What would you do?

  • wannaplay
    Posts: 149
    July 31, 2012 at 3:11 pm #1239047

    My 2008 Optimax 115 dropped a coil 1st trip out in 2008, leaving me in “limp” back to the ramp mode. Fishing trip/vacation basically over. Forward to 2009 Fishing/Vacation dropped another coil, limped back to ramp. Forward to 2012 fishing/vacation, dropped all 3 coils, and computer this time…towed back to ramp. Mercury says they will handle any out of warranty issues on a case by case basis, whatever that is. I love the boat, and the motor runs great…but…what would you do?

    timmy
    Posts: 1960
    July 31, 2012 at 3:18 pm #1088543

    You lost a major vacation 3 of 5 yrs due to the motor…… If it were me, I would not lose a 4th.

    T

    poppy402
    Eagle Point Wisconsin
    Posts: 948
    July 31, 2012 at 3:19 pm #1088544

    buy a yamaha

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    July 31, 2012 at 3:26 pm #1088545

    I’ll preface this by saying that I’m a Merc guy, but with luck like that, I’d be saying bu-bye to that motor!

    t-ellis
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Posts: 1316
    July 31, 2012 at 3:36 pm #1088547

    Call Mercury and ask them to reference service bulletin 2009-26 which is the service bulletin pertaining to replacing the bad coils with all new coils if one is found to be a defective one as this should have been done by the shop back in 2008. Be polite but firm and I think you will get them all replaced with the “good” coils. If this bulletin would have been referenced with your first bad coil we wouldn’t be having this conversation, the shop missed the ball on this one back in 2008.

    SLACK
    HASTINGS, MN
    Posts: 711
    July 31, 2012 at 4:02 pm #1088556

    you now what they say ” once you go black you never get back” JK
    i don’t know how you can say the motor runs great.

    BBKK
    IA
    Posts: 4033
    July 31, 2012 at 4:08 pm #1088557

    I would fix that motor and sell it.

    skeeter20
    Winnie/Grand Rapids,MN
    Posts: 902
    July 31, 2012 at 4:11 pm #1088558

    Run it over a rock reef, claim insurance and get a new motor. JK! I would be talking with Merc and the dealer and work the best deal you can to get it fixed and then upgrade the motor.

    wannaplay
    Posts: 149
    July 31, 2012 at 5:12 pm #1088576

    For Sale, 2008 Smokercraft with 115 Optimax…barely used…

    Brian Hoffies
    Land of 10,000 taxes, potholes & the politically correct.
    Posts: 6843
    July 31, 2012 at 5:27 pm #1088583

    Quote:

    Call Mercury and ask them to reference service bulletin 2009-26 which is the service bulletin pertaining to replacing the bad coils with all new coils if one is found to be a defective one as this should have been done by the shop back in 2008. Be polite but firm and I think you will get them all replaced with the “good” coils. If this bulletin would have been referenced with your first bad coil we wouldn’t be having this conversation, the shop missed the ball on this one back in 2008.

    This is the best answer yet. Take this info to Mercury and your dealer. Let Mercury figure out how they are getting paid from the dealer who dropped the ball. Hold your ground on the computer also!!

    bzzsaw
    Hudson, Wi
    Posts: 3484
    July 31, 2012 at 5:29 pm #1088585

    Quote:

    buy a yamaha

    Or any other motor that isn’t black and starts with an ‘M’. I’ve got a 40hp merc on my pontoon that has been a pain in my . I pray for the day that this motor is not mine anymore.

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    July 31, 2012 at 6:48 pm #1088602

    Quote:

    Call Mercury and ask them to reference service bulletin 2009-26 which is the service bulletin pertaining to replacing the bad coils with all new coils if one is found to be a defective one as this should have been done by the shop back in 2008. Be polite but firm and I think you will get them all replaced with the “good” coils. If this bulletin would have been referenced with your first bad coil we wouldn’t be having this conversation, the shop missed the ball on this one back in 2008.

    I had the same thing happen to me on my 2009 225 Pro XS… My mechanic said that Merc had him change all the coils.. he did and I have never had another problem

    herb
    6ft under
    Posts: 3242
    July 31, 2012 at 7:00 pm #1088607

    Yeah but you’ve got a good mechanic. Randy I assume?

    t-ellis
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Posts: 1316
    July 31, 2012 at 7:27 pm #1088615

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Call Mercury and ask them to reference service bulletin 2009-26 which is the service bulletin pertaining to replacing the bad coils with all new coils if one is found to be a defective one as this should have been done by the shop back in 2008. Be polite but firm and I think you will get them all replaced with the “good” coils. If this bulletin would have been referenced with your first bad coil we wouldn’t be having this conversation, the shop missed the ball on this one back in 2008.

    This is the best answer yet. Take this info to Mercury and your dealer. Let Mercury figure out how they are getting paid from the dealer who dropped the ball. Hold your ground on the computer also!!

    Yes absolutely hold the ground on the computer as it probably got fried because of the bad coils.

    wannaplay
    Posts: 149
    July 31, 2012 at 7:51 pm #1088622

    3 different Mercury shops worked on the boat. The last shop on 149 in Eagan replaced the ECM, and 3 coils (which were redesigned in 2011 according to Mercury). Got the boat back after about 1 week with a dead battery, and noticed a nasty scratch down the side. The paint was still curled at the end of the horizontal scratches…wonder how they got there…

    Brian Hoffies
    Land of 10,000 taxes, potholes & the politically correct.
    Posts: 6843
    July 31, 2012 at 7:58 pm #1088626

    Work with Mercury on the thing. If you need a very good Optimax mechanic Eddie Lybeck is about the best I know. He is a bit of a drive away (Mille Lacs) but if you need something done right he might be your best bet.

    Best of luck to you.

    wannaplay
    Posts: 149
    July 31, 2012 at 8:08 pm #1088630

    Lybecks actually did the second coil in 2009, as I was on MilleLacs when it quit the second time. They got me in, and out in abouot an hour. I would agree with you on that one.

    chippee
    sw wi
    Posts: 488
    July 31, 2012 at 11:35 pm #1088674

    I also have an 08 115 opti and had the same coil problems. dropped one they replaced it, year later dropped another and per the bulletin mentioned earlier they went ahead and replaced all three. my first one also happened on vaca, and my boat was down for a month because they could not get a coil. mercury was very unsympathetic about my loss of time on the water, although they did cover everything in the long run, had to keep on them though. mercury had a five year warranty special in 08 when I bought mine, did you get that?

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    August 1, 2012 at 3:40 pm #1088871

    Quote:

    Yeah but you’ve got a good mechanic. Randy I assume?

    10-4 good buddy ~!~!!

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