a blown gasket -- that could give you the high water pressure reading you mentioned if indeed it was the same engine -- are they taking the Starboard engine apart ??

Also, I had an intercooler start leaking water into my motor, and had the same issue trying to turn the engine over -- turned over really slow even with plugs out - No oil on cylinder walls -- so the head gasket may be it.


When you get all done with this, you might ask the dealer to verify that the water pressure lines off the motors are going to the correct gauges -- he can pull the line off the Port engine probably easiest, then blow some air in it while somebody watches the left side gauge.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Well I'm not "wasting my time crossing my fingers" believe me if they try and charge me one cent my attorney will be handling this........I'm done screwing around with it for sure. I don't care if I had 2 hours or 15 hours this engine wasn't right from day one.......you don't just blow gaskets on a whim.....there was something wrong when I bought it... bottom line. Believe me they can keep it and I'll unwind the financing through my attorney, I'm not getting screwed on this deal .....noway no how!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Oh yeah and two pistons are fried to now after taking it apart ....one on each side of the block.........amazing..........I just feel like I was ripped off to be honest with you......very disappointing to say the least! :mad:

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

That sucks ! But, I think you got more hours than I did out of your engines....Block,Crank,Pistons...All junk on mine.. Piss poor engine builder..maybe 7 hrs.....As Is....My problem :mad:

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Well we agreed to disagree............the motor is toast..........my options were to rebuild it or get a re-manufactured engine installed. It would cost me $5200 for the rebuild .......or $8500 for the re-man with a year warranty.................I'm going with the re-man ........and they are splitting the cost ! Not too bad I guess...........could of been worse..........good news is, it I will be back in the water next week! :D

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

they are splitting a 502 reman with you for $8500?

check www.1800runsnew.com, new 502's are $5900

will you be keeping your old block?

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

No it's a new block........what they told me was..... these are new engines that were sent back to merc out of new boats that had problems and then were fixed and then resold.......it could of been something minor with the engine or a big problem I guess but it was fixed by them and sold as re manufactured........that's what I was told...........I have no clue what to believe...........I guess $8500 is for the whole job..........pulling the old one out.......they tore it apart.........and putting the new one in and getting back to running order..........what the hell do I know?.........I'm probably getting hosed one way or the other........the only option for me to avoid this would be to take the boat away from them and handling it myself but considering that it's apart and there already I'm kinda screwed.........I'm really out of options at this point and sick of being land locked...........I knew the day it blew it would come down to me bending over and taking it in the tailpipe and of course it's happening! I called my attorney and he said I'm screwed and they don't have to do anything. So that's where it's at........am I happy? HELL NO! Is there any other options.............doesn't look like it either! What can I do? :cool:

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Strange probably you would have the lowest price and saying i need now warranty i take the boat like she stands there, now she is broken you say you get screwed. go buy a bicycle so you can afford warranty!!!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Easy there Baja Bubba....... tough guy.......I'm not going to come on here going back and forth with you so read your PM if you can read!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Your lawyer is right !.....This worked out better for you than I would have thought...I know it doesnt seem like it tho !

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Yeah unfortunately there isn't a damn thing I could do about it..........when I found that out I changed my tune.........the owner of the dealership felt bad about it but hey it wasn't his fault.........it wasn't my fault and sheeeit happens.......so I'm ok with it now.........I just want to get back in the water........chalk it up as lesson learned and move on !

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

DR,
I know you don't feel good about this deal, and I think most of us understand why you feel this way. But, when you look at parts, labor and shop fees, you're really not getting a bad deal at all for the complete job. Fact is, it sounds like your dealer really is going above and beyond to take care of you. You may not feel so lucky now, but many marine dealers and service shops would have told you to take a hike.
Actually, I'd like to know the name of the dealer. Just my opinion, but I think they deserve a little bit of Kudos for making an honest effort to take care of a customer in a bad luck situation.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I agree with Gordo, And I'm in Michigan. Give these guys some free advertising. An 11 year old used boat is "as is" As a business owner, these guys really stepped to the plate. See my beware eagle trailer thread in the truck and trailer section to see how it usually goes. Maybe I'll see you on st. clair. By the way I had a 220hr. hp500 lunch by no fault of mine, think merc. bought me a knew one? Not, and it was three years old. That one took a while to digest. It may not seem like it now, but you did well. JC

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I will give them props once the job is completed and everything is taken care of !! At that point I will blast their names and contact points for everyone to see!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

UPDATE:

Well it's a month and a half now and I still have problems. It's been one damn thing after another and I have no one to blame but myself. I waaay overpaid and didn't do enough homework... I wish I would have found this site prior to buying. I'm very frustrated and very pissed off. So here's the story:

I bought the boat.........less than 15 hours on it and only had it about 2 weeks.....blown an engine........NO WARRANTY..........(another stupid move on behalf)....dealership agrees to cover half the expense....fine.....engine takes over 2 weeks getting there.....finally arrives.......get the boat back......on 8/1....running great........great for about a 1/2 hour......engine won't idle.......stalls.......won't start......boat was waaaaaaaaaay out of time.......genius mechanic comes out to take a look..........says the distrubutor turned because a clamp was loose..........great no biggie.......go back out.....SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN.......clamp loose again you ask? ME TOO! NOT.......NOT EVEN CLOSE.......mechanic comes back out next day...........drives the boat back to the dealer.......he runs out of gas.......they come and pick up my trailer to get the boat out at the nearest dock! GREAT!

