Faulty O2 Sensors BAD PROBLEM with MERC! Anyone ELSE?????

[harleymhs]

Ok, our dealer is READY to take our boat back... They have been to US 3 times in 3 weeks! As of now ALL 4 O2 sensors have been replaced with NEW ones! Now one of the 1st new ones they changed has gone bad again! So its not like a Merc installed fautly sensros from the factory! Now one of the dealer installed sensors just went bad yesterday! It lasted about a week!!!! Bought this boat brand NEW 3 weeks ago and the dealer has been back 3 times! We went back to the dealer yesterday and he said use the boat for the weekend, if it happens again this weekend he will take the boat back! Thats all and great and he wants to put me into a 2011 280 Sundancer! From what I am told the dealer has SEVERAL BOATS with this same issue!!!! So why would I want to get a 2011 280 Dancer pay them the difference ( 24,000 ) and that boat have the SAME dam issues! Now Ive spent 24,000 and still in the same situation! My wife has been on with a supervisor at MERC and he has been working with the dealer! They are aware of this issue and told her there is NO FIX to the problem as of yet! But they are working on it! I really dont want to give back our boat its ALL Set up with electronics Lights etc etc... So I think we will MAKE them give us an extended warranty for 5 years for FREE so at least we have a clear head that if this keeps happening we wont have to pay for this... Our boat only came with a ONE year warranty! Has anyone else out there been going through O2 sensors every week??? Merc thinks its the height of the risors and manifolds causing this issue! They may have to change the risors to lower ones! I will keep you all posted here and let you all know what is going on !​

 

[spfortjohn]

The ECM motors have problems. That is why I bought a 09 without that emissions crap on it. If you keep it push hard for the warranty

 

[Bt Doctur]

A-B minimum 13 inches

 

[mistercomputerman]

A-B minimum 13 inches

What about that distance causes an O2 sensor to fail?

 

[mistercomputerman]

Ok, our dealer is READY to take our boat back... They have been to US 3 times in 3 weeks! As of now ALL 4 O2 sensors have been replaced with NEW ones! Now one of the 1st new ones they changed has gone bad again! So its not like a Merc installed fautly sensros from the factory! Now one of the dealer installed sensors just went bad yesterday! It lasted about a week!!!! Bought this boat brand NEW 3 weeks ago and the dealer has been back 3 times! We went back to the dealer yesterday and he said use the boat for the weekend, if it happens again this weekend he will take the boat back! Thats all and great and he wants to put me into a 2011 280 Sundancer! From what I am told the dealer has SEVERAL BOATS with this same issue!!!! So why would I want to get a 2011 280 Dancer pay them the difference ( 24,000 ) and that boat have the SAME dam issues! Now Ive spent 24,000 and still in the same situation! My wife has been on with a supervisor at MERC and he has been working with the dealer! They are aware of this issue and told her there is NO FIX to the problem as of yet! But they are working on it! I really dont want to give back our boat its ALL Set up with electronics Lights etc etc... So I think we will MAKE them give us an extended warranty for 5 years for FREE so at least we have a clear head that if this keeps happening we wont have to pay for this... Our boat only came with a ONE year warranty! Has anyone else out there been going through O2 sensors every week??? Merc thinks its the height of the risors and manifolds causing this issue! They may have to change the risors to lower ones! I will keep you all posted here and let you all know what is going on !​

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Your dealer is your friend. If you don't treat him that way, you may find that getting your problems rectified are more difficult. The guy has already offered to take the boat back...what else do you want out of them?

There is a recognized problem. The manufacturer of the motor recognizes that and they have been in communication with you about solving it. I had a problem with Mercruiser, kept my cool, and ended up with an EXTREMELY favorable outcome.

Pull your panties out of the crack of your a$$ and work with the folks who have the ability to solve the problem. Give them a reasonable amount of time and effort to solve it. Otherwise, take the dealer up on his offer and buy a boat some place else.

It isn't the only boat on the planet.

 

[Bt Doctur]

salt water misting comes to mind

 

[mistercomputerman]

salt water misting comes to mind

Thanks!

 

[harleymhs]

After the last O2 sensor install, I looked at the photo that Bt Dr put up here, and I kept the fuel quanity LOW ( 1/4 ) and had it like that ALL weekend! NO Alam no codes! It must be when I fill the boat up with FUEL that added weight of 75 gallans of fuel must change the water line and interfer with the o2 sensor ! Im going to try it this weekend with a full tank of fuel and see if this causes the o2 sensor to fail! Thanks for all your posts!

 

[carterchapman]

If it works out that way, that would be great info to pass along to your dealer/MerCruiser...

 

[harleymhs]

Thanks!

The dealer is working close with me and Merc and the Dealer are ALL doing the right thing for us! Ill keep on reporting here to give everyone the updates!!

 

[skolbe]

I had the first year Kohler put a catalytic converter on generators. It was frustrating - but they made everything right and runs great now. With new technology on boats - you have to be patient. Hang in there.

 

[Bt Doctur]

if that is the case you need to figure the added load and see what size extention is required provided you have the room for the extention.

