Bad Business

[zacs]

I appologize in advance for the long post.

As many of you may know, my motor crapped out in mid may, and I have been trying to get it fixed.

The yard I have used since owning this motor could not help me because the head mechanic quit.

So I went to the evinrude website, and found the approved service shops in my area. I called around and found an appointment 2 weeks later at another shop.

When I described the problem, the manager said immediately "Oh, that is a bad EMM (computer). No doubt about it." I said, well lets run it through a diagnosis and go from there.

So I brought it in on Friday. On Monday morning, I had to stop by and check a measurement for a new switch panel I am buying.

I asked if they had looked at it yet. The manager asked me again what the problem was. I told him and he said, "that is a bad EMM. It is going to cost you $2000+, and it will probably take over a month, maybe longer to get the new EMM.

So I called on Monday night, and the guy tells me "yup, its the EMM. It is not sending signal to the coils and we have no spark. You are not getting spark. You will need a new EMM, which will cost around $1500 just for the part, and will take over a month. We have a guy here who has been waiting over a month and we still don't have notice when they will ship it."

I was getting just a weird feeling about it. According to my service manual, there are 14 things that could cause the same symptoms, and it seems that they just jumped to this diagnosis.

I have a friend that works at an awesome OMC shop far from here, north of boston, and I called him to see if I could bring it in. He said to bring it in.

So I show up Tuesday (yesterday) morning to get my boat, and they are telling me how I am going to miss the whole season, and it is going to cost me $$$, in my opinion hinting maybe it was time for re-power. I told them that I didn't have the money and I would have to take the boat home and figure it out. They charged me $120 for 1.5 hrs work to diagnose.

Now I am off on a two hour drive to trailer my boat to another shop, for what you could call a 'second opinion.'

The guy up there is Very Very good. Probably the best in the area. The only reason I didn't take it to him in the first place was that it is a 4 hr. round trip drive.

He immediately hopped right it, pulled the cover, and hooked up the laptop. With a few keystrokes, he runs a test and finds that the EMM is sending signal to the coils. He says, "well, your EMM is working." Next, with a few more keystrokes, he started the fuel pump running. So that is working. Then he checked the pressure off the pump. NO PRESSSURE. So he pulls the air box to test the lift pump. What do we see? The hose that clips on to the pump is hanging off loose. What is this??? This is not something that can come off on its own. it has to be unclipped. So anyway, lets test the pump. Sure enough, the lift pump is not working.

What does this mean? It appears that the RI shop diagnosed the problem to the lift pump, and then tried to scam me into big $$ repairs, and possibly scare me into a repower. They left the hose off to remind themselves that the pump was where the real problem was, or possibly they just forgot to hook it back up.

My guy up north ordered the part, and hopefully I will be back on the water in a day or two.

But to say I am steaming mad is an understatement. Once the pump is replaced and the boat is running well, I will be 100% sure that the RI shop was scamming me. I will call them out in public on every fishing and boating website I know. I will call the better business bureau. I will call evinrude [edit: BRP]. I will file with my credit card to not pay the $120. I may even call the police.

Stay tuned.....

[RIJIMMY]

good for you Zac, that really sucks. Never mind the amount of time and money you lose everytime you cant use the boat.

[MarshCappa]

What A-holes! I'm glad everything is working out for you. Hopefully they will get what's coming to them!

[fish4striper]

That sucs, f'in crooks, ya gotta be careful wherever you take your boat or car. If it works out like you saw let us know where to stay away and shout out the good guys name.

[zacs]

unfortunately the good guy doesn't want to be dragged into it, and I can respect that.

I will certainly warn you all where to stay away from though.

[FishermanTim]

If your friend is a certified machanic, and can document what he found as the problem (and what the RI dirtbags tried to do), then you definitly have a case of fraud. You could probably go after them for the money you paid them (diagnosing a problem they caused).
In any case, I'd make sure that you "legally" go after them and let the public know. Who knows how many other people were ripped off by these people?

[BillyBlanks]

Get 'em Zac............get 'em good, scumbags

[zacs]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

If your friend is a certified machanic, and can document what he found as the problem (and what the RI dirtbags tried to do), then you definitly have a case of fraud. You could probably go after them for the money you paid them (diagnosing a problem they caused).
In any case, I'd make sure that you "legally" go after them and let the public know. Who knows how many other people were ripped off by these people?

He is definitely BRP aurthoized shop /certified. And that is the plan.

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Who knows how many other people were ripped off by these people?

Thats what I was thinking. It is pretty sad/scary when you see how many boats are in their lot.

Just to clarify, they didn't cause the problem. They just lied and said I needed a new EMM, which is big $$$, when it is obvious they found the real problem, the lift pump. They also tried to scare me into re-power, by telling me I was going to have to pay over $2K, and miss most of the season.

Zac

[Nebe]

go gettum zac

[keeperreaper]

A trustworthy mechanic and an honest boat yard are worth their weight in gold.

