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Suzuki eng problem - do i have a case?

1894 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  bob930, 
B
Marine tech calls today from winterizing the engine - 2002 suzuki 115 4 stroke - and says there a leak in the exhaust area. He has seen this several times the last year or so on those models. The extended warranty ended in March. The engine may be shot or at a minimum several thousand in repairs. Do I have any chance of Suzuki paying for this or doing something? It really sounds like there is a serious defect with these engines. Anyone else have this issue or hear of it?
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M
I would contact Suzuki. Apparently the engine holder wears out in a certain place and they updated the part. Good post because if anyone else has these motors under warranty I would be probing with a ice pick. Is this the part in question?

http://www.navagear.com/2007/11/my-johnsons-fixed/#more-380
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B
Yes, that is what I was told it was.
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M
Anyone have a claim? This is BS. Obvious defect in the casting. Suzuki is silent. I choose to spout. Bob, I feel your pain.
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M
I would not touch a Suzuki until I see that our fellow barner Bob is made whole.:fighting:
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B
Best thing to do is the keep quiet for now on the message boards and call Suzuki direct. Your dealer will have a number for you to call. Keep calm and let them know the problem you have. Let them know the dealership its at and ask them if they can help the dealer in any way.

Those that shout out right away on the phone and message boards normally do not get anywhere with any OEM. Those that treat the problem with a calm manner normally will get some help from the OEM.
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O
I had a problem with a 115 Suzuki the Zuk SS prop I bought with the motor and the hub would slip at high rpm's and was I told it was not covered under warranty. Contacting the district manager was a joke and he basically told me T.S. props are not covered period. I took a picture of the motor cover with a large lemon and a Suzuki Sucks decal on it and I sent it to customer relations at the main headquarters in Cal. I told them I fished in a lot of tournaments and trailered the boat all over the east cost and thousands of people would see this motor, I sent it registered mail and 3 days latter I got a call from the VP telling me that it was a misunderstanding by the distract manager and to go to the dealer for installation of a new prop and that it would have a one year defect warranty. Latter on I had a fuel pump problem and was told by the dealer that there was water in the gas that caused the pump failure and was told by the dealer that the district manager said it was not covered. I called the VP @ Suzuki and next day I got a call from the dealer that it was fixed, no charge. I still have the picture, I can try to scan it and download it to my computer. If it works I will send it to you if you'd like. They district manager really pissed me off so I said I'll give them some good PR help. Reaction was quick. Give it a try you have nothing to lose. :fighting:
Larry
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B
So suzuki customer service tells me too bad and hangs up on me. I spoke to the most cocky a-hole on the planet. PlanB- go talk to suzuki at the boat show. They are not there. Not even one boat dealer selling suzukis on the boats.wtf? PlanC- go talk to an attorney - anyone know any that specializes in this type of thing in the marine industry?
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B
Bob, Your saying the 7 year warranty ended last March 09?
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B
It was a six year warranty. We bought the boat at the AC boat show in march 03.
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bob930 said:
It was a six year warranty. We bought the boat at the AC boat show in march 03.
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I would think you would have had a easier time of forcing Suzuki into paying the bill if it was still under warranty and they were refusing. Since the warranty ended over a year ago you will have to prove that the problem was so prevelent that there should have been a recall. Thats alot to prove and a lot of expense to try to prove. At this point rather than fight them I would try to negotiate an agreement. Maybe they supply the parts and you pay for the labor.
I hope they redid the part in 07 as I have the same motor in an 07.
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L
Did you notice the problem or just going by the service guy where you took your motor to get serviced? Marina could just be looking for service work too just a thought?
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A
Inform the dealer in writting.
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B
The marina where i take it - suzuki dealer, told me about it. After looking into it on the internet and contacting others, it is a known issue with these years engines. I was told "off the record" that it is very common around the years engine that I have.
Suzuki even made enhancements to the defective engine holder in later years so they know it was an issue.
My biggest problem right now is talking to someone at suzuki. Customer service will not talk to you because they know its an issue for them. How do you get in touch with someone at Suzuki?
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bob930 said:
The marina where i take it - suzuki dealer, told me about it. After looking into it on the internet and contacting others, it is a known issue with these years engines. I was told "off the record" that it is very common around the years engine that I have.
Suzuki even made enhancements to the defective engine holder in later years so they know it was an issue.
My biggest problem right now is talking to someone at suzuki. Customer service will not talk to you because they know its an issue for them. How do you get in touch with someone at Suzuki?
Click to expand...
Your dealer should be able to help you with that. Is it chesntnut neck that did the service?
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B
Yes. They really cant do anything is what I am being told.
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M
Bob,
Given the problems that I had with a brand new yamaha 90 days into a 5 year warranty and how it was always my fault for the failure. I am gonna say you do not have much of a chance on a 5 year old engine that is out of warranty.

I tried the nice guy approach, tough guy approach and then the down right evil approach. None of it really worked.

Good luck in whatever you decide. I know how frustrating it can be.
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B
I am really struggling with the fact that I only got six seasons out of a brand new engine and the manufacturer takes no accountability of a clearly defective engine they sold.
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