 

[harleymhs]

I guess that will be Mercs issue to see what they can do... The Merc Rep is at the dealer today with several other boats there that have the SAME PROBLEM! Im just guesssing that the extra weight of the fuel is causing the boat to sit deeper in the water line and causing this issue! I dont think merc has different risers to change that would be years away if they have to design something different! I wonder why 2009 and 2010 dont have the isse mostly on the 2012...

 

[mistercomputerman]

The dealer is working close with me and Merc and the Dealer are ALL doing the right thing for us! Ill keep on reporting here to give everyone the updates!!

There you go.

Sometimes Mercruiser seems to release products before their time, but, it also appears that they make it right. It just may take some time. The process can be frustrating, but, they want you and me as customers, so they know that they have to get it right to keep us.

 

[Bt Doctur]

http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/c/MER9B1/Spacers+for+Mercruiser

 

[Bt Doctur]

Mercury Marine Oil Requirements for Gasoline Engines and Preventing Contamination of Engines with Emissions Control

If Mercury MerCruiser Full‑Synthetic, 20W‑40 oil is unavailable, use the following lubricants, listed in order of recommendation.

If you are servicing a catalyst engine, use these for short periods of time only.

1. Mercury/Quicksilver 25W‑40 Synthetic Blend, NMMA FC‑W–rated 4‑cycle MerCruiser oil

2. Mercury/Quicksilver 25W‑40, NMMA FC‑W–rated 4‑cycle MerCruiser oil

3. Other recognized brands of NMMA FC‑W–rated 4‑cycle oils

4. A good‑grade, straight‑weight detergent automotive oil according to the last row of the operating chart below.

NOTE: We do not recommend non‑detergent oils, multi‑viscosity oils (other than as specified), non FC‑W–rated synthetic oils, low‑quality oils, or oils that contain solid additives.

Mercury Full-Synthetic MerCruiser Engine Oil, 20W-40, NMMA FC-W rated

MerCruiser/Quicksilver 25W-40 Synthetic Blend, NMMA FC-W rated 4-cycle MerCruiser oil

Mercury/Quicksilver 25W-40, NMMA FC-W rated 4-cycle MerCruiser oil
Other recognized brands of NMMA FC-W rated oils


Preventing Contamination of the Emissions Control System

Catalyst and oxygen sensors can become contaminated, leading to component failure. Phosphorus, found in some marine‑grade oils, and other compounds will damage or destroy a catalyst's ability to clean the exhaust. Catalyst‑friendly oil, like Mercury Full Synthetic MerCruiser Engine Oil, prevents this damage. Approved synthetic oils must be used in MerCruiser engines with emissions control.

 

[SeaRide]

I guess that will be Mercs issue to see what they can do... The Merc Rep is at the dealer today with several other boats there that have the SAME PROBLEM! Im just guesssing that the extra weight of the fuel is causing the boat to sit deeper in the water line and causing this issue! I dont think merc has different risers to change that would be years away if they have to design something different! I wonder why 2009 and 2010 dont have the isse mostly on the 2012...

Harley,

I hope Merc. and Sea Ray resolve your issues quickly. Sounds like you are on the right track. The reason you do not see many 2009 (if any) and 2010 models with the issue is because the manufacturerers were not required to equip their engines with catalytic converters which required oxygen sensors until Jan. 2010. So, if your engine was produced in Dec. 2009, a catalytic converter was not required. In addition some engnes were exempt for a couple of engines were exempt as they werer nearing the end of their prodcution cycle.

 

[harleymhs]

A quick update.. We went back to the dealer yesterday after Merc talked with them ( and spent several hours on our boat on WED ) Merc concluded our boat can accept the updated riser kit.. Merc already shipped out a few sets to the dealer... they completed one boat that was problematic and ran the boat for a week with the merc rep and NO o2 sensor issue anymore.. they were going to get him out of his boat as well ( 260 sundeck to a 280 sundeck ) and from what I heard HE IS KEEPING HIS 260 being that it is fixed!! We went down to look at the 280 2011 and my wife and I decided we LOVE the 2012 better than the 2011 280 .. there are things we like bettter on our boat and a few things we liked better on the 280 ! So we decided to let the dealer and Merc fix our boat and take it from there.. Plus 11,000 more in our pockets! Merc extended our warranty for another 2 years for our trouble now we have a 4 year warranty for free... so if they fix our boat and no more O2 sensors go off we are good to go.. If now then Ill make them take the boat back and get another one.. Thanks for ALL your responses to my thread!!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Imagine that , all the boat builder had to do was follow the installation instructions on how to install the drive system.
Surprised they agreed to the extentions and not claim it was the boat builders problem and submit a claim for the parts to correct their problem.
Now if i could only get them to build with more intelligent access to the various system installed in boats I would gladly wait for Mercruiser to get in touch with me.
yea right....................................................

 

[harleymhs]

If anyone was following this thread.. Its now Sept 12, the Dealer took the boat back in Mid August for an ENGINE change and merc didnt send all the parts to do install the new engine ( thats another long story) So the Dealer has auth from Sea Ray to get a NEW 2013 260 for no cost to us... So we decided at that point to go to a 2013 280 at their cost.. We got the boat we really wanted and now could afford it.. and paid very little for a 200,000 boat.. Sea Ray and my dealer did the right thing for us.. Just wanted to report back here if anyone was still following this thread..