Hello, I'm new to the forum. Maybe somebody out there has had similar problems to ours and would like to share their comments or suggestions.<br /><br />We have a 1999 39'6" x 12' aluminum workboat in which we had installed twin Merc 2.8 liter D-tronic diesel stern drives with Bravo outdrives. The engines were built in 1998 or 1999.<br />They are about 150 hp each. The boat is used in fresh water.<br /><br />Since the beginning we have had nothing but problems. First it overheated because the water pump belts disintegrated. Some of the Merc replacement belts failed within one hour of being<br />installed. After several replacements we installed non-genuine belts and seemed to cure this problem.<br /><br />The next thing to go, at 15 hours, was the power steering pump belt. All Merc belts that we replaced since then failed in short order too. We found some belts that were not genuine<br />Merc spares and they seemed to hold up. Also the tensioning device for these belts broke at this time.<br /><br />The belt problem was so great that three sets of belts had already been replaced after only 24 hours of use on the engines.<br /><br />We then had to replace the power steering pump itself. Within six months we had to replace the power steering actuator cylinder.<br /><br />Some of the other things to go wrong:<br /><br />- Throttle cables linkages failed and we replaced the throttle cables<br />- The dipsticks on the engine do not have Full or Low level markings on them for the oil<br />- The cooling water pump impellers have been replaced at least 10 TIMES on EACH engine!<br />- Gimbal collapsed on one engine, had to be completely replaced<br />- Bell housing at hingepin also collapsed, the casting burst through, appeared to be poor quality (on outdrive assembly)<br />- Mercury wrote to us about the premature wear on belts and sent us new style belts. Told us "A kit is now available to solve vibration problems." They supplied us with new engine mount<br />kits. (This did not solve the on going problems.)<br />- The Low Oil alarm switch exploded<br />- One turbocharger failed and had to be replaced<br />- An exhaust elbow disintegrated - turned into powder (this is a cast part) we had to replace it and all the related parts (The Merc lab reported "nothing wrong with it")<br />- Westgate exhaust pipe, mcm, had to be replaced<br />- We had to replace the oil reservoir components for both engines<br />- And the second turbocharger fell apart this week. Note you cannot replace the bearings inside the turbocharger, but must replace the entire unit.<br />- There are less than 250 hours on these engines.<br /><br />We are trying to fix these engines "once and for all" but it looks like it just isn't going to happen.<br /><br />We heard from a reliable source that these engines are assembled in Belgium from components made in Eastern Europe. Clearly the Eastern Europeans have some serious quality control<br />issues.<br /><br />We went so far as to call the company in Belgium for help. Help, mind you, solutions; we weren't trying to get them to reimburse us or do something at no charge. We just want the boat to work!<br />They were evasive and uncooperative.<br /><br />We spoke to another man in the Midwest who had nearly identical problems to ours, and at 400 engine hours replaced the engines. He had spent almost the same amount as they cost<br />in the first place on parts and labor to repair them by the time he reached 400 hours.<br /><br />Are we all alone here, or are there more horror stories like this? Any suggestions on how we can locate other Merc 2.8 Liter D-Tronic owners?!<br /><br />I've run on long enough, and look forward to your comments.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Jane
