Need advice on how to handle mechanic.(update)

[Ron_J]

A couple weeks ago I took my new to me boat to the mechanic to have some work done on it. They changes the fluids, tuned it and put a new ignition coil on it. The first time out, after about a half dozen starts, one of the bolts that hold the starter on vibrated out forcing the starter to not make contact. Then over the weekend, when trying to start it, the flywheel bound up. Turns out there is a piece of the coil mount laying in the bottom of the motor. I took it back to the mechanic and he said that it looked like the coil somehow got caught on the flywheel and that is what was hitting. He is going to take a look at it.

Now, he treated me very fair with the initial work and price, and I have a feeling that he will make it right this time, but what would you expect as a customer for the re-work?

 

[marine4003]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

have him fix everything..FOR FREE..Then find another mechanic..what he fixed is basic and the issues you encountered are due to him not giving a crap about what he chose to do for a living.

 

[642mx]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Good luck finding a decent or an honest marine mechanic..... I don't think they exist. I've been screwed over by 2 dealers in my town.

I decided to read the forums, buy a manual, and do it myself. So far, with the help of several websites (iboats included), I haven't found anything I couldn't do myself.

 

[lprizman]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Give him the oportunity to make things right, he or she was fair to start with.

And yes get manuals research forums to gain intel and knowledge and you can do 90% of work and maintenance on your own,,,however when the 10% comes up on you,,having a mechanic you have built a relationship with will pay off in spades.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Good luck finding a decent or an honest marine mechanic..... I don't think they exist. I've been screwed over by 2 dealers in my town.

I decided to read the forums, buy a manual, and do it myself. So far, with the help of several websites (iboats included), I haven't found anything I couldn't do myself.

I do a fair amount of my own work, but have occassion to have things done by local mechanics / shops. My experience is that when I go shopping based on price and wanting ghtings done in a hurry, I get shoddy work, when I look for good, reputable shops and am willing to pay the premium and wait for a slot to open up, it is almoat always to my advantage.

I'm lucky enough to live in an area where boating is a major industry and so there are a lot of talented people around - some of them exceptionally so. I'm sure that helps a bit.

to the op, don't be harsh with the guy - especially if you didn't pay him a ton and see if he makes it right. I'm guessing that you probably didn't pay him to go through everything and make sure it's right.

respectfully submitted...

I'm going to post a story about something I saw over the weekend that will make your issue seem trivial...

 

[Ron_J]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

I wasn't nor will be harsh. But, I actually did ask and pay him to go over it, since I just bought it and wanted to make sure everything was good to go. Like I said, I thought he treated me fair the first go around, and the loose starter bolt, I could have lived with. I don't have any reason to believe that he won't stand behind his work.

I normally do my own work, but I have to admit that I'm not outboard mechanic, and figured that rather than fixing stuff as it comes up, I'd let them go over it. Even this, I would have done on my own had I not suspected that it was due to the prior work.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

I would suggest giving the mechanic a chance to make right. The idea of going over "everything" could be open to interpretation. My own experience is that they want to replace stuff that doesn't need replacing just to pad the bill. If they weren't over charging you to begin with maybe it's an honest SNAFU......on the other hand if every time you go there it's something new....RUN dont walk to find a new mechanic.

If you're mechanical, there's lots you can yourself.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

I normally do my own work, but I have to admit that I'm not outboard mechanic

Outboards are fairly easy to work on. Just make sure you get a copy of the original shop manual for your engine, not one of the generic one-size-fits-all manuals that are put out.

 

[Ron_J]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Well, in this instance the initial thought is that the coil that they just put on came loose. Not a whole lot of getting out of that.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

I'd vote for giving him a chance to put it right for free. If he presents you with a bill, turn it up a notch and tactfully ask how it is that the recently installed part wasn't fully torqued down and why should you pay for that oversight. Depending on his response I might make it my last time there.

I recently had the screw on one of the fogging ports fall out as I was pulling up to the marina that did my last winterization. As luck would have it the very mechanic that winterized the motor was on the dock. I pulled the cowel to investigate the sudden increase in noise and decrease in power and he wandered over. We discovered the screw at the same time rolling around in the lower half of the cowl. I could tell he was embarrassed and he practically ran for his socket set. Funny, how rare it is to find someone who can look you in the eye and say, "Sorry -- I screwed that one up."

The irony is that I had already winterized the motor last fall when I dropped the boat off and had asked for storage only. In the spring they commented on how they had re-fogged it for me to "make sure it was done properly." Hmm. Yes -- thanks for that.

My situation is a bit different in that there was no lasting damage. I am, however, re-evaluating storing the boat with them again, and I will most certainly re-check anything they touch in the future. And once I build the addition to the garage, it will be a moot point anyway.

Look on the bright side...at least it wasn't some surgeon leaving a clamp in your gut by accident. Apparently that's not unheard of...

 

[Ron_J]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.

I was just looking at a parts diagram...would they have had to take the flywheel off to put a new ignition coil on?

 

[Ron_J]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.(update)

I got the boat back...turns out that it was the stator that came apart. Fortunately when it jammed up it didn't tear anything else up. So, all my worries about the mechanic was for nothing.

Thanks for listening.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.(update)

ron; thanks for the follow up.
good it worked out for you
happy boating

 

[Dace]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.(update)

Being an automotive tech for 30+ years I can fully understand a first time customers jitters when something goes wrong. No mech (at least ones I know) want their name used in an innapropriate manner. It would cost us more in court fees and at triple damages than it would to just take care of the issue.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.(update)

I will always let them make it right, be polite and you will go far. As soon as you loose your cool, things will not get better!!!!! Find a new mechanic if you feel needed.

I had a local starter shop rebuilt the starter on my cummins diesel and they left it loose. I tightened it up and continued on. Until it would not start at 3:00 in the morning. It was pitch black and I had to get dirty to tighten the trigger wire by hand. Lets just say i will never do business there!

 

[marine4003]

Re: Need advice on how to handle mechanic.(update)

occansionally things get forgotten..mistakes get made.as long as the mech is willing to repair his mistake for free,thats a sign of a good shop. Also look at his shop, messy,disorganized and his work reflect this, organized and clean ..well,more often than not he cares.my shop (jimmys marine) in OIB NC is excellent,great mechs,fast and they care...cant ask for more..and NO there not cheap..but i'd rather have excellence over cheap any day.