Ongoing Issue

Doug Durako

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
519
Re: Ongoing Issue

Hmmmmmm---Maxum for Glastron? You are jumping out of the boiling pot and into the fire.<br /><br />Before I would sue, I would park the boat across the street from the dealer with a huge sign---"Lemon."<br /><br />To avoid this predicament in the future, search any one of a half-dozen web sites selling used boats and you can find a better deal for your money on a quality boat.<br /><br />I now have to learn to sew to repair my "new" Baja interior, but I passed on even purchasing carpet because it just rots and causes problems.<br /><br />There are great deals out there---be patient, drive the thing for an hour or more before you buy, or pay for a mechanical survey. Look for the guy who trades boats every year or someone who has moved and is getting out of boating.<br /><br />Good luck!
 

OMARiverRat

Seaman
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
62
Re: Ongoing Issue

Chad -<br />When you noticed the hot starboard manifold/riser was your boat running in the water, or did you have it in your driveway running on your garden hose & muffs? I've learned from previous posts that while the motor is running on the muffs, it is actually "Starving" for water, and it is common for one riser to run hotter than the other due to lack of water flow to one of the exhaust manifolds. Now I'm new to the boating fourm, but maybe some of these expects can chime in on this. Take care & good luck.
 

chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Ongoing Issue

OMARiverRat,<br /> <br /> and to everyone else. Please ask questions. the engine was ran in open water. thr. 1/2 open. then slow to no wake zone. then shut off. well, accually it spit and chuged for about 10 seconds. then it stoped. Lovely thing! Who wants my boat? Free to a good home! But I do have lemons ordered for it. It can be seen during the summer @ alum creek state park.....
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Ongoing Issue

hello<br /> Maxum is owned by brunswick. Mercruiser is owned by brunswick. I doubt its a hull/drive issue. its a cookie cutter production boat. thousands of them were built. I have had many boats that other dealers gave up on. almost everyone of them I traced back to a technicians or riggers fault. its rare to have a motor that new with those problems. run on has causes. its not had to find. sounds like some techs were asleep at the switch.<br /> goiod luck on the suit
 

DHPMARINE

Captain
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
3,688
Re: Ongoing Issue

rodbolt I agree about the technicians/riggers.In this case there is a service bulletin dealing with this.The one I recall had several things that could cause this,and several things to do to try and correct.It started with setting engine to specs(obviusly),and also suggested different fuel brands and grades,and much more.<br /> The problem I found was it was too trying for the customer.We would do the basics,then have the customer try the boat out.Then he'd come back saying we didn't fix it.So we'd do the next steps,and have him try again.This obviously took a lot out on the owner,but since we're not on water,and couldn't keep sending our techs to the lake.......<br /> The bulletins are copywrited,but I sure wanted to give out copies to several of our customers,so they could see what we were up against.I also wish customers realized how alot of what a shop does for him cannot even be filed as WRO,so we do it "free".<br /> Oops,sorry for venting! ! I still think communication and level heads work best,and when things like this happen,its a shame.<br />DHP
 

chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Ongoing Issue

I agree with you DHPMARINE 100%. its alot of stress on the customer and the Technicians. Even more on me when the say its been "lake tested" and I go to pick it up and there is no more time on the hour meter then when I droped it off. Then on another occasion. it had been "lake tested" and the Mud that I had put on the bottom of the boat just to prove that it was not "lake tested" was untouched. Then another time it had been "Lake Tested" I go to pick it up and it has a 2 inch oil slick all the way around it when they put it in the "LAKE" Test tank. that took me 2 hours to wax out. So would you please like to tell me who is more likely to be stressed in this situation? SO I wish I had taken my boat to you DHPMARINE, I bet you would have fixed it the first time....
 

DHPMARINE

Captain
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
3,688
Re: Ongoing Issue

Chads15<br />That's a tall order to fix it the first time.But I like to think we could have talked and I could have explained things to you.We would have worked with you.<br />DHP<br />PS one of the bulletin suggestions was to idle 1 - 1 1/2 minutes after a high speed run,and also thermostat changes and plug changes.But it did have to be done in steps.
 

bluewater19

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
505
Re: Ongoing Issue

My 2003 glastron did the same thing when it was new. I ended up fixing it myself after looking up the bulletin with a google search. I use 89 octane gas and lowered my Idle and switching to colder plugs. I have 2 boats with the same mercruiser 4.3/alpha drivetrain and the only difference I can see is the glastron motor cover is so small it is a tight fit over the motor. The blue water has a big engine compartment that is very ventelated. The dealer new all about this propblem as it has been going on for sometime with the vortec motors.
 

chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Ongoing Issue

DHPMARINE, I do understand what you are saying. But this is just 3 of the 10 times it went in. for the SAME THING! This dealer must not know how to use customer service. But its OK. I will never go back!
 

