Warning SeaDoo

I bought a Seadoo Sportster 4TEC less than 30 days ago with only 8.5 hours on the motor. A seat anchor screw penetrated the air intake when the boat was made resulting in water in the engine. Seadoo is not handling the situation to my satisfaction. I would not recommend buying ANYTHING from SEADOO or BOMBARDIER! Bad news!



Jp

Would I suggest that you possibly might not be contacting the right people at BRP. See my post here, http://seadoosportbo...findpost&p=1402, and give Remy a call. Explain your situation to him and see what he says.

I bought a Seadoo Sportster 4TEC less than 30 days ago with only 8.5 hours on the motor. A seat anchor screw penetrated the air intake when the boat was made resulting in water in the engine. Seadoo is not handling the situation to my satisfaction. I would not recommend buying ANYTHING from SEADOO or BOMBARDIER! Bad news!



Jp

How exactly are they not handling the problem to your satisfaction? And, is it BRP or your dealer who isn't handling the problem to satisfy you. Elaborate a little for us.... Is this the only problem you have had with the boat?

Would I suggest that you possibly might not be contacting the right people at BRP. See my post here, http://seadoosportbo...findpost&p=1402, and give Remy a call. Explain your situation to him and see what he says.

I'll give it a try. The sad thing is that it is taking soo long to fix the problem. The starter is bad, water in the engine, parts aren't showing up on time. I keep being promised that it will be ready. The motor has been out of the boat and dismantled.

I mean I payed top dollar for a brand new boat and I'll get back a rebuilt engine. It's just not right. I don't care much for SeaDoo right now. I've tried calling thier main numbers, faxing letters, etc. Not one single person has even called me back. Going on 11 days now. I don't know how they get by with it.

Again, a new boat with 8 hours and 12 minutes. Total piece of junk! I anguish every minute.

jpeezy

I am sorry to hear about all your problems.

This just doesn't sound like BRP though, I have had problems of my own and they were dealt with properly. Of course it took some effort from me to find the right person to talk to but needless to say they were handled properly by BRP.

I mean look here, http://seadoosportbo...findpost&p=2415, one of the dealers on the site here got the customer a new boat because of hull damage.

Who exactly are you dealing with about your problems? Did you try to call Remy from the other post that I made?

I am sorry to hear about all your problems.

This just doesn't sound like BRP though, I have had problems of my own and they were dealt with properly.  Of course it took some effort from me to find the right person to talk to but needless to say they were handled properly by BRP.

I mean look here, http://seadoosportbo...findpost&p=2415, one of the dealers on the site here got the customer a new boat because of hull damage.

Who exactly are you dealing with about your problems?  Did you try to call Remy from the other post that I made? 

I have been talking to Rena and Carolyn at BRP. They both have been arrogant and non-sympathetic. Rena said their final position is that repairs will be made per the warranty and my boat should be ready soon. That would typically be a fair response except for the following:
1. I bought the boat less than 30 day ago.
2. Boat has 8 hours and 12 minutes on motor.
3. Motor got water in it due to seat anchor penetrating intake hose during manufacture.
4. Engine locked up.
5. Engine has been rebuilt.
6. Required a new starter.
7. I have not had use of my boat for the last 2 weeks.
8. I still don't have my boat.

I tried Remy but he is on vacation this week. Would you be happy with BRP? Don't you think they should just give me a new boat?

Thanks so much for trying to help. Maybe I'll be happy some day.

jpeezy

Well.....I learned a looooong time ago that there are not 2, but 3 sides to every story - yours, their's, and the truth.

However, I sense your frustration jpeezy and believe me, I've been there before. However, the beauty of growing old is the aqusition of wisdom. And never has the old saying about catching more flies with honey than vinegar been more true than when faced with a situation such as yours. I realize that you feel slighted, but I promise you that if you remain calm, show the dealer & BRP that you'll work with them, and keep reminding them both politely & firmly that the goal is to not just return your boat, but restore your faith in the company/product, you'll have folks working for you instead of working against you.

Several years ago I had a 3 year old Bayliner with severe mildew problems and nothing would get the mildew off. I wrote a polite letter to Bayliner describing the problem and told them I think they should use a better grade vinyl. That I felt they sacrificed quality to keep costs down. I didn't demand anything and didn't say anything ugly. I closed the letter by saying that in the next 3 or so years I would be buying a new boat and that I'm sorry to say that Bayliner won't be on my potential boat list. To make a long story short, a quality manager from Corporate called me and in short order Bayliner replaced the entire interior of my boat.

