Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

[jgso]

I have been experiencing what I believe to be vapor lock with my 'Zuki DF140 4 stroke for about 2 years. Basically if it is over 90 degrees and you run the engine for a while and then cut it off, wait 20-30 minutes, restart, it will fall on its face under acceleration. Pump up the bulb, starts easily and will run great until it again is shut off. Then same drill again.

The dealer has "fixed" over $400 of problems, none of which cured the vapor lock. The dealer knows nothing of the vapor lock issue. No service bulletin, etc.

But, Suzuki, customer support says they are familiar with the unusual situation and will contact the dealer.

Meanwhile they say that the dealer will not be allowed to fix the problem. Instead a Suzuki factory tech will do so when he is in the area. they advise finding a time in his schedule will probably take a month or so. I am 4 hrs. away from the boat so scheduling will no doubt be a problem.

The the customer support person has been rude, disrespectful and has even yelled at me. He has refused to allow me to speak with anyone else at Suzuki regarding the matter, and says that if it gets fixed it will only be possible by dealing with him.

My entire experience has been extremely customer unfriendly.

I am going to try to hang in and see if the problem can actually be resolved.

I am very dissapointed in Suzuki. I won't be buying more 'Zuki products and am seriously considering trading this one in on a Yamaha. I understand their customer service to be better.

Seems like Zuki would be trying to get and keep customers rather than run them off!

Anyone had this same problem and or have advice on how to resolve?
Sheesh!

 

[clanton]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

Search the net, others have same problem, different home made fixes. I would first do a 100 hour service by the book, Check water flow thru the oil cooler and injector rail. design a system to cool the low pressure fuel pump and install. I don`t think there is a cheap fix for this.

 

[jgso]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

Update: A rep from Suzuki is working on my boat now. Perhaps there will be a fix soon.

Regarding customer service: No one told me he would be here yesterday. I just happened to call my mechanic and he said bring in immediately! Sheesh, seems someone could have let me know ahead of time!
Suzuki is clueless about customer service!

I'll post the fix once in place.

 

[clanton]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

If his name is Mark, Tell him i said hi.

 

[jgso]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

Had to rush to get boat in by last Friday /cause Suzuki tech will be here Monday. Tuesday closing time, still a no show. Lost 4 days use so far.

Zuki customer support is getting worse instead of better.

 

[jgso]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

Zuki rep finally arrived Tuesday late and worked on boat. Finished late wednesday. I tested thursday and it seems to be fine.

 

[macksk8er]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

What ended up being the problem? Mine used to do the same thing after a long run. My mechanic suggested to let it run for a few mins in neutral after stopping to let the engine cool down slightly. Since I started doing this I have not had the issue since.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

What ended up being the problem? Mine used to do the same thing after a long run. My mechanic suggested to let it run for a few mins in neutral after stopping to let the engine cool down slightly. Since I started doing this I have not had the issue since.

That same info was in my 2003 Nissan manual I always did it. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it. If you shut that motor down quick when it's hot it's going to getter hotter before it cools down. The same suggestion is in my 2011 Merc 4 stroke EFI manual.

 

[CHIEF TERRY]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

I am a suzuki tech in mexico , and i have directs contact inside suzuki in japan , i would like to know what the tech did and told you because suzuki normaly has great responce time .. At least i do ! My support groupe is second to none here !! And also what was the name of this tech !!! Your complant needs to be heard , to help the company image you know !!

 

[clanton]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

Tell us what brand and part number of electric fuel pump.

 

[jgso]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

The Factory Zuki tech replaced the low pressure fuel pump, all the fuel lines and fittings. Also installed a walbro fuel pump and a Holley fuel pressure regulator set at 3# pressure behind the fuel/water separator. The pressure regulator was connected to the tach and set so that if the tach did not register rpm for more than about 10 sec. the fuel pump is turned off.
I haven't run the motor a great deal since the fix but did run it for several hours with frequent stops. Seems to be running fine. However the vapor pressure is strong enough to require the pump re prime itself after it sits for about 30 after hot shut down. You can even hear it pumping back through the empty fuel /water separator when 1st turn on the egnition. Pump is noisy until it gets primed and then is nearly silent.

So the suzuki built in problems with this engine were not remedied. I hear there is not an actual fix from Zuki. The pump just overpowers the vapor lock.

The dealer was astonished that I was correct in what I told him was the problem. He originally thought I was a crack pot as He had received no advice about the known problem from Zuki.

After finding out I was right, (When the zuki rep called out of the blue)He thought was very poor customer and Dealer service from Zuki and is not happy with zuki. Maybe even less so than am I.

At the end of it all I still have a rigged engine rather than a fixed engine. This has got to impact any resale value.
I guess I should be happy as my boat is at least running well now!
Thanks to all on the net that brought this issue to light! Suzuki still has not and is apparently not going to do so. The world class poor customer and dealer service continues!

I hope my post is of help to someone! LMK if so!
J

 

[clanton]

Re: Vapor lock troubles with '05 Suzuki DF140- Suzuki has the WORST customer support!

Thanks for posting the results and the brand of electric fuel pump used. Please keep us up to date on how this continoues to work. I have looked at the Walbro pumps and think they are good pumps, plus marine approved.