Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

syl_t10 · Jun 3, 2006

We're considering buying a 2006 Nissan 40HP TLDI (tiller control, short shaft) and are trying to determine if it's the best choice for our situation. Any advice would be welcome. We live in a remote village on Kodiak Island, AK. Here are the factors to consider: - Our boat is a 16' fiberglass skiff. - The boat is used in saltwater continuously year-round, primarily in a bay. - The boat is our primary means of transportation between our remote property and the nearby village, so reliability is a huge factor. - The nearest service center is on the other side of the island and so is not easily accessible (no roads). I saw on some other posts that "having good dealer support" was mentioned with respect to these motors. Since we can't easily access a dealer, is this an issue and how would it affect us? One member of our family is very mechanically inclined. - The motor would be shipped to us for self-install, which some dealers will do, but we want to be 100% sure this will not affect the warranty since this is contrary to Nissan's policy. The dealers assure us it won't affect the warranty. - We like the good fuel economy, less maintenance, low emissions, and lighter weight, but these are secondary to the items above. Thanks.

DJ · Jun 3, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

If dealer service is not readily available, I would be looking for a simpler engine. Something carbureted. If it is against Nissan/Tohatsu policy for you to install the engine, than it is against their policy. Why go against it? The dealers do not write, or pay, the warranty. Nissan/Tohatsu does.

ziemann · Jun 4, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

That is correct, Tohatsu does require dealer installation for any TLDI. I am sure Elvin will chime in on this. TLDI's meet all of the perfomance requirements that you desire. I have had fantastic luck in 3 full seasons with mine. Based upon what you state is important to you, the TLDI will serve you well. Reliability of any Tohatsu/ Nissan has been impressive to say the least. The TLDI is not that hard to trouble shoot. As long as you purchase a service manual, a person that is mechanically inclined will be able to do most anything on that motor. I do agree with DJ however, there is nothing simpler than a 2 stroke outboard with a simple carb. You are going to have to gauge that as a priority. It may be a better fit for your situation.

TOHATSU GURU · Jun 4, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

There will be no warranty on that TLDI unless an authorized dealer hangs it on your boat, sets the TPS,test runs the engine and fills out the delivery inspection report. If they going to fudge the report I can only wonder what else they are willing to lie about....Also, since Tohatsu/Nissan looks at the zip code for selling dealer verus servicing dealer you are asking to get screwed. Other then that, the Nissan is a great choice.

DJ · Jun 4, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

Elvin, What would the issue be with the zip code differences regarding a selling and servicing dealer? Just curious.

syl_t10 · Jun 5, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

Hi Everyone, Thanks for your comments. The difference between having the motor shipped to us compared to having it installed by a dealer is about $1,200. This is the difference in price between buying the motor in the lower 48 and having it shipped to us compared to buying the motor from the local dealer and having our skiff transported to him for installation. So it really starts to be a significant additional cost compared to the price of the motor itself. As to the integrity of any particular dealer, I talked to three dealers and all three said yes, they would ship the motor to us. Since this is a tiller-control motor, we weren't sure why dealer-installation was so important, though we know it's a technical motor. That all three said they'd ship it to us seemed to verify it wasn't all that important. As to zip code issue, what if you had a motor installed and then moved? Or bought a boat & had the motor installed in one place and had it sent to you elsewhere? Or what if you were on a long-distance trip when the motor needed service? Any of those would be completely legitimate reasons for having a motor serviced in a different zip code than you bought it in. Thanks.

TOHATSU GURU · Jun 5, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

Tohatsu/Nissan tracks the TLDI series engines by the selling dealer zip code and the buyers zip code to make sure that the engine has not been shipped. Any dealer shipping a TLDI to a non TLDI certified dealer or a consumer results in termination of that dealers contract with Tohatsu/Nissan. Obviously people move. Obviously people commit fraud. Obviously it's a can of worms. But if they see that engine is more than a few miles from the dealer little alarm bells go off in their system. Any dealer that would violate the shipping policy has to commit fraud to do so. Any consumer who receives a TLDI engine that has not been "installed" by a TLDI certified technition and then develops a problem as a result of the engine not being properly set up does not have a warranty. In the real world people do a lot of things they should not do. Sometimes it works out and you save the cash. Sometimes you end up getting screwed. DFI engines aren't cheap and I wouldn't suggest you run the risk. But, if you feel lucky and don't care that dealer is a criminal then do it. Now here's my personal opinion about the requirement. I think that it is unnecessary to have a "certifiable" tech do the set up when any tech with a service manual should be able to set it up to specs. Unfortunately all the manufacturers have headed down that road and personal opinions don't count. Also, Honda, Yamaha and Mercury also look at the zip code differences...That's why you don't see dealers shipping them. They are afraid of getting caught and getting punished.

