Mercury blown motor - thoughts?
Good morning,
Purchased a new mercury motor and bravo 3 leg just after Christmas last year.
Motor and leg went in for it's first routine inspection, after using the motor for less than 2 hours it started making a grinding noise above 3k RPM which cut short a 5 day fishing trip, it was struggling to even maintaine a crusing speed without throwing up fault codes and going into limp mode.
Motor now has a mechanical noise which sounds like it is coming from the top end, also still makes a grinding noise under power.
Boat has since been at the dealer for over 5 months now while they test and replace parts to see what and how it failed, is this acceptable for a brand new motor, i still do not have a final outcome on replacing the motor. I understand they need to see what failed and what caused it to fail, this still doesn't change the fact there is a considerable mechanical noise.. The dealer pulled out 9.5 litres of mixed fuel/oil out of the block..
I wont even go down the road of still waiting on my brand new duo props that were supposed to come with the brand new bravo 3. Instead i have been stuck with the second hand props that are dented and well used this whole time, even after multiple calls and emails which ended up with Mercury getting involved.
in short, is 5 months an acceptable timeframe to testing a motor that probably has lifter and bearing failure?
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18025
Date Joined: 11/03/08
5 months is a joke. If they
5 months is a joke. If they were serious about it you would have known within a month. Go straight to the top and complain about the service you are getting
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
i would go to Mercury
i would go to Mercury Australia, outline what has happened and ask them for an outcome. The dealers go through a lot of "effort" to get a mercury (or honda, yamaha etc) dealership, this is to ensure that the brand knows they are getting good representation by the people they are appointing as dealers. Your situation is not a good representation.....
5 months is not acceptable - to tear down a big block or small block V8 would not take that long....
I would also ask Mercury Australia what they can do to compensate you for being without the use of your boat for 5 months, i would not expect anything but you want them to know you are p1ssed at them...
squalis
Posts: 112
Date Joined: 23/11/14
motor
Definitely go to the top at Mercury. Most unuasal experience, normally thier back up is spot on. They have the largest spare parts inventory out of all the brands and are keen to maintain thier reputation . Get onto consumer affairs as this situation is unacceptable, they will put a weed up Mercs arse. Sorry to hear the response you have experienced i have had 30 years of commercial usage with them and have always experieced top notch back up. I look forward to hearing a speedy resolution to your problem.
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
that is absolutely not acceptable
the squeaky bearing gets the oil mate. start demanding a new motor. start demanding a replacement boat while they are fucking around with yours. you are being disadvantaged from their incompetance. make as much noise as possible. go to Mercury Australia, and ask for the top. start dropping compensation and distress terms into your converstaions with them, and dont take no for an answer.
If you dont ask, you dont get.
seriously, if youre not frequently onto these carnts daily, you'll get no love. I would have no faith in that motor ever again, and they need to be accountable for that.
Swompa
Posts: 3878
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Your motor was making some
Your motor was making some funny noises and got your attention.
Time for you to make some noise and get your attention.
Consumer law allows you to claim refund or replacement.
I would spend some time to clue up (google it) and speak to Merc Australia, find a contact and advise facts via both phone and email with times and dates and explain that you want a replacement (or refund if you want it).
All reports suggests that they are good motors and i guess you just got unlucky.
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
flicked you a message
flicked you a message
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Da pirate
Posts: 1561
Date Joined: 03/05/15
F&@“k that ..
I would be pissed ...
cheers pirate.
Sea goat
Posts: 962
Date Joined: 26/03/17
Sounds like you have been
Sounds like you have been exceptionally patient. 5 months is ridiculous.
sunshine
Posts: 2600
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Simply take to Consumer Affairs
They will resolve very quickly .....not fit for purpose full stop
carnarvonite
Posts: 8667
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Complain
Complain big time and don't muck about with the ones in WA, go straight to head office over east. Find out who is the big boss and email straight to him.
When I was with sea rescue we had 2x 300hp Yammies severly damaged by faulty ehaust manifold leaking water back into the cylinders through the exhaust valves when the engine was off, got more success from the east and even told by WA rep not to go there again but I am a little bit deaf when someone tells me what not to do
Bradmac73
Posts: 201
Date Joined: 22/03/17
As Sunshine said
Get consumer protection involved (Through Dept Mining, Industry Regulation and Safety). Consumer law allows YOU to make the decision of replacement v repair in most cases, in a motor that new definitely should.
If they want to work out why it failed they can do that on their own time once they have repalced your motor with a new one.
robert1979
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 13/05/12
Hello Troy, I would guess
Hello Troy, I would guess you are entitled to a refund or replacement under Australian consumer law. This would be considered a 'major fault' and a product which:
What constitutes a reasonable time can be debated but 5 months to most would seem excessive. Have a look at the ACCC website and feedback the info to merc to get the outcome you want (refund or replacement).
Brock O
Posts: 3223
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Almost sounds like you had it
Almost sounds like you had it back a few times, good luck moving forward I hope the advice above gets the solution moving which should be a new replacement.
Wouldn't hurt to add Mercury to the title also, shows on google searches.
Daniel Westerduin
Posts: 429
Date Joined: 30/10/06
If I bought a motor and it
If I bought a motor and it was doing this after 2hrs, I wouldn't except anything less than a full refund or new motor. I'd never have any confidence in that particular motor again.
