Volvo Penta turbo deisel D3-160/SX Problems

Steamy_Rhodes

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14 Oct 2008
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South west Coast UK
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Hi

It's my first day and post here,I hope you can help,
IN 2004 I saw the new D3 and had one fitted in my boat, within 6 months electrolyses had eaten away at the out drive leg, The main dealer had my boat lifted out and it has sat by the side of the river since,Now I am told the only thing I can do is to sue him at great expence to myself, I am looking for other owners who had similar problems who can advice me and I was told a monthly boat magazine did a condeming report on this unit which I would like to know about so that it might help me

Regards

Steamy
 
Hi J Hamer

I think I can only say it was supplied new and fitted by a Main Dealer on the south west coast in the UK, and a …..cathawhat ?....every thing that came as a complete package from Volvo Penta was fitted I would think, I spoke frequently with the MD who went to great lengths to assure me that he knew what he was doing with many years of experience and assured me of good back up and after sales service before he took my money.
My boat is kept in fresh water in a well known Marine near were the Main Dealer/Agent is based, Marine Surveyors have looked at it and said galvanic isolators will not cure the problem the MD said two of Volvo’s specialists came from Sweden to look at it and they were not sure of the remedy, the only thing that is sure is that the outdrive leg is covered with pits and burns and the heads of stainless steel bolts have corroded away after only six months from new, does this help?

Regards

Steamy
 
Are you sure its not a problem with shorepower and something close too your boat in the marina thats caused the electrolysis. Its possible its nothing to do with the installation, does sound excessive for only 6 months.
 
No, it wasn’t connected to shore power, I did speak to the Marina at length and boats around me did not have the same problem,…yes it is excessive ! that’s why the MD didn’t put the boat back in the water, he knew there was a serious problem and he said so
This is the same boat as mentioned here so you see how long it’s been going on, The MD doesn’t seem to mind me loosing so much money on this multi Thousand pound engine outdrive unit installation within six months along with over four years of storage fees, boat insurance (a mandatory requirement in a marina) and all the other ancillary costs that go with it, but now I have issued a summons against him he is finding it unacceptable and to much to bear, that he should be the one to lose this huge sum of money and now sends nasty letters from his solicitor saying that he is not responsible
The help I need is that other boat owners have experienced the same or similar problems and if it was in an official form or a magazine so much the better, anything that would help me

Many Thanks for your replies and observations

Steamy
 
You seem to have let this issue fester for a long long time, why not get trading standards involved earlier and warranty with Volvo. Four years is long enough to allow the leg to rot of it's own free will.
 
Hi J HAMER

Yes it has been a long time, and of course hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the time has passed in this way:

The first year I was repeatedly asked to wait and be patient during which time the MD paid the storage after 14 months.

The second year again I was asked to wait and be patient with lots of promises from the MD but I received no payment for the storage at the end of the second year.

A further 6 months passed with the MD saying he was very short of money because he had bought more premises to operate from and could not re-reimburse me for the storage payments I had made for that year at that time

Then some months after that he said… “I have to admit I have had my head in the sand with this and Volvo Penta won’t help me with it, so you will have to sue me and I know you will win, shall I just paint it and put it back in?”

I spoke to my boat insurance company who seemed to drag there feet over this for ever then said….Your claim exceeds the amount you are covered for on your legal protection so we can’t help you.

I spoke to Trading Standards who said private court action may be your best option with Breach of Contract.

And in the last few weeks I have issued a County Court Summons against the MD.


So you see I agree with you that 4yrs appears too be a long time and don’t forget there is an additional 7 months added to the above time frame where the boat sat in the water.

Part of the criteria in prosecution is that all other avenues must be seen to have been tried, so I could not have done it any faster even if I wanted to and I am still asking for your help in this matter

Regards

Steamy
 
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