Marc (BAM) got a question for you - New Merc 383 ECM
06-29-2023 | 11:57 AM
#11
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From: Central IL
If the engine is under warranty, a merc dealer should be dealing with the issue, if there is an internal issue - you would be wasting your time chasing your tail and it still has to go through merc dealers to get warranty
Trying to figure it out up to a point is natural but your buddy has already paid for the warranty.
+1 on the prop shaft dyno test while hooked to a laptop for diags
Trying to figure it out up to a point is natural but your buddy has already paid for the warranty.
+1 on the prop shaft dyno test while hooked to a laptop for diags
06-29-2023 | 04:05 PM
#12
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In the past with Merc problems that the techs were having an issue with, a master tech direct from Merc was sent to the marina.....how good of a relationship does his dealer have with Merc ( could be part of issue if dealer has tried to exploit warranty in the past - don't know but something to consider)
06-30-2023 | 07:38 AM
#13
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From: Central IL
In the past with Merc problems that the techs were having an issue with, a master tech direct from Merc was sent to the marina.....how good of a relationship does his dealer have with Merc ( could be part of issue if dealer has tried to exploit warranty in the past - don't know but something to consider)
You brought up Merc sending master techs to a marina. I had that happen to me in '99. I had just bought a new boat with a 5.7EFI in it and within maybe 10 hours of owning it after running about 20 minutes or so it would cough, spit and die. Wouldn't restart unless you let it sit about 20 minutes. Of course, the dealer said it is vapor lock. They wanted me to run different gas and tried a bunch of different things including we removed the sunpad/engine cover and ran without it and it still did it. Not the smartest thing to do, but I took out tools and a cup and when it did it I unhooked the fuel line and keyed it on and there was no issue with fuel flow. Finally a Merc guy from WI came down and spent the day on the boat. Finally determined it was an ignition module in the distributer. There was a TSB out for them and my dealer had already checked that but it was like if it had a green stripe it was one of the bad ones but if it has a grey stripe it is good. Something like that. Mine had the stripe that was supposed to be good so they didn't think it was it. Merc guy from WI said heck, I've ran out of all other possible causes so he replaced it and viola, problem solved.
06-30-2023 | 09:00 AM
#14
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I don;t know the players involved nor was I going on the accusative regarding the marina's reputation - just pointing out that there are histories where the client gets left behind.
Unfortunately, any work the tech wants to do is only warranty if Merc approves it - same as every MFG no matter the product....and the second issue is that getting warranty is like dealing with a call center - they read a script and repeat the script until you go away or the problem magically fixes itself or they stumble on the problem. 1 course of action at a time (and only 1) even though everything that resembles common sense screams there is a problem with the engines HP output ( fresh engine more hp, same drive and drop pitch - absolutely a #$%^& answer.
Merc Master Tech's can bypass the step by step limitations as per your experience with the distributor and module. A marina Merc tech wouldn't be reimbursed for time nor parts replacement (= customer full pay on a brand new boat) until they fought after the fact, that the parts resolved the issue and hopefully Merc would come to the table.
Do you know of anywhere there is a prop Dyno? It would be a black and white answer as to what the engine is putting out.... It's July and your buddy's still sitting on a lame duck
Unfortunately, any work the tech wants to do is only warranty if Merc approves it - same as every MFG no matter the product....and the second issue is that getting warranty is like dealing with a call center - they read a script and repeat the script until you go away or the problem magically fixes itself or they stumble on the problem. 1 course of action at a time (and only 1) even though everything that resembles common sense screams there is a problem with the engines HP output ( fresh engine more hp, same drive and drop pitch - absolutely a #$%^& answer.
Merc Master Tech's can bypass the step by step limitations as per your experience with the distributor and module. A marina Merc tech wouldn't be reimbursed for time nor parts replacement (= customer full pay on a brand new boat) until they fought after the fact, that the parts resolved the issue and hopefully Merc would come to the table.
Do you know of anywhere there is a prop Dyno? It would be a black and white answer as to what the engine is putting out.... It's July and your buddy's still sitting on a lame duck
Last edited by speicher lane; 06-30-2023 at 09:04 AM.
06-30-2023 | 09:27 AM
#15
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From: Hudson, IL
I know the owner of the shop personally. He's not one to screw anyone. Honest as the day is long and has been a Merc authorized dealer for years so I have no doubt he is in good standing with them. The issue is his son, who is the Merc certified tech that installed the engine and is trying to troubleshoot it, is having a hard time getting anyone at Merc to assist with/authorize any type of diagnosis/corrective action. Merc just keeps telling the tech the owner has to keep dropping down in prop pitch to get the RPM up. Dumb. My buddy noticed the ECM being for a 6.2L so that is why I posted a question for Marc here hoping he might know if that would make enough of a difference (assuming the 383 has a different calibration) to cause his lack of RPM. I think they need to run it again with the laptop hooked up and look at things like timing, fuel pressure, etc. They did do a compression check yesterday and everything checked out. Has to be something simple that just hasn't been caught yet but nothing is staring the tech that is working on it in the face.
