Need advice confronting shop.

[R055]

To replace the seal below the impeller, the entire water pump has to be removed. Did they reuse the old impeller or is a new impeller on the parts list on the bill?

You can put muffs on with no impeller and 99.9% of the time you wouldn't know the impeller is missing. On the water, different story and it would show up in a few minutes.

I work an hour drive from the shop and work during their business hours so I had a friend pay and pickup the boat during their business hours and no reciept. When he called me he said 850 labor, 250 parts, plus tax. I knew I was dealing with a bad shop so decided to just pay without questioning and enjoy the boat. Bad idea.

 

[DetroitFD]

I've read a lot here (looking for my first boat now) and am wondering if there's any way to protect against bags/sea weed etc being sucked in? I've seen how that can damage impellers, so are there screens or something to prevent that?

 

[R055]

I just called them and they confirmed they didn't change the impellor but said no notes about it being worn out or anything so the old one was in good condition. They changed their tone though and said to bring it in and if it's a warranty issue they'll take care of it and not to worry.

I'll give them the benefit of a doubt and bring it in tomorrow and go from there.

From what I can see looking at the hose with the drive down, doesn't look like any kink or twist but I can only see 4 inches of it.

 

[GA_Boater]

They should have changed the impeller. What's an added 15-20 bucks on a $1200 job when the old impeller was already in their hands.

Hope this works out for you. If you can, watch them check the impeller.

 

[R055]

They should have changed the impeller. What's an added 15-20 bucks on a $1200 job when the old impeller was already in their hands.

Hope this works out for you. If you can, watch them check the impeller.

My impeller is 2 years old so shouldn't be the problem unless they installed it wrong or ran it dry. Unfortunately don't have time to watch because their shop opens at 8, got the owner to agree to coming in 7:30 and I have to be at work at 8 even though the shop is an hour from my job. Thanks everyone for you help, I'll update you guys tomorrow after they call me back to see what they screwed up.

 

[R055]

Also looks like I can't name the company publicly but if anyone is in washington and wants to know the name, pm me.

 

[R055]

Update:
Dropped the boat off at the shop today and the owners son was really nice and informative. He told me mercruiser came out with a new water hose(the one that they replaced) that was pre bent and it was the first time they've ever used it and they believe that's the problem(the hose probably kinked). They're suppose to call me back today to confirm and said if that is it then they are charging mercruiser for all the repair work and they'll order the old hose design and install that.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Good news. Nice to hear of folks who stand behind their work (esp. when they goof). That should be publicized thru review sites online, too...

 

[slag]

They should have changed the impeller. What's an added 15-20 bucks on a $1200 job when the old impeller was already in their hands.

Hope this works out for you. If you can, watch them check the impeller.

Imagine the thread we'd have then. Why did they replace the impeller when they said on the work order it was in good shape? That's just another charge I'm going to have to contest because it was in good shape, they said so themselves, and still replaced it. What a bunch of crooks!!!

See how that could go? I'm also big on not replacing what isn't broken.

 

[R055]

Good news. Nice to hear of folks who stand behind their work (esp. when they goof). That should be publicized thru review sites online, too...

Yeah didn't get my hopes up too much because sometimes that's just a ploy to get your boat into the shop. I'll update you guys once they call me and tell me what's up.

 

[GA_Boater]

Why open a water pump and not change the impeller? 2 year old impeller according to RO55, so it's time anyway. Like I said, only a few more bucks with no additional labor.

Impellers are a wear item and should be changed before they break!

Hope the formed hose is the problem.

 

[R055]

Why open a water pump and not change the impeller? 2 year old impeller according to RO55, so it's time anyway. Like I said, only a few more bucks with no additional labor.

Impellers are a wear item and should be changed before they break!

Hope the formed hose is the problem.

Yeah I assumed they changed it to and added it to the part and labor without telling me considering the final price was 300$ more than estimate.

 

[R055]

Why open a water pump and not change the impeller? 2 year old impeller according to RO55, so it's time anyway. Like I said, only a few more bucks with no additional labor.