wakebite

Cadet
Joined
Mar 5, 2004
Messages
26
Re: Ongoing Issue

So Chad, Where do we stand now...Is it fixed or not...Same symptoms or what....I'd like to help....
 

chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Ongoing Issue

Nope still broke. I tried to edit all the names. sorry if i missed any of the dealer names....<br />and my mistake its been in 5 times of engine trouble 5 for interior issues.... and this was just last summer....<br /><br /> This boat has had several unresolved Issues since the day I purchased it. I am just going to jump in and mention some of the major issues. The boat has been wrecked in EDIT care. I guess someone backed into the outdrive and bent the prop up and scuffed the skeg. I have photos of this. They replaced the prop. EDIT had said that they gave it a test run to "FIX" the engine “run on condition”, but when I received my boat from their care it had a 1-inch oil slick all the way around the waterline. That took me several hours to wax off. I have photos of that as well. I took it in another time and was told "WE WILL LAKE TEST IT" I thought OK good. It was a little muddy that day when I picked up the boat to have them "LAKE TEST IT" so I flipped a little mud on the underside of it by accident. They had it for 3 weeks and told me that it’s been "LAKE TESTED" and that they had "FIXED IT". I picked it up only to find no more hours on it then when I took it in, and that the mud was still right where I put it. Now, if it were lake tested, that would have washed the mud off of it completely. Obviously it was not done. I have pictures of this as well. I took it in again and EDIT couldn’t duplicate the Engine run on issue so they told me to use 89 Octane gas. Mercruser recommends 87. But I used the higher Octane per EDIT recomendation and this did not help. The engine would continue to run up to 15 seconds after the key was turned off. It was in a total of 5 times that I can remember with no real fix. I would let it idle down for about 2 or 3 min. and it will still run on. Quite a dangerous thing to have wrong with a NEW boat.<br /><br />I have been in contact with Mercruser about the Engine issue. Nothing is actually written. But the one 2-way conversation I had with the “Rude Guy” at Mercruser (Bruce) was quite short. Bruce was quite rude and offered no solution. In a nutshell he told me that it’s not his problem. And to take it to another dealer. Which I tried to do on several occasions but found no help to these issues. They told me " I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH YOUR ISSUE RIGHT NOW" That was actually said to me when I called EDIT, another Columbus boat dealership. Bruce had my records of the engine work done to my boat; it was for a Fuel Pump replacement. Mercruser had no record of EDIT working on my engine run on issue. My fuel pump has never been touched. So much for Mercruser keeping accurate records.<br /><br />The interior is a whole different ball game. It has been cut and pasted many times. From the first season, it took 5 trips in to repair these damages and those are starting to tear again. The past 4 times that I have been to the service department at EDIT it has been a Joke. The first time I took it in was to get interior trim pieces and other interior parts ordered. I was OK with that. I understand that they do not have parts on hand and they must be ordered. EDIT and I went over what was going and needed to be replaced. I was happy with that also. So about 2 months later, I get a call stating that the parts were in. I had called 2 weeks prior Because the Horn went out. And I told EDIT then that we could fix the horn (that was ordered and will be there when I brought it in for the interior parts to be replaced). Now here is where it gets fun! I take the boat in. they keep it for 2 weeks and tell me that the Boat is done BUT they need to order the horn. I said Fine. But thought that was strange. I called Edit prior and they said they would order the horn and have it for me when I bring it in to have everything else replaced. I finally go to pick up the boat (which by this time it is peak boating season) and I quickly discover that NOTHING HAD BEEN REPAIRED! NADA! NO NEW PARTS, NOTHING! I quickly called and asked why nothing was repaired. They said they must have lost my paperwork. Sorry for the confusion and all we have is paperwork on a horn replacement. But bring it back in and we will have it for you in 3 weeks. And we will replace the parts that didn’t get replaced the last time it was in. I said no; I will bring it in when I get it winterized. Its now August and I don’t want them to have it all month. Ohh the horn? My sister stops by one day and picks up the replacement so I can install it. Which I did. Would have taken them 2 weeks. Took me 5 min. Cant believe they wanted another 2 weeks to do that. So fall quickly comes, I call to set up a time to get the Boat winterized and for the parts to be replaced. A month and 15 days later, I pick it up to find more wrong with it then when I started. Hull scratches, Rips, Holes and tears in the interior. THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE. I get inside of my boat and its full of mud; Dirt and carpet that they used to step on to keep dirt to a minimal. When I took it in, it was spotless. <br /><br />I understand that anything new can have issues, all I was asking for were things to be fixed and fixed correctly. Especially when something is brand new. Is this the level of service I should get? I have been boating sense I was 8 years old. I took over the payments over on my parent’s boat. It was a Maxum 1900 with a Force 150 on it. I kept it for 2 years and I traded it for the 2002 Maxim that I have now. It was in better shape at 9 years old then my 2002 at 1-year-old. My parents have purchased a total of 6 boats from EDIT and have never had any Issue with getting service from them. Hopefully I have not waited too long to do something about this. I do not want a boat that is literally falling apart at the seams. It’s currently out of warranty and I have no means of getting all of the above issues fixed. I would have to pay to get it fixed @ this point. When it was never fixed right in the first place. As you have read, they had my boat over a long period of time to “fix these issues” and they never did. Now more is wrong with it then when I started. Also and I am not on speaking terms with the selling dealer. They told me that they will no longer work on my boat. My boat is for lack of better words “TRASHED”
 

dmorley

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Messages
97
Re: Ongoing Issue