Please don't take this harshly, but in your post you elude to several calls, letters, FAX's, etc. all over the course of 11 days. If one takes out a couple of days for a weekend, in my mind that means you've kinda been hounding them for 8 days. Shoot, it would take a good mechanic 4 days alone to rebuild the motor. Here's what you should ask yourself. If you were the dealer and someone was riding you daily, saying desparaging things about the product both to you and to the internet community, how motivated would you feel to work with that customer? I get the strong sense you haven't given them a fair shot at making things right before you started bad-mouthing them. Try to remember that it wasn't them who built the boat. Just as you wouldn't (hopefully) bitch out a waitress for a bad steak (she didn't cook it).

I sincerely hope things work out for you. There's nothing worse than paying good money for something and then it not be right. But patience and a positive attitude will get you further than anger.

I work for one of the biggest Food companies in the world and I see situations like this everyday..... Do not, for 1 Minute think that one or two people speak for the entire company!!!
If you are not satisfied with the outcome/situation, go to the next person as others are mentioning. You need to do this the second you are not getting the service you want. There are MANY MANY ways to approach this, one of which is to start getting responses in writing ie..email if you can. Post them here and if things don't improve, I am sure a collaboration of this forum and others could easily improve your responses! Trust me on this!!! Part of the reason why these forums exist is to deal with these sort of things.

The Boat responded exactly how it should have...... not a piece of junk or you wouldn' have bought it....I hope.

GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND ALWAYS ASK FOR THEIR NAMES, IF YOUR ON THE PHONE plus their BOSSES NAME!

You may even get more than you expect if you handle this right.

I work for one of the biggest Food companies in the world and I see situations like this everyday..... Do not, for 1 Minute think that one or two people speak for the entire company!!!
If you are not satisfied with the outcome/situation, go to the next person as others are mentioning. You need to do this the second you are not getting the service you want. There are MANY MANY ways to approach this, one of which is to start getting responses in writing ie..email if you can. Post them here and if things don't improve, I am sure a collaboration of this forum and others could easily improve your responses! Trust me on this!!! Part of the reason why these forums exist is to deal with these sort of things.

The Boat responded exactly how it should have...... not a piece of junk or you wouldn' have bought it....I hope.

GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND ALWAYS ASK FOR THEIR NAMES, IF YOUR ON THE PHONE plus their BOSSES NAME!

You may even get more than you expect if you handle this right.

I do love how the boat responded. I'm getting older, have a heart condition and every day is precious to me. I just have a good intuition how this would have been handled if the problem occurred due to my negligence or abuse. I just can't imagine they wouldn't give me a new boat when the problem was so huge.

I'll try to chill. I just want my boat back so I can enjoy it.

jpeezy

I bought a Seadoo Sportster 4TEC less than 30 days ago with only 8.5 hours on the motor. A seat anchor screw penetrated the air intake when the boat was made resulting in water in the engine. Seadoo is not handling the situation to my satisfaction. I would not recommend buying ANYTHING from SEADOO or BOMBARDIER! Bad news!



Jp

Well I got my boat back a few days ago. Took off work early, went to the lake. Ran the boat for about an hour. Turned the motor off. Had problems starting motor. Finally got it going. Made it back to dock. Shut it down. Tried to start again. No start. Took back to dealer. Boat started ok at dealer but seems weak when starting. Left boat at dealer. Very frustrating.

My guess at possible problem:
1. Battery is not charging.
2. Hydro lock
3. Electrical short.
4. Starter problem

I'm really baffled.

jpeezy

NOW, is the time to start documenting your troubles with cold hard in-writing facts.
Did they end up rebuilding the 4-TEC or just cleaning the water out of it. I have seen one other post about the hole being drilled in the intake on another board (unless that's your post).... When you say no start, do you mean the engine won't turn over or won't crank up? Starter could be weak if it was cranked and cranked and cranked........Remember, documentation right now is your best friend.

