Mercruiser Bashing
 

Anyone have any pointers for bashing Mercruiser or getting them to jump on an issue to get it resolved ASAP? :confused:

Nope :)

State Consumer Affairs Board (or whatever) of Wisconsin?

If they were smart, bashing them on OSO should get their attention... :eek:

What's the problem? pq should handle it

What is the matter, maybe it can be resolved in a proper manner, I think I can help, Marc

Need to know the problem so maybe we can fix it with Mercruiser. You get more with sugar than you do with salt. If it is a legitimate gripe Ill go to bat for YA! :D

Thanks to all for your posts. Anything that anyone can do or advice that they can give to help me would greatly be appreciated.

Please read my other post that details all of the engine issues: http://207.55.218.179/cgidir/ubbcgi/...c&f=3&t=003399

(listed under Tech Q&A as Merc 496 HO - trouble with new technology)

Thanks :)

I read you long winded story.First off it is the boat manufactures duty and the delivering dealers duty to sea trial the boat even before you step one foot in it. You would have saved yourself alot of embarrasment and stress if they would have done there job correctly. Which by the way has nothing to do with the BIG DOG. How many 496 engines have the technitians worked on before working on your problem I guess not many becaues they did not have the right test equipment. It takes time for the technitians in the field to learn the troubleshooting techniques on new product and it sounds like yours was the first lesson. Sorry Can't go to bat for Ya on this one. :(

What goodfella is saying in his long winded reply is pull those engines out and put some carb motors in there with TRS drives. Right Goodfella :p :p :p :p

Seriously if I ever treated my customers like that I would not assume to be in business long. I have a projector with a defective chip in it. Well two days later I am still trying to find a solution for the customer so that he can watch that Pats game on Sunday. Guess were I will be if I have to set up the projector for him to watch the game on Sunday. That is the way it is sapposed to be. I do not feel bad for you that you are having the problems that is part of dealing with these hugely complicated machines. However to spend all that money and have the dealer and PQ blow you off.... Well that makes me feel bad for you. Sorry man hope you get it all straitened out, but like Goodfella said you have to get that thing to a certified Merc guy that KNOWS those engines and have him go through them both.

Jon

Goodfella

What would it take to get someone to "go to bat for me"? :confused:

did someone say BAT>. Iv'e got the BAT... let me at em' :D :D :D :eek:

Since these engines are so new, how many techs are supposed to be exposed/experienced to the troubleshooting techniques??? After all, these engines have only been around for a year and they shouldn't have that many problems in that time frame (or should I expect chit from this and every other American manufacturer?)!
I guess I already know the answer to that and it's also why I don't buy piece of chit American cars anymore. I wish BMW and others would make high power marine engines. I would be first on their list!

Hey good luck sounds like you have as much fun with your dealer as I did with mine. My resolve was to bypass dealers, go straight to manufacture in Person. I would say go straight to powerquest and let them deal with mercruiser. Also right a letter to mercruiser saying how disapointed you are in your dealer and how they do not represent the company very well. Thats what I did. :)
Even though I had no engine troubles, it was an excuse to bash the dealer.

I am really having a hard time getting the support from either the dealer or manufacturer. I get some "reassuring emails" saying to keep them informed but NO ONE has offered to pick up the phone or deal with this problem that I feel should. I certainly have called Merc and they say the tech has not involved them enough.... What do you do when they say that?

I would tell them excatly how many times you contacted them and excatly how many times you contacted the dealer/tech. If they do not respond and agree to take care of the situation within 48 hours that you will be calling the better business bureau, the NMMA, and the media, as well as the internet.

GOOD LUCK!

PQV does this engine run only at idle? does it puck when it hits around 3500rpm? if you let it sit for awhile does it start right upand run fine at idle?
I have seen a couple of these engines that run just like this and it was a screen in the front of the fuel boost pump(behind fuel filter)that gets clooged full of crap out of your fuel tank. this screen is like microfine and looks like a hair will clog it.
new fuel boost pump is around $120.00 and might cure your problem. as for the black on the transom thats most likly from the break in oil in the cylinders. my buddy just got his new boat with a 496ho and that thing left the transom black the first two times we ran his boat after that it cleared up .

[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: MERC575 ]

Merc 575 says:
"PQV does this engine run only at idle? does it puck when it hits around 3500rpm? if you let it sit for awhile does it start right upand run fine at idle?"