You brought up Merc sending master techs to a marina. I had that happen to me in '99. I had just bought a new boat with a 5.7EFI in it and within maybe 10 hours of owning it after running about 20 minutes or so it would cough, spit and die. Wouldn't restart unless you let it sit about 20 minutes. Of course, the dealer said it is vapor lock. They wanted me to run different gas and tried a bunch of different things including we removed the sunpad/engine cover and ran without it and it still did it. Not the smartest thing to do, but I took out tools and a cup and when it did it I unhooked the fuel line and keyed it on and there was no issue with fuel flow. Finally a Merc guy from WI came down and spent the day on the boat. Finally determined it was an ignition module in the distributer. There was a TSB out for them and my dealer had already checked that but it was like if it had a green stripe it was one of the bad ones but if it has a grey stripe it is good. Something like that. Mine had the stripe that was supposed to be good so they didn't think it was it. Merc guy from WI said heck, I've ran out of all other possible causes so he replaced it and viola, problem solved.
You brought up Merc sending master techs to a marina. I had that happen to me in '99. I had just bought a new boat with a 5.7EFI in it and within maybe 10 hours of owning it after running about 20 minutes or so it would cough, spit and die. Wouldn't restart unless you let it sit about 20 minutes. Of course, the dealer said it is vapor lock. They wanted me to run different gas and tried a bunch of different things including we removed the sunpad/engine cover and ran without it and it still did it. Not the smartest thing to do, but I took out tools and a cup and when it did it I unhooked the fuel line and keyed it on and there was no issue with fuel flow. Finally a Merc guy from WI came down and spent the day on the boat. Finally determined it was an ignition module in the distributer. There was a TSB out for them and my dealer had already checked that but it was like if it had a green stripe it was one of the bad ones but if it has a grey stripe it is good. Something like that. Mine had the stripe that was supposed to be good so they didn't think it was it. Merc guy from WI said heck, I've ran out of all other possible causes so he replaced it and viola, problem solved.
06-30-2023 | 09:44 AM
#16
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Merc sent a bad 383 from the factory through Michigan Motorz and was actually very easy to deal with for warranty. Just showed pictures of the low oil pressure after 2 hours of run time and they sent a replacement, and even paid for labor (the labor was done by me 
)
)
06-30-2023 | 09:47 AM
#17
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From: Central IL
I don;t know the players involved nor was I going on the accusative regarding the marina's reputation - just pointing out that there are histories where the client gets left behind.
Unfortunately, any work the tech wants to do is only warranty if Merc approves it - same as every MFG no matter the product....and the second issue is that getting warranty is like dealing with a call center - they read a script and repeat the script until you go away or the problem magically fixes itself or they stumble on the problem. 1 course of action at a time (and only 1) even though everything that resembles common sense screams there is a problem with the engines HP output ( fresh engine more hp, same drive and drop pitch - absolutely a #$%^& answer.
Merc Master Tech's can bypass the step by step limitations as per your experience with the distributor and module. A marina Merc tech wouldn't be reimbursed for time nor parts replacement (= customer full pay on a brand new boat) until they fought after the fact, that the parts resolved the issue and hopefully Merc would come to the table.
Do you know of anywhere there is a prop Dyno? It would be a black and white answer as to what the engine is putting out.... It's July and your buddy's still sitting on a lame duck
Unfortunately, any work the tech wants to do is only warranty if Merc approves it - same as every MFG no matter the product....and the second issue is that getting warranty is like dealing with a call center - they read a script and repeat the script until you go away or the problem magically fixes itself or they stumble on the problem. 1 course of action at a time (and only 1) even though everything that resembles common sense screams there is a problem with the engines HP output ( fresh engine more hp, same drive and drop pitch - absolutely a #$%^& answer.
Merc Master Tech's can bypass the step by step limitations as per your experience with the distributor and module. A marina Merc tech wouldn't be reimbursed for time nor parts replacement (= customer full pay on a brand new boat) until they fought after the fact, that the parts resolved the issue and hopefully Merc would come to the table.
Do you know of anywhere there is a prop Dyno? It would be a black and white answer as to what the engine is putting out.... It's July and your buddy's still sitting on a lame duck
06-30-2023 | 09:49 AM
#19
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From: Central IL
Merc sent a bad 383 from the factory through Michigan Motorz and was actually very easy to deal with for warranty. Just showed pictures of the low oil pressure after 2 hours of run time and they sent a replacement, and even paid for labor (the labor was done by me )
)
