It's been difficult getting someone to help getting my new 2.5hp Mercury to start

Bought the 4 stroke motor last month and haven't been able to start it more than 3x. Called Mercury support and asked for advice: unless the manual was followed to the T, I had to go to a Mercury dealer that had service - in this case under warranty.

Of the 10 local dealers with service, either NONE returned my call left on their answering machines or in the case of one dealer, said he wouldn't have the time to look at it. Finally one place said he could fit it in August 19. It's not as if the motor needs major repair, just maybe a tweak to find out why it won't start.

New gas, upper and lower unit oil levels fine, new spark plug that came with the motor. I did smoke some after the last start. Not too thrilled with Mercury though I did once own a 90 hp that worked great on my bass boat for decades until ethanol gas killed it.

I’d start with changing spark plug,,,,only because if it ever loaded up, it may not be any good,,, also it could have cracked when someone installed it last time round,,, always start with most obvious stuff,,, so spark plug being #1 issue with smaller engines

I guess with the shortage of new boats and motor. People are having repairs made and running what they have. Still no reason they shouldn't get you in under warranty quickly

Spark plug change. hmmmm. At least the gap is good though the plug might not be even the right one.

I called my local shop for the first 20 hours servicing. She asked where I bought the boat, and upon hearing elsewhere, stated it would be four months before they would be willing to look at it. No way they are booked solid for four months. Call other places until you get someone is all you can do.

Someone has to get you in, that’s unreal


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Someone has to get you in, that’s unreal

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Yeah, the 19th of August. Mercury could give a **** how fast warranty work is performed. Sad, it used to be a good company with good service outlets. Guess dinky 2.5 hp motors don't generate warranty repair $$$ as do much large motors.

Probably don’t want to hear this...I wouldn’t touch a thing more and exercise patience. Any thing you do MAY void warranty coverage. Anymore companies look for reasons to avoid warranty coverage...JMHO.

Patients would be good in this time. The only plus is it is hot as blazes out. The part that would drive me nuts is I bought the motor to use not to have to wait for it to be worked on so I can use it

Good idea about not touching a thing on the motor risking warranty. Besides like Doc says - it's freak'n hot on the only lake I use it on. No rush considering I have smaller lakes to fish that are only tm-allowed and do as well if not better.

I saw a video on youtube about how to crank a merc 2.5hp.. The guy opened vent on top of gas cap, opened valve between tank and carb,, pulled choke out, turned tiller throttle to start...pulled starter rope a few times..did not crank..he might have pushed choke back open?? Then he opened throttle a little more and it cranked. I would change the spark plug, I got a bad one once.

Thanks for the tip. Tried everything except change the plug. Guess I'll wait until next month and let the mechanic tell me what's up. I'll post the remedy or the fix.

The gas cap vent got me on a small Nissan 2 or 3hp outboard I bought years back.

It would be easy to start with checking for spark. If its sparking and not starting, then check that its getting fuel and air. If it has air/fuel and spark, it should be trying to start atleast.

Thanks - great tips!

If I had a new motor that wouldn't start and the dealer wouldn't fix it today I would pull it off and throw it through his front window.

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I bought it through PED on-line. They sell but don't fix same as many of the distributors in my area. I haven't asked whether I can return it for a refund mostly because the shipping would be half the cost of the motor. I pray someone in a 50 mile radius can get it running and do maintenance if needed in the future. My 90hp Merc never did near the end but then it cost over a few thousand to stay working.

The old you didn't buy it from us routine. Man I hate that. If they do warranty work it shouldn't matter to them where it was bought. They do warranty work so the manufacturer is going to pay them for it.
Air conditioning supply house are about the same. I went and to some classes and got some certifications. Work offered to pay for it so why not. A year or so agoI had the capacity go out in the middle of the night on the blower fan. When the supply house opened I went and bought a capacitor. Sales man asked did I have an account, no. Do you work for any of our contractors, no. Then I got told how much I should be thankful for him selling me this capacitor. How since I was not in the click he had to mark it up 40%. I paid him and he kept going. I said it sure is funny you didn't mention any of this when I was down here paying to take the certifications. I appreciate you selling me the capacitor. Since it is cold and the wife wanted the house warm. Let him know I would not be back to buy anything else. Followed me out to the truck explaining how he didn't know I had been through there program. These types of shenanigans is the reason most people buy on line for things. I realize that they have to make a living. Yet if that dealer had taken the time to look at the outboard he would have likely gained the opportunity to sell you a lot more in the future.

Unfortunately big ticket items mean big profit margins which includes sales and warranty work. But you're right - I'd much rather give my business to someone who at least make the attempt at doing what their supposed to vs Mercury Inc. which didn't and wouldn't. nonono

To me customer loyalty would mean big profits. Developing a relationship with the customer. Next time you were in need of an outboard you would walk in and ask what they had. You likely have a very small issue that could be resolved quickly. Sadly that dealer will be looking for work when the narket becomes flooded with arely used boats in a year or two.

