Some advice please.

[keana]

To cut a very long storey short, I have been having some trouble with my outboard. It seems that every time I go fishing there is a problem with starting the damn thing which has left me quite insecure about its starting ability when i`m out in the channel fishing. Back in Feb this year I traced a fault to the starter motor. Gave it to a friend of a friend to get fixed. Three days and 25 quid later it was back on the boat. The following week....turned the key "CLICK". Starter knackered again. Took it to a marine engineer this time (Sully Marine) as I needed some other work done as well. £180 quid and 2 weeks later (£33 for the starter bits) job done. Enginner said who ever did the job last time used inferior solder on the brushes and they just melted and fell off. So they fitted a new base plate and brushes to the starter. That was Feb this year. Three or four times since I have taken the boat back to them since with the same "CLICK"as I turn the key. They put it down to a sticky solenoid and eventually showed me how to `bridge the terminals to get it to work. Well I tried that and it didnt work. Ireckon that all this time it has been a faulty starter again.Those that have read my latest escapade on the Wales catch reports section will know what i`m talking about. So after this latest malarky, I took the starter off and tested it myself and found it to be faulty.(the solenoid was passing current through to the starter terminal). Took it to Sully Marine. They took the base plate off, after discovering for themselves that it wouldnt work by putting it straight across a battery, and found that one of the brushes had fallen off. On closer inspection only about 1/16" of the wire had any solder on it where the other had about 1/4".
So They phoned the parts co to ask if there was a waranty on these Mercury parts...he didnt know but would find out. Sully Marine have ordered a new part in the meantime and will arrive sometime next week.
THIS IS WHERE I NEED THE ADVICE........
Now they have said I will have to pay for the part again and claim it back from Mercury if they do sort out the warranty issue. This cant be right surely. Presumably I will have to pay for the Engineers time as well. I could be looking at another £50 bill. This is on top of the £33+labour before and the £25 for the first repair by a friend of a friend. Over £100 quid.....Sh*t man, surely not.

[Kaptin Kod]

Hi Keena, as the part was supplied by Sully marine they are obliged under law to replace the part at no cost to you. (not sure about fitting cost)To confirm this you should ring the local trading standards office and ask the same question, they will give you all the advice you need and when you speak to Sully marine and tell them you have sought advice they will change there mind I'm sure.

If you are not happy with the service why don't you give westpoint marine a call as they are a mariner approved dealer / service agent and may even be able to help you out.

Paul

[keana]

Thanks Paul,
Took your advice and phoned Trading standards who put me through to Consumer Direct (Wales). Apparently, if they do get arsey I can hit them with the "supply of goods and services" act 1982. I dont actually mind paying the labour fees if I have to, but I do object to paying for faulty goods especially from an organisation the size of Mercury. Thanks for your help.

[pingu]

definately the goods are down to them
and they sort out return etc... its just them trying to avoid the hastle

labour not too sure about though