For example I bought two new fishing rods and 1st trip out one snapped on a Stingray. Took it back and got a full refund on both rods even though nothing wrong with the 2nd. Just said I now had no faith in that particular brand. Store accepted my reasoning and I bought two different brand ones from the same store.
Bought a second hand car one time and they talked me into buying an extra warranty. Next day when reading it properly It said only valid on cars with less than 200000kms. Well this one had higher kms so warranty wouldn't be valid. Took it back and at 1st they refused a refund. So I parked across their driveway blocking all access and demanded to see the head manager. Eventually they agreed grudgingly to refund by putting a new bullbar on instead. Sometimes you have to be a bit forceful.
Good luck.
troy fuller
Posts: 411
Date Joined: 30/08/10
Bit of a update, Finally
Bit of a update,
Finally spoke to some one that isn't customer service behind a desk.
They suspect air is getting in the fuel and the motor thinks it is running lean causing the motor to pump in extra fuel and cause it to leak into the block.
Early talks yet as they are still to check the fuel issue out tomorrow but he has thrown up that they are looking at replacing the block and reuse the accessories from the current motor which i'm not too keen on.
i will have to get claritiy on what they intend on reusing and what they will be replacing - should get this tomororw.
Out of those 5 months, 4 of those months the boat has been at the dealer.
Will see what the final outcome is before i push the fact on total replacement or refund, i don't really want a service tech to be swapping over parts from one motor to another..
thoughts on replacement block/Heads and just transferring over accessories, alt/starter motor etc and extending the warranty to cover this?
marble
Posts: 775
Date Joined: 03/09/09
Is it a south of Perth but
Is it a south of Perth but not far dealer ?
PMY 25 Centre Console DF300 Suzuki
Bodgy 79
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 04/08/22
Gday Troy I've been a diesel
Gday Troy I've been a diesel mechanic for over 20 years so have some experience.They need to be more specific about replacing the block eg short or long motor and exactly the failure that has occurred to need a new one.As for the fruit it is common practice to exchange the engine and have to swap alternators and starters ect.
Im also guessing it's been sitting at the dealers not being touched.Im not saying it's right but someone still has to pay for the warranty work which is the dealer,then the dealer has so make the claim to the manufacturer and they have the final say if there going to cover the expenses or not.I know it's a stinky system but most oems work the same. Eg westrac do the warranty work then hope caterpillar will pay them being the branch.
Keep the pressure on them mate and keep hounding for the correct info and there next step
sunshine
Posts: 2600
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Respectfully you have been patient enough
It costs nothing to put in a complaint to Consumer Affairs....you can do it on line....that way you get the ball rolling NOW or we might still be discussing this in 2024 . You can always withdraw your complaint should they actually come to the party and importantly let the dealer know you have taken the preliminary steps so they don't try and fob you off with a rebuild
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
THIS
Do exactly what sunshine has said mate. no fucking around.
also, my opinion, I would not accept parts replacement. I would want a New motor, or I would start legal proceedings, which would also include compensation for not having my boat operating.
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Yes I agree, though very
Yes I agree, though very recently I had a similar roadblock with Merc over warranty.
Once I got hold of the correct person (in WA), it was very quickly sorted, smoothly and amicably.
I've provided some detail to Troy by message, hopefully may help.
But firstly I'd say to establish with Merc Aust whether they know about this and if thats their diagnosis?
Not that it directly matters, if their diagnosis is correct (or not) I wouldnt want that fuel system or anciliaries moved to another block as it could well have been the cause of the issues.
We do need stronger lemon laws here
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
uncle
Posts: 9474
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Yep my daughter had
A motor replaced in her van doing exactly this
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18025
Date Joined: 11/03/08
I wouldn't accept that at
I wouldn't accept that at all. Brand new or full money back. Go to the top dog and get the outcome you deserve. 5 months not being able to use the boat is bullshit when it's the motor you spent the coin on at fault not neglected by you
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
troy fuller
Posts: 411
Date Joined: 30/08/10
Another update, Merc and the
Another update,
Merc and the dealer have finished testing the boat.
Brand new complete motor with all new accessories.
Only catch is the motor is not available until next year, they instead will be replacing it with the upgraded version (fresh water)
This new motor should be getting sent Ex east next week, 4.5 litre 250hp merc (if it fits in the Tomcat)
Appreciate all the information, after the right person got involved it was sorted out rather quickly.
Rob H
Posts: 5796
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Thats good news Troy,
Thats good news Troy, timeframe is a pain but at least it should be a good outcome
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Swompa
Posts: 3878
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Great news.like most things,
Great news.
like most things, you just need to battle through the shit to find the right person.
piscetor
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 13/05/16
Merc crap
I know a bloke that had a honda out board shit it self. it was out of waranty but when Honda were informed of the failure the said it should never have happened and replaced the motor with a new one. take the advice given Consumer affairs then mercury after that with the knowledge that you hvae complained to the comsumer people. I think a new motor would be in the mail within days. they do'nt like bad poblisity. under the lemon law it should be replaced with a new motor, not bits and peices.
personly i wouldn't touch a Merc with a nine foot pole, i think there crap motors. Honda and Yamaha are a better brand with good reliability.
Filletmaster
uncle
Posts: 9474
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Good outcome
Well done
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs