Composite power steering cooler

[KETELS]

Hi All

I have A 2010 Crownline with a Merc Bravo 3 260 HP. (305 V8) 17 hours on it.
My composite power steering cooler just cracked into 2 pieces. Water every where.
The Dealer ordered a new one and they said they no longer make the composite one. New one is metal.

Any one else have this problem. If you have a composite one you might want to think of getting a metal one.

This problem did strand me on the river. I have a great dealer and they came and towed me.

 

[TnForMe2]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

New 2010 Cobalt with 8 hours on it (Mercruiser 260): the exact same thing happened to me. I was stranded after nightfall with my family onboard when my brand new boat broke. I don't know when they began using the plastic piece, but the replacement is a heavy copper double lumened tube. I was appalled when I saw how flimsy and cheap the broken part was. I was informed in the mail today that there is a recall on this.
SFS

 

[Bondo]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

I was informed in the mail today that there is a recall on this.

Ayuh,.... Good News,....
Sounds like they're goin' back to the 50 year old design,+ $h!tcannin' the New Improved version....

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

Yeah,

What's up with using a plastic heat exchanger? That would be a real show stopper!

Any little bit of water would freeze and break it!!

 

[Blackheart]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

Same here. 2010 Hurricane Deckboat with a V6 190 Merc. Was out tubing 2 weeks ago when high-temp alarm went off. Engine then quit and we had to pull it back to our slip. Ski compartment was half full of water as auto-bilge had stopped working. Had to have it towed out and hauled 90 minutes back to dealership. "Brand new" trailer tire blew out and shredded on the way (<200 miles on it). Hose bib had separated from cooler and rubber engine bushings had mostly melted. Less than 20 hours on the boat! Dealer will cover engine repair with metal cooler, but I'm out $77 on the tire (won't cover without original tire so they can inspect for exterior damage - tire's all over US1 South) and $200 in towing and hauling fees. On top of that, we asked them to do an oil change since we were at the end of the break-in period and I just got a call saying I'm looking at $253 for the oil change and other "necessary 15-30 hour adjustments". Seriously? Mercruiser says in the letter the "repair" won't cost me anything, but it looks like I'm out almost $500. I'm thinking the dealer and/or Mercruiser should not only cover my expenses but maybe even extend my warranty. Let's just say I don't exactly feel warm and fuzzy about an engine that quits mid-tubing with high heat and melted bushings. What else was damaged due to this cost-saving composite POS? Any suggestions on how to deal with the dealer/Merc?

 

[TnForMe2]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

When I told the dealer, they said, "yep, you're the 3rd one we've had that's broken". I'm like you... I have a brand new boat engine that may have overheated transiently during the break-in period. They should provide an extended warranty on the engine, especially since they knew there was an issue, apparently.
SFS

 

[Blackheart]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

I found a link to the Mercury Service Bulletin in case anyone is interested.

http://www.boote-forum.de/attachment.php?attachmentid=226709&d=1282047649

-Blackheart

 

[BAproject]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

For starters, are these things even necessary

the composite one looks like POS, again, why would they change a design that is proven...to save weight, or to save money making these parts oversees for 3 cents a pop?

 

[TnForMe2]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

I'm sure the plastic one is tremendously cheaper. On mine, the plastic nipple attached to a 1.25" water line on one side of the cooler broke completely off. I don't see how they could have expected anything different to happen. Again, mine fatigued and broke with 8 hours on a brand new boat. The copper one costs around $250.

I think it would be useful for anyone else who has had this problem to try and connect on here and see if we can get some kind additional discussion going with Mercruiser. When it broke on my boat, the thing I first noticed was the engine running very rough, no temperature alarm went off and the temperature gauge didn't go above 175 degrees. To get back to civilization, I laid on top of the engine and held the broken piece in place, spraying water, while my wife steered the boat and was able to idle about 3 miles until I found someone to tow me. I was worried that the rough engine could be caused by overheating of some of the cylinders, but the dealer said that there was water in the electronic ignition distributor causing the roughness. Does that make sense to those of you who know about the ignition systems on these boats?

I think Mercruiser ought to compensate us with an extended engine warranty, this was a bit ridiculous.
SFS

 

[Blackheart]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

I spoke with both the dealer and MerCruiser yesterday. The dealer could care less (shameful) and told me I have a balance of $253.76 for the oil change. Frankly, I think the oil change should be covered under the warranty repair of the cooler. The oil did "cook" after all, when the engine overheated and quit.

MerCruiser was much more agreeable. I asked to be made whole for my $200 in towing expenses and they said I should fax them my towing invoice and they would see what they could do. If this were some one-off part that rarely fails, I could see them sticking to the warranty which specifically excludes incidental expenses. But THIS was due to a defect they introduced to the engines to save money. We were affected directly. If they Don't make folks whole, there could potentially be a class action suit. In my faxed letter I also asked, respectfully, that they extend my engine warranty by 1 year. Who knows what Else may have cooked a bit due to this problem? Call Merc.

 

[kailec00]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

I received the recall in the mail yesterday. I have heard about this issue with several members over the past month. They where getting stuck in the middle of lakes and rivers. Hopefully mine will hold together until the part comes in.

 

[sgt]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

Loss of power occured rite after the steering cooler broke, it was plastic never seen 1 like that before i replaced it with the typical metal copper found on most engines. So anyway i was towed in due to taking on water from the cooler snapping practically in half. As mentioned i replaced the steering cooler went out for a stroll thats when it would barely turn 2000rpm @ wot. That cooler is located rite behind the distributer only 2 inches away, though ive replaced the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter, had the tbi throttle body rebuilt there has been no improvement. Is it possible that pressurized water erupting from that broken steering cooler could have damaged the distributer itself? Or maybe any type of electrical componet in that general area?

 

[TnForMe2]

Re: Composite power steering cooler

I'm just telling what the dealer told me, so I'd love the input of someone that really knows... but the dealer said that the engine could go into "guardian" mode when it reached 200 degrees or so by "shutting down half the cylinders". He said that the "computer" needed to be reset when this happens. When my power steering cooler broke, the engine ran extremely rough. He checked and said that it had NOT gone into "guardian" mode, but that water had gotten into the distributor. Mine seems to run fine now. Could yours be stuck in "guardian" mode?