Impellers are a wear item and should be changed before they break!

Hope the formed hose is the problem.

This shop would've charged book price for impeller replacement knowing them. They originally were going to do the timing cover too and ordered it and told me the part will be 40-50$ so even if they don't do the work I'll have the part. The owner later calls me to tell me the cover came in and it costs $290. I think he was trying to sell me the chevy cover as a mercruiser cover without knowing the employee told me it costs $50. I told him I don't want the cover and he charged me a restocking fee of 50$.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

You can name anyone you wish in public and give your "opinion" of them all day long. A PM doesn't protect you if there is libel involved. What you can't do is tell a story that isn't true, can't prove, corroborate or post copyrighted materials. Look at all the charges of "fake" news about Washington and the White House. No one has been taken to civil court, yet. This is all my opinion only.

You change an impellor as a preventive maintenance item. You don't wait for them to fail. Just like a timing belt in a vehicle, don't change a perfectly good one as scheduled and try and recover for engine damage on a warranty when it goes, no way you ever will.

I don't know the other side of this story, there is no way I am paying a restocking fee for an item that the supplier gave me an incorrect price on. No way in Hell. It would be like ordering construction materials and they sent the wrong colour, I'm paying a restocking fee? I don't think so. There is always his story, her story and the real story.

 

[R055]

You can name anyone you wish in public and give your "opinion" of them all day long. A PM doesn't protect you if there is libel involved. What you can't do is tell a story that isn't true, can't prove, corroborate or post copyrighted materials. Look at all the charges of "fake" news about Washington and the White House. No one has been taken to civil court, yet. This is all my opinion only.

You change an impellor as a preventive maintenance item. You don't wait for them to fail. Just like a timing belt in a vehicle, don't change a perfectly good one as scheduled and try and recover for engine damage on a warranty when it goes, no way you ever will.

I don't know the other side of this story, there is no way I am paying a restocking fee for an item that the supplier gave me an incorrect price on. No way in Hell. It would be like ordering construction materials and they sent the wrong colour, I'm paying a restocking fee? I don't think so. There is always his story, her story and the real story.

I named the company yesterday and the mod edited it out. Yes I was pissed about the restocking fee because I'm sure their supplier doesn't charge a restocking fee and they probably change a couple timing covers a month so they could have easily held it till someone else needed it. They had my boat and I didnt have time to go argue/yell at them so let it slide.

Update: the owner called me today and admitted that it was his mechanics fault and that is was their first time installing the new style hose and it kinked with the drive down. They rerouted the hose and replaced the exhaust shutters.

Happy that everything is fixed and hopefully no other damage from the overheat. Would have been nice if it was done correctly the first time.

 

[tpenfield]

You mean it wasn't your fault after all . . . glad things worked out.

 

[R055]

You mean it wasn't your fault after all . . . glad things worked out.

Yeah I was pretty mad when he originally said I either ran it dry or the water intake holes were covered by a bag in the water. Here's hoping to a problem free rest of summer on the boat.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Glad it worked the way it did. That is great!

 

[GA_Boater]

A restocking fee when a price is changed would upset me too. $240 is significant change from 40-50 bucks.

Let us know if the unkinked hose does work, RO.

The shop name was edited because we try to not have one-sided complaints. Unfortunately we get too many where a disgruntled customer wants some revenge against a shop and they join many forums to blast a shop. We get rid of them as fast as possible.

I'm not saying is was the same in your case. You had a valid complaint which was worked out and the shop did admit fault. The earlier naming would be misleading because you and the shop were still resolving the problem. Luckily it went your way.

You should get the itemized bill from them for proof of purchase in case there are issues, like the hose blows out, to protect yourself.

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BTW - This is the rule;

Rule 4. Attacks (bashing) on any person, organization, company or other entity will not be permitted. Reporting experiences with any vendor, website or organization must be limited to facts. Unqualified attacks will be considered bashing.

We tend to be cautious in most cases because we can't verify the facts and the other side isn't here to defend, so they are usually deleted or edited out.