Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

[MariahSX20]

Anyone had any luck with Mercruiser covering a faulty seawater pump (+ labor) by their manufacturer warranty?

The mechanic said it was not a covered item since the pump was a "rubber part" so I needed to foot the $300.00 repair bill...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

Ayuh,.......

Considering that it can be Destroyed in a few Seconds running without Water,.....

I truely Doubt you have Any Claim what so ever.....
I believe Merc will tell you it's "Operator Error"......

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

If all you had was a burned up impeller, nope, they won't cover it. Can't tell from the limited info you gave. Merc has several differnt types of "Seawater Pumps" and I sure don't know what you have, year, model, nothing.

 

[MariahSX20]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

Actually Bond-o, the engine began to heat up while I ran it with the hose and "rabbit ears cuffs" attached, so I know it was water supplied at all times.

Anyone knows how often these pumps should be replaced? Mine was fairly new, no more than 50 hours of use in 2 years. Mercruisers' ops manual recommends replacement every 300 hours and/or 3 years.

Thanks/Andy

 

[MariahSX20]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

Thanks for your reply Don. I am not sure what exactly was wrong with the pump but I will call the mechanic tomorrow and post.

My engine is a '06 Mercruiser 4.3L 190 hp (carburated) w/ AlphaOne, model #4211025TT.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

1st of all 300.00 is a major rip off.

Teh part is 20 bucks even at 100.00 an hour labor your getting screwed for sure.

The water pump should need replacing every two years weather it needs it or not. 50 hours in two years, I dotn know yours might have dry rotted, regaurdless it needed to be changed.

Do it your self and save the money for gas every boat owner should be changing the water pump impellar them selfs.



NOTE Im assuming alpha drive / water pump maby its not. Even the impellar for the BRAVO is like 30 bucks at most for the engine mounted water pump.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

1st of all 300.00 is a major rip off.

I think you are completely wrong in that assumption.
He didn't take it in saying "Install a new impeller" he took the boat in with an overheat problem. That means the shop has to get the boat to a repair station, run it to see what is actually happening. Then pull the drive, take apart, and find that the impeller is bad. Then you have to get the parts and put it all back together. Then do another test run to see if it overheats or not.
Personally, while a DIYer may find some aftermarket impeller, most Merc dealers will sell the impeller kit (yea, it takes gaskets and seals to do it right) and that kit costs more than 20 bucks. Then you have to refill the drive with gear lube, and new gaskets. Then the $8 gasket kit to put the drive back on the boat.
See, all kinds of hidden costs you didn't even think about in your DIY world.
Then the shop has to clean the boat and make everything perfectly clean and the way it was or the customer gets all upset if there is a finger print some where.

$300 sounds about normal to me.

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

Yor right as usual Don....

I like this:
"Then the shop has to clean the boat and make everything perfectly clean and the way it was or the customer gets all upset if there is a finger print some where"


Wish my machanic was as good as that. I always need to do a clean up after hes done...

Yea, I forgot the lube refill and all but I assuemd he knew he needed a new water pump impellar and didnt read into all that shop diagnosis tro get thus far. That does indeed add up.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

I think you are completely wrong in that assumption.
He didn't take it in saying "Install a new impeller" he took the boat in with an overheat problem. That means the shop has to get the boat to a repair station, run it to see what is actually happening. Then pull the drive, take apart, and find that the impeller is bad. Then you have to get the parts and put it all back together. Then do another test run to see if it overheats or not.
Personally, while a DIYer may find some aftermarket impeller, most Merc dealers will sell the impeller kit (yea, it takes gaskets and seals to do it right) and that kit costs more than 20 bucks. Then you have to refill the drive with gear lube, and new gaskets. Then the $8 gasket kit to put the drive back on the boat.
See, all kinds of hidden costs you didn't even think about in your DIY world.
Then the shop has to clean the boat and make everything perfectly clean and the way it was or the customer gets all upset if there is a finger print some where.

$300 sounds about normal to me.

I do not know why i am posting this ater 40 yrs in automotive ind if i paid a tech to diag a over heat problem with such a simple system and it turned into more than a hour of labor id launh him to the moon....

By the way Don id bet you would get it done in 15-30 minutes on a bad day...

Umm thermo..impeller what time does that take 15min...Opps your impeller crashed...now cleaning up debries that's another story.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

By the way Don id bet you would get it done in 15-30 minutes on a bad day...

No, I would bet between 2 and 3 hours would be more like it. Including parts. That's why I said what I did.

 

[MariahSX20]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

Im outta luck on this one. Spoke with the tech guy today and yes it was indeed a burned impeller...plus verified this with Mercury Marine and no, they won't cover this type of repair. You can count on it...I am definitely learning how to replace the pump myself

Thanks for everyone's replies, Andy

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

Still assuming, if your engine is using the in drive impeller, then here is the OEM service manual so you can STUDY UP on how to do the impeller. With an Alpha I Gen II drive the impellers are usually good for 3 years if never run dry.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

 

[MariahSX20]

Re: Mercruiser 4.3 Seawater Pump

I can't thank you enough for the good info Don, you are the best!

Thanks a million, Andy