NOW, is the time to start documenting your troubles with cold hard in-writing facts.
Did they end up rebuilding the 4-TEC or just cleaning the water out of it. I have seen one other post about the hole being drilled in the intake on another board (unless that's your post).... When you say no start, do you mean the engine won't turn over or won't crank up? Starter could be weak if it was cranked and cranked and cranked........Remember, documentation right now is your best friend.

The dealer didn't tell me exactly what they did to the motor. It seems like the starter is weak to me, or maybe it was the battery. When I took it back this time, they said go outside and they will check it in their shop. They came and got me and showed me that the boat would start and that there seemed to be no problem. I've got the boat back and just waiting to break down on the water again. It's sad.

Oh, I called the main office again in Canada. I got the same run around. I just hope the boat is ok.

jpeezy

ps. It wasn't me on any other boards.

NOW, is the time to start documenting your troubles with cold hard in-writing facts.
Did they end up rebuilding the 4-TEC or just cleaning the water out of it. I have seen one other post about the hole being drilled in the intake on another board (unless that's your post)....  When you say no start, do you mean the engine won't turn over or won't crank up? Starter could be weak if it was cranked and cranked and cranked........Remember, documentation right now is your best friend.

The dealer didn't tell me exactly what they did to the motor. It seems like the starter is weak to me, or maybe it was the battery. When I took it back this time, they said go outside and they will check it in their shop. They came and got me and showed me that the boat would start and that there seemed to be no problem. I've got the boat back and just waiting to break down on the water again. It's sad.

Oh, I called the main office again in Canada. I got the same run around. I just hope the boat is ok.

jpeezy

ps. It wasn't me on any other boards.

d00d, you need to INSIST on an itemized list of repairs to your DOO at this point. Be nice, but be assertive and insist on a list. You have the right to know about any repairs they have done, PERIOD. I really hope you don't have continued problems with the boat, now that they supposedly have fixed it. But there had to be something wrong, or you wouldn't have taken it back?

I am sorry to hear about all your problems.

This just doesn't sound like BRP though, I have had problems of my own and they were dealed with properly. Of course it took some effort from me to find the right person to talk to but needless to say they were handled properly by BRP.

I mean look here, http://seadoosportbo...findpost&p=2415, one of the dealers on the site here got the customer a new boat because of hull damage.

Who exactly are you dealing with about your problems? Did you try to call Remy from the other post that I made?

I called and ask for Remy this morning. He is back from a 2 week vacation. They said I couldn't talk to him because someone else was handling my case number. The motor does start but hangs up sometimes. Whe I hold the start button the motor acts like there is too much compression. Just doesn't want to turn over. Now after it starts, it runs like a champ. I wrote another letter asking for relief. I'm not happy.

jpeezy

I am sorry to hear about all your problems.

This just doesn't sound like BRP though, I have had problems of my own and they were dealed with properly.  Of course it took some effort from me to find the right person to talk to but needless to say they were handled properly by BRP.

I mean look here, http://seadoosportbo...findpost&p=2415, one of the dealers on the site here got the customer a new boat because of hull damage.

Who exactly are you dealing with about your problems?  Did you try to call Remy from the other post that I made? 

I called and ask for Remy this morning. He is back from a 2 week vacation. They said I couldn't talk to him because someone else was handling my case number. The motor does start but hangs up sometimes. Whe I hold the start button the motor acts like there is too much compression. Just doesn't want to turn over. Now after it starts, it runs like a champ. I wrote another letter asking for relief. I'm not happy.

jpeezy

Hey Kevin.... you got Remy's email addy? I would send him a short note with a link to this thread and see what happens......
jpeezy, I hate to hear that you are still having problems with your new Doo-- but hang in there man! We appreciate the updates...

I never got an email address, you could try to call him and get it from him. If you don't have any luck then let me know and I will give him a call and get it.

I bought a Seadoo Sportster 4TEC less than 30 days ago with only 8.5 hours on the motor.  A seat anchor screw penetrated the air intake when the boat was made resulting in water in the engine.  Seadoo is not handling the situation to my satisfaction.  I would not recommend buying ANYTHING from SEADOO or BOMBARDIER!  Bad news!



Jp

Hi All My 1st post here, great web site!..

The speedster 200 with hull crack problems was only replaced quick because bombardier is not interested having manufacturing problems exposed on their flagship model in boater today!.

