Complain about a product or service

Volvo Penta

Paul of Orlando FL (1/1/04):
March 2003 I purchased a new Boat with twin Volvo Penta 4L Diesel engines. December 10 I talked to the Regional Volvo Rep about a high pitch whine from my port engine. Several hours later the local Volvo service area mechanic called and we set up a appointment for the next morning to meet at my Boat. I met with the mechanic the following morning and he determined that the Turbo Charger bearings were NG. He told me not to use the boat and that he would order a Turbo Charger for the engine from Volvo.

This looks like the wrong decision. What would happen if I were on a trip and I have a mechanical problem with these engines I have 102 hours on these engines and a 5-year warranty (GOOD LUCK TO ME).

John of Lake Worth FL (7/21/03):
The problem started in January of 2003. It has to do with my 2002, 20-foot Seamaster boat with a 135-horsepower Volvo Penta engine. When the problem started the boat would seem to run for about 20 minutes & just die. I contacted a Volvo authorized mechanic about my problem -- Burt at Eagle Marine in Delray Beach, Florida. He subsequently came out to fix the problem. He could not fix the problem initially. He tried several other options - still it could not be fixed.

Without being a professional mechanic I could tell it must have been some kind of fuel flow problem. Be that as it may, $900 and 7 months later it is still not fixed. Being completely frustrated I finally Contacted Volvo-Penta in June of 2003 directly. I spoke with Christine at first. She told me after speaking with my mechanic that there was nothing Volvo could do. She mentioned that the mechanic told her there was water in the gasoline.

Well, without being a mechanic myself, shouldn't he have fixed the problem initially if that was the problem? All he did was put new parts into the boat & my frustration continues as this did not solve the problem. I have since spoken with Mike at Volvo & after going back & forth on this issue, he is asking me to fix the boat myself. Does this even seem logical to you?

The way I see it, I have a 6 year warranty on the boat through Volvo & all the repairs should be covered under this warranty. I have a $900 unpaid bill sitting on my desk for repair work obviously not done. Also,I have taken a lot of time from work to tend to this matter along with numerous phone calls. Not to mention the embarrassment of being towed by Seatow Company (our local boat emergency service) numerous times. Well worth the $95 membership in this situation!

If there was indeed water in the gasoline, that could cause serious engine damage, which would most likely not be covered under the warranty. John should consult an independent mechanic and get his opinion, or if he simply wants to contest it, the next step is to hire an attorney, which will be expensive and perhaps nonproductive.

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