Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

[TBarCYa]

I am waiting to take delivery of a 2008 Maxum with the 3.0L Mercruiser and just got a call from the service department informing me that the carburetor needs to be rebuilt because the gas in the carb from the test fire at the factory in Mexico is bad and the seals need to be replaced.

My question is, does anyone know if this is a common occurance or are they telling me what I want to hear? They say this is very common and that both of the same model boat that they are prepping this week have the exact same issue and the only reason they're telling me is because I'm expecting to take delivery this weekend which is now not going to happen.

Thanks.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

hmmmm....... when was the test fire? 2004??
and what where they test firing it on.... jet fuel?
Me tinks that they had a hard time getting it started.... so someone probably dumped a little fuel down the carb.... and maybe a wingnut went with it....
sumptin don't sound right..... But wait for Don.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

If a little bad fuel did that to the carb i wonder what other fuel system parts got damaged.That sounds really fishy to me..

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

I just got off the phone with Mercruiser and was told that all Mercruiser engines are assembled, test fired and run dry in OK but that the boat was most likely assembled and test fired in Mexico. The manufacture date of the engine is May 2007 so it could have been sitting for a while before making it to the dealer so I'm trying to contact Maxum to see when it would have been test fired. The guy from Mercruiser did make it sound as tho they have seen issues with fuel from Mexico and that typically they would replace the carb rather than rebuild.

I called the dealer and the sales guy said that they tried to get a rebuild kit because I was supposed to take delivery tomorrow but that they will get the replacement carb since I won't be getting the boat tomorrow. I'll be calling Mercruiser before delivery to ensure that a carb was ordered for my engine.

 

[rndn]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

It should be a new carb not rebuilt.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

since i am new here, i have to ask something stupid, why would they test run a engine and leave that carb on it with fuel to sit for god knows how long, most new engines come with new carb and dry, they test run engine with a test carb run until warm shut down and the new carb replaced, with no fuel in it, so why would merc be any differnt? gas in a carb will start to spoil in 30 days.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

You would think they would be smart enough to at least treat the fuel with Stabil or something similar. Boats set all winter with fuel in the float bowl with no problems.
I agree with the new carb,they should replace it.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

I would like to know WHAT seals are in a carb.
Thought the throttle shaft had bushings,the rubber tip of the fuel inlet needle ?accel.pump cover?
If it is a carb, get a new one under warrenty and document it. Never know what else has happened from the 1st firing.
If MAXIM is building boats there, find a new company.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

The dealer said they will replace the carb so all should be good there. Regarding why the fuel was left in it, the guy from Mercruiser said that the engine is test fired at the factory and run dry meaning that they work the accelerator pump and get all of the fuel out of the engine. The problem is that when Maxum put the engine in the boat in Mexico, it was test run and left with fuel in the carb which is what caused the problems.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

still... whats a little fuel going to hurt on a brand new engine..... where did they get their gas? Straight from the sands of iraq with no fuel filter in between the dirt and the carb?
Anything is possible.... but it still sounds funny.

 

[Coors]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

This sounds fishy, like someone trying to cover up a booboo.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

I'm starting to believe that Coors is right. I still have not received my boat and when I called yesterday to try to schedule delivery for today I was told that the rebuilt carb is on the boat because Mercruiser would not authorize a replacement carb. When I called Mercruiser, they told me that there was no request made for a carb for my engine.

When caught in their lie and facing the idea that I won't complete the purchase, they finally contacted Mercruiser and ordered the new carb which is being shipped overnite and is scheduled to arrive today. If they actually do what they said, it will be installed the day it arrives and I can take delivery the next day. I just checked the tracking information and unfortunately it's being shipped to the NY branch instead of PA which means that it most likely won't get installed until tomorrow. Even more delays due to incompetance.

This sucks.

 

[Rusty Boater]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

I would be making a hobby of calling the sales manager and the dealership manager. If that did not work I would be blowing up the phone of the regional manger for Maxum.

If you are spending that much money on something they should bend over backwards to make you happy. Do you have a way of knowing if they put the new carb on the boat and not shaft you?

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Merc 3.0L carb rebuild before delivery

Unfortunately, there are no numbers on the carb that would identify it so there is no way to know for sure. I feel much better about it knowing that Mercruiser has shipped a new carb and provided the tracking number. Since the dealer will have to return the bad carb, there would be no reason for them to deliver my boat with the rebuilt carb rather than the new one.