Starter shot

[zippyduck]

The starter in my Etec 225hp is shot due to a battery that was not strong enough and a Dual purpose battery.
The dealership put that battery in the boat on the day I picked it up. I am thinking I need a lawyer as they made lots of mistakes and it has cost me a lot of money.

[Princeton_Man]

You probably don't need a lawyer for $5000 or less. What you need is a couple good ol' boys to go with ya and pay them a visit one evening, present the claim in person. 

[Smallie_Stalker]

I'm really sorry to hear it's gotten to that point.  Makes me wonder how many other people they've done this to.

While I agree with Jim you have to try and figure if it will cost you less to pay a lawyer than it would to pay for any more repairs due even indirectly by their negligence.



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[Mike Cork]

Dam it man... I'm sorry to hear about all your problems. At first it was "welcome to the bass boat world" but I'm with P-M, me bubba and a pipe... well I'm not condoning a violent response on a public forum... But someone needs an adjustment and I think you've been pretty dam patient.

Starters are pretty easy to change if you want to do it yourself. There are several discount outboard parts websites that can save you money too.

[BarryFL]

The starter in my Etec 225hp is shot due to a battery that was not strong enough and a Dual purpose battery.
The dealership put that battery in the boat on the day I picked it up. I am thinking I need a lawyer as they made lots of mistakes and it has cost me a lot of money.

I'm interested in hearing more about this battery because my main battery and 3 trolling motor batteries are all the same dual purpose group 29 interstates. What is the CCA and MCA for the battery that was in there? The reason they make dual purpose is because of all the electronics folks run now. Not saying they didnt screw you but without knowing the specifics of the battery in question. Dual purpose isnt the problem. The group size and CCA is most likely the issue. My research shows you need 675 CCA and 845 MCA. Pretty standard across motor manufacturers.

~Barry~

[zippyduck]

Barry,

I know the CCA was 400 not sure about the MCA.

Mike,
It is all about done now. I even got most of the useful switches working again.

It should be done by Friday Then I shouldn't have any more major issues. The trolling motor was in my driveway When I woke up today.

[zippyduck]

My biggest problem is every time I get enough cash to buy a couple of rods it ends up buying something for the boat. 
I have an Xtasy 752sf and a Fury 705cb in my cart for months now. 

[BarryFL]

400 CCA WTF? I'm surprised your motor would even turnover. Those people shouldn't be looking at boats much less touching and selling them.

Me and the owner of the outfit you bought from would be having a very stern, mostly one way, discussion on what he was going to do to make all this right.

Social media is a very powerful tool. Post who you bought from and let those of us bored from social distancing loose on them. If they have Facebook page or a website, you can make them regret screwing people over real fast. Not to mention diming them out here, BBC, THT and other outdoors/fishing sites.

You are probably not the first, nor the last, person they will screw over.

~Barry~

[Bassinkorea]

I agree with most, you should at least contact them and ask them what they plan to do to help you cover the costs at the very least.

Sorry you are having to go through all this, but fingers crossed you'll be passed all this crap soon and you'll have a fully functioning boat again!

Good luck with the TM install, it's an easy enough job.

[zippyduck]

BK,
I did a trolling motor mount on my other boat. It really is easy once you have everything in the right place and make sure of the clearances.

[Bassinkorea]

In that case, enjoy the install, I love doing things like this to my boat. Since you are switching from MK to MG you might have to drill a couple of new holes and that's it.

[Oldfart9999]

That dealer would never see that boat again and internet would be all lit up over the problems and service you've had. It's probably not worth a lawyer, small claims court might be better if you go that route.
Rodney

[WTodd]

While I don't disagree that small claims court is better than an attorney, the judge will probably ask you if you've given the dealer a chance to fix the problem and make you whole. 


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[allaboutfun]

Yeah, great idea...get a bunch of people that had nothing to do with it, and no idea of all the details to jump in. Calling BS here! Social media can be a powerful tool but can also be abused. SMH

[BarryFL]

So I take you think Zippy's not telling us everything? Have you read all the threads about the problems he's had with the boat? It goes way beyond this battery and starter issue. You may have thrown your BS flag prematurely, ref.