Engine idles fine but when it is fully warmed up (170F) it will miss badly at 3000+ RPM. Once failing when trying to get on plane it will not restart until it cools down and sits for about 45 minutes. Then it will restart but it will run poorly at thee 3000+ RPM. Also, when above 3k there is a alarm beep at 1 second intervals in conjunction with the rough running.

As far as the black soot, the stbd engine does not do it and it has been run more because I've had to limp back to port on one engine.

Thanks for the feedback. I will pass it on to the tech.

PQVyper:

Read your e-mail.

David

Audiofn,
You know how to push my buttons don't YA! :p
You tell me you want to discuss that issue via phone and I even give you a 800 # to use and you still don't call becaues you know you are gonna WEAR IT! Anyway Mr. PQVyper340
needs to get the boat to a competant certified Mercruiser technitian that has experiance with those great running 496 engines and end this ordeal. THE RIGHT TECH WILL SOLVE ALL OF HIS PROBLEMS! I have been
to more than a dozen Chevrolet dealers with my Z06 Vette and I finally found one tech that is THE MAN! He needs to do the same.

WHERE IS YOUR DEALER?when we sell a boat,new or used,we always offer to do a delivery test drive.with a new boat this is even more important than with a used.this boat was not prepped or serviced by the selling dealer prior to you taking delivery.that is so WRONG.i have delivered several hundred boats,new and used,over the past 12 years.we try to test each one prior to the new owner taking delivery.i have had boats quit running two miles from the dock,had them run out of gas showing 1/2 tank,had drives fail,engines blow up,boats jump forward when shifted into reverse,hydrolic steering turn backwards,or just leak all the fluid out.two new boats that i drove for the first time caught fire.a couple almost sank.the dealer should have prepped this boat,and made sure it was seaworthy and safe before he turned you loose with it.even if you are one of those customers who wont let anyone drive your boat,he should have prepped it and checked it out,and went with you the first time out.anything can go wrong with any kind of machine,if your dealer had done his job then the worst that would have happened was you would have gotten a phone call telling you that there was a problem with one engine,and they would fix it as soon as possible.these new engines are hy tech,and have had a couple of minor glitchs,but they are easily fixed by COMPATANT techs.our merc rep in this area bends over backwards to help out with problems like this.we put some of the first 496ho's made out on the water and had an alarm problem with one.we had the adaptors for the ddt on order,but he went ahead and overnighted them for us no charge to get the customer back on the water.i think that the only real complaint here should be with the dealer,not with mercruiser.

PQViper you got mail!!

Mercruiser does specify what tools are required for the dealer to carry, specifically if he is a Platinium dealer, before an engine hits the market, lord smartcraft **** was pre 2001, I think Merc should know which kind of service their respective dealers are offering, they are aiming to make it like the automotive industry, and unfortunately they do not install their own engines nor drives and hope the mfg/ dealer do their respective duties, what decent rigger would let a boat go ANYWHERE without running it, I am sorry to say that a lot of dealers today do not give a hoot about your boat after they have gotten your $$$$$$$$$$$$$. I do not believe Merc is to blame in any way, even if the motor or electrical system was defective, with good communication between dealer and mfg, something would have been done yesterday!!, My .02 cents, from experience :mad: :mad:

Thanks for the replies everyone. Special thanks to the offers to help behind the scenes! The techs think they have the issue solved and will prove that theory today when the part comes in (another new crank position sensor). If that does not work I will certainly be calling on those who offered.

Thanks again... gotta luv OSO and the "brotherhood" that has been created around our style of boating!!! :D

Sounds great PQ, Look forward to the good news and winter boat sodas with you this weekend. Lets see, HRPA birthday party Friday, Super Bowl on Sunday and The ST. Judes Poker Run planning meeting on Monday. I forgot, what we are doing on Saturday? Hope it works. A bad Crank Sensor is not a good thing. Good Luck,

Saturday,
Were gonna drill holes in my boat, than the transom needs waxing. After that I think Scooter needs to take us out for a boat ride!
;)

http://207.55.218.179/cgidir/ubbcgi/...c&f=3&t=003399

Problem resolved with new crank position indicator sensor.

I am happy to hear that a Tech that new his **** put the pleasure back in pleasure boating for YA! Good luck on the rest of your season. :)

Goodfella I will be calling you after the Superbowl when things slow down a bit. I have been on line this am downloading stuff for work, but have not been able to get a phone call out to ya. One of these days!!! Well at leaste I am making money :D :D :D

Bill, I may wax again but the paybacks are coming!!!