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| I replaced the spark plugs on my 2002 200 HP Mercury EFI this past weekend. One of the plug connectors was corroded to the point that I don't think it would even work. Everything else looks like new still. I know there was not any moisture in the boot so it must have been caused by a bad electrical connection or maybe a galvonic connection.
Called dealer about replacing the plug wire. Was told they could only order 6 and retail price was $74. I called Mercury customer service. They called back this morning and all they offered was the part number for the six pack of plug wires for $74. Basically I was told to bad, motors out of warranty and its my responsibility to replace it and they will only sell them as six pack.
Are there any alternatives? I hate to spend $74 bucks and end up with 5 plug wires that are still good.
Is this typical on how Mercury takes care of its customers? |
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Location: Rhinelander | Oh come on, it's Spark Plug wiring. If the company sells them as a set, it's because it's usually recommended that if there's one bad wire, you should replace them all. Same as car/truck spark plug wire sets in many cases. Since most customer service repair issues are handled by a dealer, they usually are the ones to let you know that's what you should do. They sell the spark plug wiring as a set (probably because of stocking issues) and you are able to buy them and put them on your motor. If the motor is out of warranty (5 model years old this june), you can't possibly expect that the builder will send you plugs, wires, or other like ignition parts no charge or break up a parts package, that's not in the cards for any product. I know if my F150 needs spark plug wiring it will do me no good to complain about the cost or the fact they want to replace the set, not just a single wire.
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Sworrall,
What are you talking about with 5 years old this June? Are you intentially trying to make it look like the motor is older than it actually is and that I am complaining for no reason?
Currently the rig is exactly 3 years and 10 months old since it rolled off the dealer lot.
Did I say I wanted a free plug wire? NO
Less than 4 years old with maybe 50 hours of use and I should replace all the plug wires? How many hours should I expect to get out of a $74 set of plug wires?
If I had to change my car plug wires every 50 hours I would currently be on set number 30 for my 2003 Ford Taurus. What set are you on with your F150? What does a replacement set of plug wires cost for your F150 since you want to use the F150 for your example? |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| You probably should ask for a set of wires, if the motor is still under warranty. If it is, go back to the dealer, and ask him to take care of you.
Other than that, you'll be buying a set of 6 wires. I don't think I ever bought or sold a single spark plug wire, when I was in the business, or since. Always had to buy a set. This is not a Mercury issue. It's standard practice for all manufacturers. Bet you can't buy a single spark plug wire for a Yamaha, Honda, Evinrude, Johnson, Tohatsu, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes. Just the way it is. |
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Member
Posts: 1656
| Erie,
Another alternative would be to clean up your spark plug wire connection, there are different electrical contact cleaners on the market that'll work fine. On the flip side $74 for a set of new plug wires is relatively cheap compared to the cost of the engine you're maintaining.
Good Luck |
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| Murrays did have a single spark plug wire the same length for $2.99. My dealer parts guy said it was probably a graphite core and he recommended not using it.
I went ahead and ordered the set.
I just find it odd that you can't get a single plug wire. You can buy a single spark plug and I would imagine you could buy a single ignition coil if needed. But the connection between the two only comes in sets. Just imagine hitting a curb and splitting a car tire and then having to buy four new tires to replace one? No one would want to have one tire with 0 miles and three with 25,000 miles on their vehicle would they?
I guess the root cause must be the fact that in most situations the plug wires in a set are all different in length. On the Mercury outboard they are all exactly the same length though. |
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| >Bet you can't buy a single spark plug wire for a Yamaha, Honda, Evinrude, Johnson, Tohatsu, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes.
This is not true in the auto industry. I work at a GM dealer and you can order plug wires individually. If GM has to replace a plug wire under warranty, they will not pay for a whole set, just the defective wire.
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Location: Rhinelander | I'll do the math for you, Erie.
2002 Model year, introduced in:
June of 2001
June of 2002
June of 2003
June of 2004
June of 2005
June of 2006
That's five model years, and five years that engine has been off the line from the date of build on the serial number tag to date. Sorry sir, it's the way all outboard engines are dated. Boats, for the most part, too. No offense intended.
Three years off the dealer lot is definitely out of warranty, and the bad plug wire could have been from a loose connection, corrosives on that connection, or any number of other reasons. My point is that this isn't warranty, and is no reason to very obviously negatively question a company's customer service. They sell the wires in a set. Buy the set, fix the motor, and go out fishing!
50 hours is an AWFUL small usage for three seasons, by the way. Just an observation. |
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Member
Posts: 238
| I agree with Sworall. It is a five year old motor. And I also agree with him, thats too nice of a motor to be sitting in the garage. Get out fishin!!!! |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| You originally said you called your dealer, and the dealer told you you could only buy a full set. So why blame Mercury for what you perceive to be poor customer service? |
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Location: Rhinelander | What it comes down to is folks are used to just plain complaining in any manner they want about whatever they feel like on many internet message boards, and it's hard to get used to the fact that isn't what we do here. I hope the motor runs like a watch now that it has new wires! |
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Member
Posts: 1195
Location: Orland Park, IL | Buy the 6, and sell the 4 left over (keep a spare for yourself) on ebay. Better still, sell them by the each on ebay. I bet someone would buy.
Think the old car trick regarding spark plug wires still works? Remember doing this a mechanic back in the pre-eduma-cation days.
Get her runnin, and using a spray bottle of water, give it a shot of fine mist. If she arcs, then the wires are bad. |
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| Sworrall,
Your beginning to seem like the one who is more upset about this situation, guy asked a simple question, and it does seem odd that they would not be sold individually. I guess if one of the plug wires went bad on my 10 year old boat, I wouldn't want to buy six when I only need one. "No offense" intended. Not trying to start a battle, but it just seems like a lot of manufacturers like to ( )to their customers...."just an observation."
Guest
P.S. just bought some rubber bumpers for a friend that go on the bottom of his foot pedal for his bow mount trolling motor. Looked like they worth about $.25.....only needed one......dealer will only sell them in packs of 4, and at a price of $16.00......c'mon give me a break....but you need them..... |
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Member
Posts: 340
Location: McFarland, WI | Now you got my goat. Obviously you complainers have never been in the retail business. We inventorie some 4 packs of oddball parts for years because they are rarely ever lost or damaged but as a service to our customers we keep a set around. If I open the package I can never return the item. I eventually eat the cost of some of these stock items that become obsolete. Our small business has an inventory in excess of 100K. Do you think there is no cost of maintaning that inventory. Do you know what shrink means? Every item on the floor has to share the overhead cost and that is how the margins are figured. There are a lot of items that are not worth financially stocking but we carry them to service our customer. Get into the business if you think its based on a "stick it to the customer attitude" and retailers are making a fortune. You can be the grand saviour of all consumers.
Larry Strelow
McFarland, WI |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | You are all missing a very important element and solution. The answer is right here and in front of you.
Install just the single wire. Sell the other 5 wires here on WF for $15 each. You end up paying nothing for your wire and you provide a valuable service to the rest of us by protecting us from those evil dealers/merchants/suppliers.
You’ll feel better being a part of the American enterprise system while providing a valuable service. Your customers will feel better not having to deal with the ugly capitalists.
It’s a win win experience for everyone
Have I nice day,
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Location: Rhinelander | Sunshine, leave it to you to come up with the perfect solution. Guest, nope, not a bit upset, just keeping the conversation and comments acceptable. |
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