~Barry~

[zippyduck]

That dealer would never see that boat again and internet would be all lit up over the problems and service you've had. It's probably not worth a lawyer, small claims court might be better if you go that route.
Rodney

The dealer was given two chances to make the motor issues correct. It has gone to a trusted local guy the last two times. Both different issues and the first one was corrected nicely. As I'm sure this one will be also.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Yeah, great idea...get a bunch of people that had nothing to do with it, and no idea of all the details to jump in. Calling BS here! Social media can be a powerful tool but can also be abused. SMH

I would reconsider this post. Have YOU followed ALL the threads pertaining to this boat?

[allaboutfun]

Read them all and it's a very unfortunate situation. I prefer to let a man handle his own situation while supporting him at the same time. That just doesn't include getting others involved. Their reputation will determine their success. OMG

[Bud Kennedy]

With my experience at chasing motor gremlins for a couple years, I can appreciate your problem but I also can appreciate the mechanics problem.  The on board computer won't tell the tech everything.  It depends upon their individual skills and experience with trouble shooting.  Kinda hard to identify something is gonna break before it does break.  Especially electrical based items. 

You are experiencing everything those of us with older motors have previously experienced.  I like to equate it to peeling back the onion.  It causes a tech to fix what they find only to have something else cause a problem.  Until you get it all re worked the problems will continue to flare up in another spot.  We are all tempted to stop searching if we think the problem is fixed and then get upset with something else breaks down.

My motor is 30 years old and it is hard to find anyone these days with the skills to work on these old products.  Today's service technicians are often no more then swap till you drop specialists.  If you find a good tech with good diagnostic skills I suggest you stick with them and build an ongoing relationship and you will find the reliability of your motor will improve.  The tech doesn't want to keep fishing the next bad thing on your motor either.  He wants you to be happy so you come back for additional and routine services later.  Until your trusted tech gets through the entire motor your problems will likely continue with surprise failures.  It is when the fixed thing keeps breaking is when you should start getting upset.

Just think what might be next.  Power Packs, coils, and fuel systems.  All are subject to problems with age.  Sooner or later you will deal with all of them.

[zippyduck]

Picked the boat up today and the problem was a loose wire that arced off of the starter. The wire melted and broke. In the meantime it burned up the starter.
New battery and starter and in boat.

[Princeton_Man]

Picked the boat up today and the problem was a loose wire that arced off of the starter. The wire melted and broke. In the meantime it burned up the starter.
New battery and starter and in boat.

Time to hit the water!

[Donald Garner]

Great tks for the update.  Did you stop by somewhere and get that Stratos Blessed   

Man hopefully this will be the end of your troubles.  I've sure hated hearing you have all these issues.  That is really a nice boat you got there.

[Deadeye]

Sometimes stuff just happens when it's due.

I had just picked up my Boat from a Preferred Mechanic listed on Mercury's site when I noticed the Speedo wasn't working. That was part if what I took it in for.

Went back, a little mad I'll admit, and told him about it. He said "it should be fine let me check". He walked out with me to the Boat and pulled the Cowl and seen the problem right away. His "helper" had put some parts back on and had pinched off the water line, no way for it to get to the Speedo. He fixed it right there.

Another Time I had just picked it up and took it to the Lake and about halfway across the lake I lost power, not all of it but a noticeable drop. I went back and he said to set an appointment and he'd get back on it, his bays were full right then. I went home and did some reading research and found that a Short could cause that to happen. Walked out to the boat and pulled the cowl, put the water ears on, and started the motor.

I didn't leave the cockpit area and I could hear the Snap-Snap-Snap sound. Sure enough one of the Spark Plug Wire had Grounded out on the Motor Head, robbing the power. Ordered a set On-Line and changed them out. Power was restored.

The Wire thing was not on him, it was just time to happen. He has been a Great Mechanic and does my Service Work way below all the Prices I got for all the Ranger Shops. And he's only 15 minutes away.


Sometimes stuff just happens.

[zippyduck]

Fred,

I agree 100%. this is why I haven't gone off the reservation yet. This is one of those times where more investigation found it was no ones fault.