135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

[Stevemaloy]

I have a 2006 135 4 stroke. It. Took it to the shop. I have had two different shops look at it, and it has a major cooling system corrosion issue. The high temp light came on twice, once one day, and one the next day on the trip before last. Both times I shut the engine off, re-started, and the problem did not come back for at least a day, and it never acted like it was hot. The water spray from the cooling system wasn't really hot at all. I never plugged it up. Never had a water pump problem (changed it each year). I put it in the shop and had both thermostats changed. The boat shop told me then it looked like there was a lot of corrosion in the water system and they had trouble prying the old thermostats out. I took it fishing for another weekend, and then it started giving me check engine alarms that wouldn't stay reset for more than 15 seconds. It started running rough at low RPM's, and was missing. I took it back to the shop.... Now indications are 2 cylinders have water leaking into them. The shops are telling me the water system is massively corroded. They are in the process of tearing the head off of it to see if it is just the head gasket, but both really experienced mechanics feel they are going to find the water jackets all ate up with corrosion. This 2006 motor was installed on a 2007 boat. I am the second owner, but I know the original owner, and he did like I did. Flushed it real good after each use. Use included weekend trips in the Louisiana salt marsh (averaged less than one trip per month), and never spent more than 3 days in the water each trip and then was flushed and stored in my carport. These mechanics swear that all of these Honda 4 strokes are showing up with this corrosion problem, and one mechanic even calls this motor a "High Dollar Throw Away Motor". He showed me two in his junk pile and swears he would never own one. One of the two (a 130hp) he showed me never saw salt water. The head was corroded on both, obvious even to me, and the water jacket around the cylinders were totally eaten up. The mechanic did compression checks on mine this morning, and all four cylinders are low on compression. 1&4 only slightly, but 2&3 quite a bit. (2&3 are the ones that appear to be getting the water) Anybody heard of anything like this? I bought a honda because of their reputation, and now I am bummed out. My last motor was a 2 stroke Yamaha 90, and it had three times the hours on it that this one has, and still ran good when I sold it.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

As I remember it, Honda issued a recall on this at one time. Check with a Honda dealer and see what they can do.

 

[Stevemaloy]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

I have search on line. I cannot find anything except references to an old recall for the 130's... Nothing on the Honda website. I will call honda directly next week. I hope my mechanic gets the head off soon. I really want to know what is really going on. I am still holding out hope it is only a head gasket.

 

[Flakeys]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

I am aware of a thermostat housing issue with these engines that came out a couple years ago. It has to do with corrosion eating the seat areas of the thermostats. I have a number of these engines on government boats that I am a contractor on. It has been my experience with salt water use, that the thermostats will get pretty gunked up after say 6 months time even with flushing afterwards. I make it a norm to pop the top off the thermostats, pull them out and clean them and the housing and reuse unless they are bad.
There is a kit Honda sells that will basically replace the chain cover where the thermostats are housed. It has a spacer that goes between the new chain cover and the thermostat cover. If your engines are 2006 vintage, they most likely will need this kit if the corrosion eats away to the point that the cover no longer seals properly. You can give a honda dealer your engine serial number and he can tell you if your engine may need it. Good luck.

 

[Stevemaloy]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

The mechanic got the head off. It is corroded through to the cylinders. The engine is toast. Honda says I am just out of warranty. I am filing an appeal. I will be surprised if they do anything. I will keep you posted. So far I am NOT impressed. A 5 year old engine should not have these problems.

 

[Stevemaloy]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

Well, I finally heard from the authorized Honda dealer. They reported to Honda the engine is toast. Just like described above. The dealer doesn't think Honda will do anything. I called again the support department, and pointed out the engine started having problems several months ago, that it took weeks and weeks in 3 different shops to figure out the problem. The warranty ran out in September and I am waiting one more week for the call from Honda. If I don't get some help from them, I will be looking for forums to post this nightmare on to warn anyone/everyone that the 4 stroke 130's and 135's are junk. If anyone is thinking about buying one, please warn them. This is NOT uncommon.....

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

Engine blocks usually have interior sacrifying anodes for corrosion protection located on water chambers, once worn out, you are done, worst if you didn't know anything about them. That's why is wise to perform a full head, block inspection/maintenance every 2 years if engine is used heavily, take advantage to clean water paths, inspect anodes and change if found small in size. Your engine will last much looonger...

Happy Boating

 

[Stevemaloy]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

Well I have about had it. The authorized Honda Dealer has had my boat since December. It is now February. The dealer didn't do anything they said they would do. Haven't even taken the head off (It is on finger tight) and looked, haven't gone to bat for me the way they said they would do with Honda, and I can't get any commitment from them OR Honda. I was promised a call from the regional Honda Rep over a month ago. In the mean time, the boat sits out in the weather. I will give them a couple more days, and then I will just go get it and put a Mercury Optimax on it. I will never own another Honda product, and I will never work with Ascension Marine on anything.

 

[Stevemaloy]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

Well it finally is over... I got a letter from Honda telling me they will not help fix it. They quote the reasons as by the time the mechanic got to look at it, it wouldnt turn over, and that it went out of warranty last September. No kidding!!!! Hello!!!! It had water in it!!!! It sat up since the first of December!!!! What do they think it is going to do!!! Of course it wouldn't turn over! The water didn't come in around the head, nor did it come in through the exahust. The engine was not submurged! Yes it went out of warranty, but it started having problems from this about the time the warranty ran out. Yes I didn't take it to the "Authorized Honda Dealer... Hell, Ascension couldn't get to it for 2-3 weeks if I had taken it to them in September, so I took it to a boat shop that got it in in a week. The fall, and early winter is my favorite time to fish here in the salt marsh. I wanted it fixed! Hell it took them 2 full months to look at it at this time after telling me when I dropped it off they would look at it in a week or two! Now it will either cost $8000 for a new power head, or buy a new motor.

Anyway with the pathetic support I got from Ascension Marine in Prairieville, Louisiana, and the royal run-around I got from Honda, I will NEVER give another dollar to Honda for anything as long as I live. And I hope I can tell my story to as many people as I can. Maybe I can persuade a few people that Honda is not the company so many people think they are. (or at least what I thought they were) They obviously do not stand behind thier products. If you are 1 day out of warranty, then you are $h*t out of luck. Maybe Mercury will like my business.

 

[bighh7]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

Ive got a 90 hp Honda that corroded a 2 inch hole between the exhaust and water jacket , I welded a plate in and so far after 2 hrs running it seems ok apart from the carbs . Good luck , Im dreading having to replace the block .

 

[isaksp00]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

I'd consider taking Honda to small claims court. If you can demonstrate that you tried to bring it to a nearby (maybe the only nearby) authorized dealer before the warranty was up, and they couldn't take it, and then you brought it to a "regular" repair shop who diagnosed the problem before end of warranty, and then you brought it to the auth dealer who sat on it, I'd think you have a decent case.

 

[robert graham]

Re: 135HP Cooling Corrosion Issue

Maybe pop your old 2 stroke Yamaha 90HP on there?...but I guess it's gone somewhere by now?...Good luck and sorry for your troubles!