Nissan service problem after online purchase

[Meddyn]

I bought a Nissan 9.8 (NSF9.8A3EF4) from "Online Outboards" a couple weeks ago. I checked the local dealers for the long shaft electric start engine I needed and nobody had anything close. Transaction went smooth as silk and the motor arrived in a couple days. Put it on the boat, fired her up and all was fine. After an hour of break in I pulled the cowl to check the oil and noticed the rubber seal on the cowl was loose at the back. It had some type glue on it and would not stay in place. When I put the cowl back on the latch at the back would not lock the cover down. Now, when you tilt the motor (or try) the cover comes off. Seems the rubber seal spacing is needed to lock the cowl in place. No big deal. A quick call to Online Outboards and the guy said "take it to a servicing dealer". Oh boy. It may be different elsewhere but the servicing dealers around here told me they don't touch online purchased motors. I learned a lot from them about how unfair Toyhatsu was by allowing the selling of outboards online, how the parts were difficult to obtain and how they were dropping the line. I've sent another request to Online Outboards asking could I just return the cowl to them and let them put the rubber seal on it. Nothing yet.

I was looking at the Toyhatsu 9.8 yesterday at one of the dealers that wouldn't work on the motor. The cowl seal on the Toyhatsu motor wraps around the cowl and would never fail like the Nissan did. An online catalog showed the part as "3V2-67501-0 Top Cowl Seal L=1295" I'm thinking of just buying that seal and trying to rig a fix. Tilting that motor like it is now will eventually end up with the cowl in the water. Anybody know if the cowl seals are interchangeable?

 

[pvanv]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

You are mistaken to a degree. Yes, there are Internet *****-dealers who don't want to do any service after the sale, but there are good and bad in any and every field. The local, bricks-and-mortar servicing dealers don't buy motors in huge quantities, so don't get pricing that is quite as good... but if they want to, they can match price. We do. Let's face it: How much mark-up is there in a small motor sale anyway? The real, ongoing, business is... and always has been... in service. DIY-ers buy parts and manuals, and the "hands off" owners buy full service.... Year after year.

Tohatsu America understands all of this, and wants the servicing dealers to take warranty repairs on motors that they may not have sold... and... if the mechanics are factory-trained, the servicing dealership even gets a premium on their labor rate when they do warranty work on a motor they didn't sell originally. In addition, since the Internet ***** dealers never bother to perform a Pre-Delivery Inspection, you can take the motor to any authorized servicing dealer within a month or 2 of purchase, and have that done for free. Basically the only cost to you would be for oil or other consumables. The servicer can get his labor reimbursed by Tohatsu America, who will charge-back the Internet ***** dealer (who didn't bother to even look inside the box to see if it was full of concrete blocks, or actually contained a motor). So... you need to find a more accommodating local dealer, and you should report the lack of helpfulness from the dealer who didn't want to service your motor to 214-420-6440, so Tohatsu America is aware of their poor attitude. If they hear enough of those complaints about that dealer, they will probably cull them out of the dealer network -- revoke their dealership. You can find a local dealer at http://nissanmarine.com/search/index.html

Yes, the 3V1675010M SEAL RUBBER, TOP COWL is required for the buckle-latch to operate correctly. And it is identical between the Nissan and Tohatsu 9.8A3 motors. The only difference is the decals and the price. Period. The parts are not at all difficult to get (we order directly online from Tohatsu America, and our parts arrive by 2-day Fedex, unless we need them sooner).

If your local dealers continue to be so recalcitrant, drop me an email with your exact model and serial, and I'll mail you a seal under warranty.

 

[Meddyn]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

Thanks Paul. I was hoping to hear the Toyhatsu stand on service. I tried 3 local dealers and all told me the same thing. They are pretty hot at Online Outboards and I see for good reason now. I use these guys for other marine parts and service and just didn't give much thought to getting the exact motor I needed (sailboat long shaft) wherever I could. Two of the three dealers don't even stock motors, just service. I used the find feature from the website link you mentioned above to get their servicing dealer numbers. I didn't even know two of them did Toyhatsu service. No big deal though, lesson learned.