Good thing car dealerships aren't like that!

HVAC supply houses are like a secret hand shake union. Worse than any UAW ever thought about being. Next time ring up Grainger.

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Given the poor quality of gas nowadays, that may be your problem. I agree with installing a new plug (easy) but if that doesn't work try draining all the gas out of it. Try a better grade/higher octane than regular, If you can get pure gas (not gasohol) even better.

Doing much more may void the warranty, as others have mentioned.

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

Good thing car dealerships aren't like that!

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:Rofl:Rofl:Rofl

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Originally Posted by wannabe fisherman

:Rofl:Rofl:Rofl

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My thoughts as well

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pure gas (not gasohol)

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Nearest station that sell is is 20 miles away. Mobil gas around the corner was fresh right from the pump into the tank above the motor - no go.

Have you checked the kill switch?

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Originally Posted by RobertFL

Have you checked the kill switch?

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yes

I was just looking at one of these motors and if it’s new , I bet the issue also could be low oil level switch is activating if it isn’t topped off,,,, did you check oil level and make sure it’s topped off? I believe these motors may have a switch that prevents starting if motor isn’t at a proper level,,,could have lost some oil from shipping,,,,

If it makes you feel better I have a buddy that has low compression on a cylinder. He has called every boat repair place within a 2 hours. December is the earliest anybody can get him in. He then said well Ill just replace it. Yamaha dealers said Xmas at the earliest. He is ordering another Merc stepping up to the 115. They told him between 3 and 6 months for a motor and being able to install. Most of the places have enough work now they can be picky.

As for dealers not being willing to do warranty repairs on units they didn't sell, it's in part because warranty repairs tend to be losing propositions. Manufacturers will only reimburse for flat rate plus parts and their flat rate schedules are established with expert technicians working in perfect conditions. It's not easy to match flat rate times in a working shop. It's one thing to lose money on a warranty repair for a customer who purchased from you and whom you would like to keep, it's another to do one for a walk-in who may never give you another dime.

Not saying it's right, just saying that's how it is. I've worked as a dealership mechanic.

BTW, while I presume this is a new motor and designed for today's lower octane gas, the same doesn't go for older motors. Some won't run at all on regular, other may run but will run much better on mid-grade or premium.

I've had the experience of buying gas that my car will run on but my old small engines won't.

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Originally Posted by SpeckMaster

As for dealers not being willing to do warranty repairs on units they didn't sell, it's in part because warranty repairs tend to be losing propositions. Manufacturers will only reimburse for flat rate plus parts and their flat rate schedules are established with expert technicians working in perfect conditions. It's not easy to match flat rate times in a working shop. It's one thing to lose money on a warranty repair for a customer who purchased from you and whom you would like to keep, it's another to do one for a walk-in who may never give you another dime.

Not saying it's right, just saying that's how it is. I've worked as a dealership mechanic.

BTW, while I presume this is a new motor and designed for today's lower octane gas, the same doesn't go for older motors. Some won't run at all on regular, other may run but will run much better on mid-grade or premium.

I've had the experience of buying gas that my car will run on but my old small engines won't.

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It is understandable. Yet giving a customer of the brand you sell the run around ensures he will not be spending another dime with you and or likely the brand in question. I also understand work is plentiful now. When it is not most dealerships would be happy to have warranty work to fill in the gaps.

I think I'd go ahead and fix it. Probably be out warranty by the time you get it in the shop anyway

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It's a $900 motor, I dont mean to sound rude when I say this but I would not worry about warranty. Yes you need to use authorized service locations for repair work to keep your warranty, but for a 2 month wait I would forget about it start troubleshooting myself. A 2.5 4 stroke is not a hard motor to work on, basically a tiny lawnmower engine. Fuel, air, spark. Basically its spark or carb.

With all that being said, this motor has a reputation for being hard to start. It is very picky with choke and throttle when starting, one of the worst in its class IMO. Double check its getting spark through the plug, if its getting spark then I am confident its just being a picky motor. There isnt anything else that would cause it other than carb, and these are very reliable and I find it extremely unlikely you gummed it up in 3 starts and less than a month of ownership (especially if you said its been hard to start each time). Unless something physically broke, I'm guessing its just being picky. Running it through full break in period will help with starting, as will using clean 87 fuel with no ethanol and treated with mercury quickare.

As for dealers saying long waits, that is what is going on right now. Help is hard to find, everyone and their brother had their boats sitting for a year, people are buying used boats instead of new ones because there are no new boats on the market, and part distribution is slow which makes for lengthy repairs. I dont know any dealer that is less than 4 week wait this year, even for a simple oil change. I checked around for 300 hr maintenance for my 90 merc and was told 3-6 month wait and $900-1000 from each shop. One shop said schedule now and they might be able to get it in before next memorial day... whole lot is full of boats and none are for sale.

Good luck and hope you get it figured out. I would say to even call up some small engine repair shops near you and ask if they will look at it.