1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

[rjg41]

History: Engine compression checked last year and found well over 10% variation in compression. Only 200 hours on the engine. Advised to have head rebuilt. There was carbonization and scoring. It was rebuilt. Due to time constraints could not use the boat since. Only used about 1 1/2 run hours. Last week the engine blew. Total disaster. Melt down of one cylinder. Had a warranty. Repair shop claims is was an injector that broke off and not their responsibility under the warranty. Yes, we are looking into a lawyer. <br /><br />Questions: <br />1) Would inspection of the injectors during the rebuild have shown the beginnings of failure or could it have failed so quickly? <br /><br />2) Could the cyllinder have failed first and the pieces that came apart broken the injector? How likely is that? <br /><br />Any other technical comments would be welcome.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

Sounds like a typical "fix the result" of the original problem and not fixing the "cause of the original problem". A bad injector or some other problem may have cause the initial problem. Simply repairing the engine and not determining what caused the initial problem is the reason for the disaster. Certainly pieces could have hit the injector damaging it and causing other problems. I think you have a case.

 

[andy6374]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

I've heard the lawyer type story before and from posts I've read here, it is much better to try and deal with Mercury Marine first (without the mention of a lawyer) and tell them about your situation. There might an awful lot of phone calling to do, but you might prevail in the end if you are nice and considerate to the people on the phone. Maybe they have had a problem with this particular dealership in the past, who knows.<br /><br /><br />If you scream lawyer right away, Mercury will send your call to their lawyers and no reason will be seen. You won't hear from Mercury anyone more.<br /><br />Good luck and lets know the outcome

 

[rjg41]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

Thanks for the input.<br /><br />The lawyer relates to the shop who did the work. It is their warranty I am talking about. Merc.'s has long since run out.<br /><br />The problem with going to Mercury is that first the engine is 6 years old. Second, the head was rebuilt last year. I suspect they will not step up to the plate for even a part of this. Do you reason to believe Merc. still might step up?<br /><br />As for causing the original problem, there was scoring and carbon in all cyliners. Certainly wasn't just one injector.

 

[andy6374]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

Didn't quite read the 6 year part. Yeah dealing with merc is long and gone.<br /><br />The scoring of cylinder walls wasn't the cause of the original problem it was the result and a lean injector could easily cause this. Severe carbon buildup can cause pre-ignition<br />--->detonation. <br /><br />Not to say that these are the only causes or that they are at all, but whatever the causes are they should have been figured out the first time before rebuilding. A good tech would be able to look a the cylinder walls and pistons, and based on how and where they were damaged be able to have a damm good idea what caused the problem

 

[andy6374]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

And another thing....<br /><br />If you can take off the cylinder heads and take some pictures and post them here, I'm sure some of iboats pros will be able to point to the probable cause.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

Lawyers, at $300 per hour + expenses, can suck up the cost of a new block rapidly and you still may not have your engine fixed.<br /><br />Best to work it out amongst yourselves.<br /><br />My 2C,<br /><br />Mark

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 1999 200HP Opti-Max Disaster

I'd sit down and write out the history of the motor.Things like:when and why you bought a Merc.Where and how often serviced (hopefully with one of there dealers).Any other things Mercury may have done for you when it was under WRO.Why it had to be rebuilt at 200 hours,and only 5 years old.And finaly how it's failed again after 1 1/2 hrs.<br /><br />Call Mercury and talk with them.DO NOT MENTION LAWYERS AT ALL.If you do,it's out of there hands until your people talk to their people.Total waste.<br /><br />The basics here are that they want happy customers,and MAY offer to do something.They don't have to,and if they don't,you only lose the price of your time and phone call.If they do offer something ... Thumbs Up.<br /><br />DHP