My hobby is buying and rebuilding boats. Do about 2-3 a year. I've been using the Yamaha 8 in most cases but my local dealer now only carries the larger motors. Not much call for sailboat engines either and the boats I use the small engines for kickers on usually want a Yamaha to match up to the main motor. With sail boats it doesn't matter and the Nissan/Toyhatsu brand has a good reputation and makes solid motors. I went back to the dealer that gave me the flack about the seal last week because I need another engine. This time I was wanting the 6hp "sail" model with alternator. The price he quoted was actually better than online outboards considering tax and registration. Later in the day he called and said he made a mistake and needed an additional $134 for shipping to get the non-stock motor in. Still not a bad deal. I don't want to shake the boat with a guy I do business with so I'm staying away from the seal issue mentioned above with him. These dealers are good people tired of getting burned. Sorry I added to it but I'm still stuck with a pretty hefty purchase.

I appreciate your offer and may take you up on it once I hear back from Online Outboards. I'm betting it will be the same "see your local dealer" response. Interesting, on the seal, how the new Nissan has a different seal held inside the cowl by glue where the Toyhatsu seal wraps around the cowl and won't come off. Nissan's looks better just doesn't work that well if the glue bond fails.

 

[Meddyn]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

Just heard back from Online Outboards. They said they would send a new seal. Dang that would have been a lot easier if ir would have been done first time I asked about it rather than referring to local dealer. But all is well now.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

Would it be possible for you to send me the names of the local dealer(s) that refused to provide warranty service? It is a violation of their contract and it needs to be addressed.

 

[pvanv]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

Elvin is really quite correct. Tohatsu needs to maintain the high level of customer service that they are known for. To be the best, you need to have the best, and that includes the dealers.

Incidentally, there is a very good option for sailboats these days: the Tohatsu MFS9.8A3UL. The 25" model comes with the 4-blade high-thrust prop standard, just like the Nissan. I have sold quite a few of them, and everyone loves them. Being the Tohatsu label, they are less expensive than the Nissan label.

 

[Meddyn]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

Elvin, I use these guys off and on for various marine services. One dealer is very active in Boating safety and the Power Squadron with me. I'm also real close to buying a "sail" model 6hp from one of them this week. I'd rather not ring their chimes over an online purchase. If I bought the motor from them then different story. Besides, now that I've done the online motor thing I see the often overlooked value in a local dealer. The dealer prep is a perfect example. This motor came with the cowl rubber loose and the tiller handle out of adjustment. I can fix these things and when you buy online you do the delivery check and may well get a chance to do some adjustments and repairs. As reliable and bullet proof as the motors are this is still a potential area for a rookie buyer to go down the tubes. Most handy guys and gals have no problem but I'm betting there have been some seized brand new motors shortly after delivery to a few buyers. I can see where the local dealers get hacked having to clean up after an online customer screws up the motor. So I'd rather just mend my ways and deal with my bros. rather than complain about them.

Bottom line, given the quality of the product and the response here I'm happy and confident full service can be had if needed.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

I understand. The problem is that these dealers that make it difficult to get warranty work, hurt Tohatsu and the consumer. I'm a big believer in providing service to a customer I LOST. After all, if you live near us and make a purchase from someone else, WE made the mistake. Maybe we were to high, maybe we couldn't provide X fast enough. Regardless, the consumer should never be punished for taking their business elsewhere.

Off Soap Box

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

I think that is the same vendor I bought my 18hp from.
I used that motor regularly for about 8 years, and never had it serviced by a dealer.

I changed the oil, plugs, and lubed it regularly.
Only thing I also needed to do was add a fuel stabilizer, Stabil worked fine,
as without the stabilizer it would occasionally idle rougher than usual.
Stabil fixed that and kept it running and idling good.

Your seal is a special situation, and the only reason I am posting this is to show that
with regular preventive maintenance, the motor should continue to perform, and may
not need to see a dealer for service.

I am glad that I bought it online, because the price was almost a grand less than other
comparable motors. I was using oars on my jon boat, and couldn't afford the higher prices.

Keep it tuned and lubed, and with Stabil, you won't go wrong.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Nissan service problem after online purchase

With regular preventive maintenance, the motor should continue to perform, and may not need to see a dealer for service.

Plainly in agreement + use fresh fuel if fuel additives are not available, run bowl dry after use, start engine with muffs, go for a spin on water if possible each 15 days to maintain internal lubrication if you don't winterize engine. A hour meter would be ideal for scheduled peventive maintenance.

Happy Boating

 

[MikeH007]

I just read on catalina250 forum that you can buy the 3M double sided adhesive tape used to cement the MFS8A2 cowling seal. Lots workto release the old one from the rubber seal itself first. My model is. 2004 so I cannot complain too much after all the years of exposure. Still the issue is so prominent online that Tohatsu should post a repair bulletin online. The design. of the seal using the foam two sided tape is really tacky (no pun. Intended) considering the overall high quality of the product.