jshoes52 · Jun 5, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

Well...being that he's in such a remote area, and it's a tiller model, why couldn't the nearby dealer set the motor up in a tank, set TPS, run for the required amount of time, and then ship it to him?

TOHATSU GURU · Jun 5, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

It's the Circle of Life. You buy a modern state-of-the-art outboard. You take delivery in a box. You install it yourself. You do it wrong. You blow up the engine. You get mad. You tell everyone you know how bad the engine is and how the manufacturer will not stand behind the product. You buy another brand of modern state-of-the-art outboard You take delivery in a box. You install it yourself. You do it wrong. You blow up the engine. You get mad. You tell everyone you know how bad the engine is and how the manufacturer will not stand behind the product. And the circle goes on and on. The liability, however small it really is, is avoidable by the manufacturer by setting terms and conditions for sale. "Well...being that he's in such a remote area, and it's a tiller model, why couldn't the nearby dealer set the motor up in a tank, set TPS, run for the required amount of time, and then ship it to him?" It's against policy. No exceptions....Though the only rational explanation has to do with the injection system air bleeding in a case like that. The potential for air to get into the oiling system is there, no matter how remote. For the record. We have sold TLDI models, shipped them to TLDI certified dealers in other states who have then installed them on our customers boats. More often than not the local dealer will not do that. At that point the local consumer either buys another brand or takes a road trip.

DJ · Jun 5, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

Thanks Elvin I do not necessarily disagree with the policy. The manufacturer has a reputation they want to keep intact. I don't blame them. As products get more sophisticated, there is less room for a hack like me to monkey with them. That's a good thing.

TOHATSU GURU · Jun 6, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

DJ, Your more understanding than I am..

Looking at it from an historical perspective, their actual failures attributable to a bad set up on what are now non-shipable models were so few as to be non existent. But they have this mindset of trying to achieve zero failures and are willing to lose sales in order to approach that goal. We tracked lost sales of 127 units last year on models that were ordered from us, but the consumer was unable to find an installing dealer. That hurts!

I would rather have one out of a 100 fail and sell that extra 127 engines.

syl_t10 · Jun 6, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

Hi Everyone, Thanks so much for all your comments. This has been very helpful to us in clarifying and understanding the situation. Elvin's last post made me think of an option we hadn't explored yet and wanted to see if anyone had any comments about it. What if we bought the motor from a dealer in the lower 48 and had it shipped to our local dealer on the other side of the island for him to install on our boat? We'd still have the $400 cost of transporting our boat to him, but we'd save the $800 from the lower price & shipping costs offered in the lower 48. I'd give the local dealer the option to meet the lower price, but if he can't/won't, do you think he'd be receptive to installing a motor we bought from someone else or would it just make him mad? Elvin, your last comment seemed to indicate your company does this (selling a motor to someone and shipping it to another dealer to install, rather than the buyer buying they motor directly from that dealer). That would be an acceptable compromise for us that would allow us to comply with the dealer-installation requirement for the warranty. Your thoughts? Thanks.

TOHATSU GURU · Jun 6, 2006

Re: Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

As long as your local dealer is TLDI certified and willing to accept the engine for you...Yes. But keep in mind that your local dealer is going to want to charge you for the receiving, unpacking, installation and test running. On that model engine it will take at least 45 minutes for them to do that. Depending on how they feel about performing that service for you...They might tell you $50.00 or $500.00 or Get out and don't come back. It's up to them. Usually one out of ten dealers are willing to help you out.

Is Nissan 40HP TLDI the right motor for us?

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