[MakoMike]

Zac,
That just plain sucks! Please let us all know who the scumbags are so no one else has to go through this.

[Raven]

I can't wait to get their name..... for calls to the boat sales department... then saying oh yeah i forgot, you guys are crooks.

and hang up ....

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Zac,
That just plain sucks! Please let us all know who the scumbags are so no one else has to go through this.

i wouldnt say who they are until Zac has had time to act. Keep it to yourself zac so these guys wont know your coming

[MakoMike]

That would be good advice if he's contemplating a lawsuit. Short of that, there's no reason I can see to keep it secret.

[zacs]

i'm not contemplating a lawsuit.
I'm only out $120. I will file complaints as mentioned.

I will also definitely out them all over the internet. here, sol, nbs, noreast, tht, classicmako, classicseacraft, continouswave, iboats, etc... I will also look up the freshwater sites too and slam them there.

I just want to wait until I have my boat and I know it is running 100%, and be completely sure that it was just the lift pump.
I will do serious damage to their reputation, so I just need to be absolutely certain, and the only way I can is with a running motor to prove it.

Zac

[Raven]

reminds me of the time i was working in this lawn mower shop and this guy brings
back his mower saying it wont start anymore///

the boss is all angry with me...a short japanese guy with a napolean complex....
kinda nutty really...like mr miagi on steroids with a bad attitude.

so this piece of equipment, i had it starting ........in a half of a pull...
and i had done the most perfect valve job imaginable on it..

so i was extremely puzzled.. saying WTF
pulling and pulling nuthin?

when he origionally brought it in i asked him if he wanted
his oil pan gasket replaced and he declined...it was leaking

i noticed it had been replaced and that gave me a clue...
so i take it apart and as i take the gear cover off
WHAM !!!! there it is plain as DAY the gears were no longer
aligned the alignment holes were off by several teeth...

and that only meant one thing...he had it apart and screwed it all up
and was blaming us...for it and in particular ME...

well i'll tell ya , i jumped back like it was a hand grenade and called all
the mechanics over to witness this crap and confirm what i'm seeing!!
they all agreed with my diagnosis and called in the crabby boss
who wouldn't hear any of it...

old TED got so pissed off he threatoned to hit him with his Hammer
if he didnt shut the hell up and look for himself...

fully vindicated....and now his favorite star...
man did that japanese guy go mental on that guy
you woulda thought he was gonna explode swearing in japanese and
throwing things telling that guy to get his junk outta here and never come back
.....it was a riot... best day on the job ....period...

[Hooper]

Zacs, good for you going the extra step to prevent a definate scam. What year is your 'Rude?

[nightfighter]

hmmm....who Wood that be?

[Duke41]

Zac,

Good for you. Those losers are greedy %$%$%$%$%$%$%$s. LETS TAKE THEM DOWN!!!

[Raven]

when they go out of business we all invest in the place
and make it the S-B Marina complete with a baitshop.

[zacs]

Originally Posted by Hooper

Zacs, good for you going the extra step to prevent a definate scam. What year is your 'Rude?

It is the 2000 150HP Ficht that I bought from Mr. Sandman on this board.

The thing has run like a top. One crank and it starts.

I rec'd word this morning that it is running great. Cost me a lift pump & 2 hrs. labor. Approx $400 total. I will make the long drive to pick her up on Saturday morning.

Like I said, I will wait until I have a chance to give her a test drive before I rain terror down on this unsuspecting SCAM ARTIST.

Zac

[PaulS]

Glad it was only 400 and not 2000.

Why not call them up and nicely tell them what you stated and that you don't think you should pay for their mis-diagnosis. Perhaps they'll refund the 120. If they say no, state your going to start complaining and maybe they'll then give it back.

Good luck.

[gf2020]

It appears that the RI shop diagnosed the problem to the lift pump, and then tried to scam me into big $$ repairs, and possibly scare me into a repower. They left the hose off to remind themselves that the pump was where the real problem was, or possibly they just forgot to hook it back up.

Very hard to prove that there was intentional negligent behavior here.

I believe I know which north of Boston Evinrude mechanic you are referring to and he is definitely the top Johnson/Evinrude guy in Eastern MA.

Pike Marine in Essex, Eagle Marine in Sagamore, Millway Marina in Barnstable and Ship Shops in South Yarmouth would be right up there too.

[MakoMike]

It would be interesting to know what they would say if you called them on it.

[zacs]

i plan on it, so I will let you know.

[daceman63]

file a complaint with the attorney general's office as well...

[MTC]

I have a lawn mower with a gummed up carb... lawn ,ower guy say's engine shot... 20 hours on a John Deer... wife gives me the bad news... great!!! no lawn cutting for me this summer... will fix it next winter!

[TheSpecialist]

We should pick a crappy day, and do some informational picketing at the sob's place.....