SeaDawg
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 45
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2017
- Boat Model
- Limited S
- Boat Length
- 21
I bought the boat new in May 2018 and have had zero issues up until the end of June. I have done all of my own maintenance at or before the recommended intervals. I took the boat out twice in early June and it ran great. The last weekend in June I took it out for the 3rd time of the season and made the mistake or running with all three battery switches in the on position. I ended up with a two dead batteries about 3/4 miles from the boat launch. I was towed at very low speed back (knowing there was a risk of water getting in the engines if towed too fast) to the launch. I charged both batteries overnight and the house battery was bad. The next morning was able to start the starboard engine on the other charged battery without issue. The port engine however would just turn over, but wouldn't fire. Unfortunately because of the location where the boat was stored it was difficult to get a new battery that weekend. The following day I pulled the plugs and the safety lanyard. I turned over the starboard motor without the plugs installed and no water came out, so I figured I had not hydro locked the engine. I checked the oil and found no water. I also removed the safety lanyard switched and switched the connections with the starboard engine. The port engine still started without issue, but not the starboard.
The next weekend I replaced the bad battery and made sure the other was fully charged. On the first attempt the port engine started, but I only let it run 6-8 seconds because I did not have a hose ready to hook up, so I killed it at the key. It wouldn't start again. After a few other diagnostic tests that didn't work, I let it sit over night. The first cold start the next morning, it started, but sputtered out after 3-5 seconds, then wouldn't start again the rest of the day. I did some more troubleshooting, including replacing the second battery, but over the next two weeks it would only occasionally, on the first attempt of the day start and run for a few seconds and die within 3-5 seconds. From reading other posts about older engines it sounded like I might have as sticky exhaust value, but doing this kind of troubleshooting was getting a little out of my mechanical comfort level.
The local dealer told me they could not get me in for 5 weeks, so I called other dealers within a few hours drive and found one who could get me in right away. After a week the service manager called and told me there was no water in oil, but "moisture" in the engine and "3 or 4 sticking values." He asked me several time if I was sure the engine was not hydro locked, which I don't believe it is (which at this point is just an educated guess). He told me they could send it to a local shop for a valve job, but that could quickly take the repair to $3.5-4K.
I asked with the boat being a relatively new (I have owned for only 38 months) if this would be covered by warranty. He was not very clear on the details, but said it would not be covered. I did not purchase the additional YES warranty, as the research I did before purchase showed these engines are usually very reliable. I plan to call Yamaha directly today. I have also only used Yamaha lubricants and tracked my oil changes on the Yamalube advantage site (does this warranty actually cover anything?).
Any thoughts or recommendations on how I should proceed (or other considerations)? $4k seems high for a valve job, but ultimately I need to get the boat running again! And wounding what the changes are the engine is also hydro locked...? Suggestions for working with Yamaha direct?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
The next weekend I replaced the bad battery and made sure the other was fully charged. On the first attempt the port engine started, but I only let it run 6-8 seconds because I did not have a hose ready to hook up, so I killed it at the key. It wouldn't start again. After a few other diagnostic tests that didn't work, I let it sit over night. The first cold start the next morning, it started, but sputtered out after 3-5 seconds, then wouldn't start again the rest of the day. I did some more troubleshooting, including replacing the second battery, but over the next two weeks it would only occasionally, on the first attempt of the day start and run for a few seconds and die within 3-5 seconds. From reading other posts about older engines it sounded like I might have as sticky exhaust value, but doing this kind of troubleshooting was getting a little out of my mechanical comfort level.
The local dealer told me they could not get me in for 5 weeks, so I called other dealers within a few hours drive and found one who could get me in right away. After a week the service manager called and told me there was no water in oil, but "moisture" in the engine and "3 or 4 sticking values." He asked me several time if I was sure the engine was not hydro locked, which I don't believe it is (which at this point is just an educated guess). He told me they could send it to a local shop for a valve job, but that could quickly take the repair to $3.5-4K.
I asked with the boat being a relatively new (I have owned for only 38 months) if this would be covered by warranty. He was not very clear on the details, but said it would not be covered. I did not purchase the additional YES warranty, as the research I did before purchase showed these engines are usually very reliable. I plan to call Yamaha directly today. I have also only used Yamaha lubricants and tracked my oil changes on the Yamalube advantage site (does this warranty actually cover anything?).
Any thoughts or recommendations on how I should proceed (or other considerations)? $4k seems high for a valve job, but ultimately I need to get the boat running again! And wounding what the changes are the engine is also hydro locked...? Suggestions for working with Yamaha direct?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