Next thing.......they call and say well it's fixed and it turns out it was a bad ROTOR...........he's on his way to your house on the boat because he's test driving it..........(well halfway out of the canal he cracks another rotor but I didn't know it yet) at this time I'm saying where the hell is this guy......finally I call and they tell me the good news............cracking rotors......they're baffled.......they pull the engine AGAIN! They call me and say it has a CRACKED BLOCK......WTF........a new engine with a cracked block? WOW.........I can't stand it anymore.........now they have to order another engine and wait till it comes........this time the motor was coming from Wisconsin I guess so it wouldn't take as long........they got the engine on 8/9......they get it all put back together and guess what? WOW..........you won't believe this........it keeps jumping time.......HELLO...........BAD DISTRIBUTOR............WOW I'M DYING NOW............I had suggested this a motor ago and they said no it's not the distributor...........anyway what the hell do I know.........new distributor now installed............they put the engine back together and installed it and it runs great got the boat on 8/12...........finally right?

NOT............now I get the boat home......it's running great.......until the other day...........dead batteries........BOTH OF THEM.........UNFRICKENBELIEVABLE! Now I'm thinking how in the hell can BOTH Batteries be dead at the same time......can't happen.........batteries won't jump from a jump box......ok now I have to pull the batteries out and look at the cells.........the batteries looked like they we from 94 when the boat was built so I had to investigate.........the batteries were so old that they were the old style non-sealed, add water type of batteries.........so I popped the lids off them and sure enough bone dry.......the cells looked dead and wouldn't hold a charge.........both of them..........I thought ok they are old so that's expected..........off to the autoparts I went on Sunday.......bought two brand new sealed AC Delcos'........problem solved right.........HARDLY.........or at least I think so at the time..............

Go out on Sunday after the new batteries are installed, running great.....everything's cool.........get back to the dock.....no problem..........everythings looking up now......I can enjoy the rest of the summer .......well what's left of it anyway.........OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT..........Monday......afterwork me and the little lady load up the cooler for a late afternoon run........get 5 houses from my dock........new engine.......OVERHEATS......SMOKING......the warning beep going off the whole nine yards..........UNREAL........turn around...back to my house to put it on the hoist.........call the service manager on his cell afterhours..........I can't believe this........................mechanic comes out on Tuesday........impeller is shredded..........this could of happened to anyone I guess........but none the less it was shot........new impeller and labor another $250........ok great........back in action..............Wed Night go out for a test run to make sure no overheating..........with success no problems...............UNTIL TODAY.............I go out to cover the boat.......I decide to start her up for the hell of it.......and guess what???.............DEAD FRIGGIN BATTERIES..........BOTH OF THEM............BRAND NEW......BOTH DEAD..........nothing was left on.......there is nothing running...........nothing at all. I call the dealer AGAIN........Mechanic will be here in the morning..........and that brings everyone up to date in the on going saga of hell that I live everyday since I bought this boat.

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.............I'M READY TO PACK IT IN GUYS! Anyone want to buy this PIECE OF SHEEIT? Yeah right who would.....I'm totally screwed on this boat! It's one thing after another and it seems it will NEVER END!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

And to think that I almost put a couple of .45 slugs in mine because someone yanked the safety cord without me noticing ..

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

[QUOTE=bubba]Strange probably you would have the lowest price and saying i need now warranty i take the boat like she stands there, now she is broken you say you get screwed. go buy a bicycle so you can afford warranty!!![/QUO

WTF
Where did that come from??

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Dago - sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. Hang in there. I bought my 2000 38' from a very very reputable dealer and then blew an engine with only 13 hours after purchase (only 158 total) and had to rebuild both. I was lucky to find a good local mechanic through some guys on this board (thanks Tyson and thanks OSO!!!!) and have been up and running since 7/11. However, I lost from the first day of Memorial weekend until mid July (which is pretty much half of lake season here in OK). I wouldn't second guess your decision to buy used, not only does it just piss you off (or at least it did for me), but you wouldn't have been able to get anything close to a similar boat for the same money if you bought new. At least I know I couldn't afford a new 38' when I got mine (almost twice as much). I know it's frustrating as HELL, but hang in there and things will eventually work out. And hopefully it helps to know you're not alone.

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Id insure that thing to the max and drill a BIG hole in the bottom in DEEEEEP water

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I hear ya man!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

AND I REALLY HEAR YOU MAN! THAT WAS MY NEXT LOGICAL MOVE!

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better :( :(

obviously you have something making a HUGE drain on the battery......that shouldnt be too hard to find........at least its not another blown motor.......hang in there buddy!!!!

you may want start a thread in the tech Q&A section about what could flatten two brand new batteries like that........theres some pretty sharp guys around here.........someones probably been through it............doug
it will help you keep your mechanic honest too.....

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Well the mechanic came out today and says there's nothing draining the battery !!!! WOW......how can that be ?

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Do you have a Halon system in the boat? The fire extinguishers stay hot as long as the battery is connected! You may have to install a couple of isolation switches, that way you know nothing in the boat has power available!! You have had one HECK of a time with this boat, but dont give up. Get it straight, and you will enjoy the time in the boat that much more.

David

Re: Big Big Problems......need Advice!
 

Dago,
I have had this problem once and it turned out to be that the switch for the seat was stuch and was trying to operate seat that was already up. Just make sure that you do not have a switch that hangs occassionally.
Allen