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Well, my motor trim issue cropped up again and it just won't move. I keep getting a message that the trim is too high so the motor won't start. The trim is all the way down (confirmed on the lift by looking at it), but the gauge on the garmin is stuck at 42%.
I called my dealer (given the boat is 4 months old) and they are going to send a mechanic down but they are asking me to provide both a boat for the mechanic to stand on to try to adjust the sender and a truck to pull it back to the dealer (about 75 miles). Is this a reasonable request? My father-in-law has a bass boat that's kind of in pieces right now and I don't really know anyone with a low profile boat. I have access to get a truck to pull it back of course but I can't decide if this should be on me or the dealer to get worked out.
All in, I just want to have the confidence that my 4 month old boat will work when I get on it and right now, I just don't.
Ugh I feel for you on this. But yes to asking to bring it back to the dealer and to provide something for him to stand on, although if you can pull it out of the water IDK why you would need another boat for him to stand on? It should be one or the other.
I worked for a dealer for years and now a manufacturer of a completely different product and both warranty policies state that it is customer responsibility to bring it to a dealership for warranty repair or pay for a service call charge / hauling to shop. Now a lot of dealers absorb that extra cost but it would be up to them in the end.
I can certainly feel your frustration. You've spent a lot of money to have a repeated malfunction. Is the dealer doing this work for free or under warranty?
I can understand their request to have a boat available for the mechanic to work off of. This is the least disruptive way of getting at it. Otherwise he'd have to pull it out to get behind it. If it requires a trip back to the dealer, I would push for them to tow it back. The mechanic is driving there anyways and he could definitely drive a dealer truck to your location.
Yeah, it's all warranty work. Since it won't start or anything, they are going to try to fiddle with the trim sensor enough to get it started. I don't think I can get it on the trailer and out of the water with the trim down though without doing a ton of damage, even if we were to tow it over and load it by hand (and swimming).
one of the mechanics at the dealer is going to meet me at the boat tomorrow and help get it started so that I can hopefully get it on the trailer. It seems that he's going to have to short out the sender so that it thinks it's a 0%, start the boat, then take it to the trailer. Once there, he's going to have to disconnect the trim arms and tie up the lower unit with a ratchet strap, IF I don't rip it off pulling it out of the water on the trailer with it down all the way.
all with a 109F heat index tomorrow, it should be a fun day. lol Wish us luck ya'll!
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Might be worth checking with your marina, often times they will have service/tow boats or something they might be willing to help out with.
FWW - My R8S has been at dealer multiple times for issues (all relating to surf system) since getting it Memorial Day week. Seems there are many different issues with these boats based on my research via CobaltChat & FB. Guess we have the burden of first run model & redesign. Trying to keep my confidence that dealers & Cobalt will do what is necessary to resolve in a timely manner.
Good luck, stay hydrated and hope you're running again soon.
you know...my father in law (who's bass boat I'm using so the mechanic can get up under the lower unit) told me this: Are you healthy? Do you have food at your house so everyone can eat? Power on at the house? Good job? Ok, cool...so it's not THAT bad. Perspective folks, I'm fortunate that I have someone out there in my life that can give me some of that when it's needed.
I feel confident that Cobalt and the dealer is going to work through all of these issues...I knew that the first year of boat ownership was going to suck but dang, it REALLY sucks right now but in the grand scheme of things...it doesn't suck THAT bad.
Thanks all for letting me vent, I still do indeed believe these are the best boats on the planet for what I need. I'll keep ya'll posted after we get it out of the water in the 109F heat index tomorrow!
lespaulrob wrote: Wed Aug 11, 2021 2:45 pm
you know...my father in law (who's bass boat I'm using so the mechanic can get up under the lower unit) told me this: Are you healthy? Do you have food at your house so everyone can eat? Power on at the house? Good job? Ok, cool...so it's not THAT bad. Perspective folks, I'm fortunate that I have someone out there in my life that can give me some of that when it's needed.
I feel confident that Cobalt and the dealer is going to work through all of these issues...I knew that the first year of boat ownership was going to suck but dang, it REALLY sucks right now but in the grand scheme of things...it doesn't suck THAT bad.
Thanks all for letting me vent, I still do indeed believe these are the best boats on the planet for what I need. I'll keep ya'll posted after we get it out of the water in the 109F heat index tomorrow!
.
Exactly lpr....these are first world problems.
2002 Cobalt 262
&
2005 Cobalt 263
496 MagHO
(sold )
Erie, PA
Currently boatless (for now)
will fly for food
(CChat moderator)
Final update here: Looks like the cable for the motor trip had vibrated loose and was detached. The mechanic found it almost immediately and connected it back, recalibrated the trim and we were off to the races. Didn't even have to get the rescue boat in the water NOR did we have to put my boat back on the trailer. It was the best possible situation for all involved. Yay!
lespaulrob wrote: Mon Aug 16, 2021 12:22 pm
Final update here: Looks like the cable for the motor trip had vibrated loose and was detached. The mechanic found it almost immediately and connected it back, recalibrated the trim and we were off to the races. Didn't even have to get the rescue boat in the water NOR did we have to put my boat back on the trailer. It was the best possible situation for all involved. Yay!
.
Great to hear lpr. Thanks for the follow up!
2002 Cobalt 262
&
2005 Cobalt 263
496 MagHO
(sold )
Erie, PA
Currently boatless (for now)
will fly for food
(CChat moderator)
lespaulrob wrote: Mon Aug 16, 2021 12:22 pm
Final update here: Looks like the cable for the motor trip had vibrated loose and was detached. The mechanic found it almost immediately and connected it back, recalibrated the trim and we were off to the races. Didn't even have to get the rescue boat in the water NOR did we have to put my boat back on the trailer. It was the best possible situation for all involved. Yay!
I'll bet you were really relieved. Where did it come loose? Any pictures?
2019 Cobalt R3 @ Greers Ferry Lake, AR
Home in Hernando, MS
lespaulrob wrote: Mon Aug 16, 2021 12:22 pm
Final update here: Looks like the cable for the motor trip had vibrated loose and was detached. The mechanic found it almost immediately and connected it back, recalibrated the trim and we were off to the races. Didn't even have to get the rescue boat in the water NOR did we have to put my boat back on the trailer. It was the best possible situation for all involved. Yay!
I'll bet you were really relieved. Where did it come loose? Any pictures?
So if you remove the cover from the top of the engine, there's a Volvo Penta brain box thingy with a bazillion wires coming off to the rear of the engine. it was one of those wires. Had to cut the zip ties and he reached WAY WAY back in there to find it. It looks like it just didn't get snapped properly at the factory and it eventually came loose. THANKFULLY this happened in the slip and not in a cove with no mobile service. ha!