Chad, I had the same problem with 4.3 L running on. Dealer said not to worry about it and I stupidly didn't and it kept getting worse inspite of everything I tried. Finally checked my compression this winter and it was real bad. I had the engine pulled and the machinist showed me where small amounts of water had been getting sucked in past the valves in three of the cylinders. What it did was create a kind of metal flaking on the valve and area around the valve seat. This would almost certainly result in a "hot spot" that would guarantee run on that nothing short of a valve job would cure. This time I'm starting off with the Mercury service bullitin advice before it's too late to fix.
 

Darian F.

Seaman
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
58
Re: Ongoing Issue

I have heard at merc school that the one piece 4.3 manifolds were crap and would allow small amounts of water back were it should not go.<br />Mr Morley has a prime example of that
 

cjflanagan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 1, 2003
Messages
168
Re: Ongoing Issue

Chads15- I have just read through your post, after weeding out all the poor service issues, it all boils down to two open items. First you have the engine run-on issue. All I see that has really been done on this is:<br /><br />*You ran 89 octane <br />*You let it run for 2-3 minutes at idle before shutting down. <br /><br />What about<br />*trying cooler plugs? <br />*Lowering the idle? <br />*Thermostat changes? <br /><br />You need to move methodically through this one step at a time. The second issue is the interior. Why not take it to a good detailer and have them go wild on it? I know it's frustrating but don't just read the advise posted here, follow it.
 

chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Ongoing Issue

Boiling Point, and to others, My point is. Why should I invest my $ into something that was under waranty? Now because of several un successful repair attempts. and several blow offs from other dealers. I now own something that is still not fixed. and now a huge problem. Hince the Lawsuit. I refuse to put My money and my time into something that has never worked right from the start. This is not fair to me. and i will not settle for less. I will not stand down to these crooks. sure I could try these things... I know that would mostlikely fix it. but why should it come out of my pocket? would you not take a new car or truck back to the dealer that you just drove off the lot for an engine problem. or a torn seat. and you would want it fixed right? and it shouldnt come out of your pocket right?
 

cjflanagan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 1, 2003
Messages
168
Re: Ongoing Issue

Well how much money can we be talking about here chads15? A couple bucks for a thermostat, another dozen or so for plugs? Obviously you have learned that if you want anything done right (and in a timely fashion) you should do yourself. The most expensive part on this project may be patience...
 

Danny_Ocean

Seaman
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
64
Re: Ongoing Issue

The most expensive part on this project may be patients...
Patients? As in people in a hospital? Or did you mean "patience"?<br /><br />Judge not and ye shall not be judged...<br /><br />D. Ocean<br />Pompano Beach, FLA
 

chads15

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Ongoing Issue

It’s the principal involved with the whole thing. If the boat were used then I would have no problem doing work on it. I would enjoy it @ that point. But it was new. With unfixed problems. They are responsible for the repairs. Not me.
 

Capt Ken

Commander
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Messages
2,270
Re: Ongoing Issue

Ya'll missing the point. Ole chad is gonna waltz into court and claim the marina failed to fix his boat. The marina is going to have several mechanics claim they repaired the boat and everything works just fine and have been unable to witness the problem Chad claims to have. They're going to have documentation stacked to the ceiling to back their claim. The judge is going to ask Chad if any other mechanic has witnessed the problem and have they been able to isolate and correct it. Ole Chad has to say then that he hasn't since no one wants to work on his boat. The judge has no other recourse than to give the marina the benefit of the doubt and award the case to the marina. There's always three sides to a story. Your side, my side and the correct side. At this time we're only hearing Chad's side. Kinda like a customer that dropped a boat off at my shop last Oct 6 while I was gone to lunch and left a note to call him with a repair estimate. Couple days later I called and he decided he couldn't afford the repairs but never showed up for the boat. I started charging storage Nov 1 @ $5 a day and still wasn't able to contact the owner. Finally found the guy last week and he started accusing me of trying to steal his boat. We started the legal proceeding to sell the boat last friday. Probably won't get what the storage is since his water line is inside the boat rather than on the outside. 1st time in 22 years we've had to do this but I'm sure he's probably telling all his friends what a thief I am without revealing he'd abandoned his boat on my lot.
 
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