It's true you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, But I'm devils advocate here, the fact is It's a brand new boat with a major component failing you can't expect a new owner walking in with his happy face on with a major engine failure like this (BRD should know, the dealer even more so), Heck, the motor is not even broken in and was destroyed due to a manufacturing problem that existed when this 4-tec left BRD it was not something that failer after the fact, it was there from BRD , from day #1.

Is the dealer trying all that hard ?. The dealer should go to bat and get him a new boat plus provide him with a loaner over the weekends so he can go boating, Thats how you get consumer confidence!.

It this an isolated event with bombardier. NO absolutly not even dealers confess BRD is terrible in certain cases and do not seem to learn their mistakes.

If BRD had any common sense, they sell the repaired boat as used with 10 hrs, and loose 1K- 2K , These serious types of posts will cost them a lot more.

The dealer has acted upon BRD's instructions, so BRD is the one to after here not the dealer, do get everything documented and keep your options open, I would ask them to extend the warranty at no charge to 3 years, stay cool EVERYTHING is negotiable!.

I have a 4-tec as well, had only 2 minor problems and both were fixed by Lockhart Oddysee in Courtland Ontario.
They did not take responsibility however when things disappeared from my boat while in their care.
As said before you learn as you go, my next boat will come from different dealer.

-G

I bought a Seadoo Sportster 4TEC less than 30 days ago with only 8.5 hours on the motor.  A seat anchor screw penetrated the air intake when the boat was made resulting in water in the engine.  Seadoo is not handling the situation to my satisfaction.  I would not recommend buying ANYTHING from SEADOO or BOMBARDIER!  Bad news!



Jp

Hi All My 1st post here, great web site!..

The speedster 200 with hull crack problems was only replaced quick because bombardier is not interested having manufacturing problems exposed on their flagship model in boater today!.

It's true you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, But I'm devils advocate here, the fact is It's a brand new boat with a major component failing you can't expect a new owner walking in with his happy face on with a major engine failure like this (BRD should know, the dealer even more so), Heck, the motor is not even broken in and was destroyed due to a manufacturing problem that existed when this 4-tec left BRD it was not something that failer after the fact, it was there from BRD , from day #1.

Is the dealer trying all that hard ?. The dealer should go to bat and get him a new boat plus provide him with a loaner over the weekends so he can go boating, Thats how you get consumer confidence!.

It this an isolated event with bombardier. NO absolutly not even dealers confess BRD is terrible in certain cases and do not seem to learn their mistakes.

If BRD had any common sense, they sell the repaired boat as used with 10 hrs, and loose 1K- 2K , These serious types of posts will cost them a lot more.

The dealer has acted upon BRD's instructions, so BRD is the one to after here not the dealer, do get everything documented and keep your options open, I would ask them to extend the warranty at no charge to 3 years, stay cool EVERYTHING is negotiable!.

I have a 4-tec as well, had only 2 minor problems and both were fixed by Lockhart Oddysee in Courtland Ontario.
They did not take responsibility however when things disappeared from my boat while in their care.
As said before you learn as you go, my next boat will come from different dealer.

-G

I've also had 2 handles break off on my 4-tec. The hand grips. Have you had that problem?

jpeezy

p.s. I want to really thank everyone for helping.

No, the handles have not come off yet, and are used quite frequently

Minor problems I've had,
1) The air intake hose between silencer and engine intake had collaped @ full throttle The steel wire seems not strong enough on certain hoses.
Fixed by dealer
I believe this is a "silent recall" item, i.e. being replaced when boat shows up for service only, customer is not notified of potentially being stuck in middle of nowhere.

2) Fuel hose clamp was replaced as part of recall. fixed by dealer


- All gages going from 0-MAX and back with 2 second intervals while riding,
did not affect operation of engine.
Solution - disconnected all connectors and reconnected all, problem solved.
Fixed by me.

- Intake grate - main front bolt broke.
Had to remove intake grate, sucked up a kite partially -,
Shop-manual does not mention locking nut on inside of hull, mentions only threaded insert in hull
Fixed by me.

- Ride plate,
one nut is spinning inside of hull, I would have expected this to be found by the 10 hr inspection including the loose seat bottoms, fix in the works by me on these.

Was out yesterday, great ride- love the yellow rocket!., hope to trade to bigger Utopia next year!.


-G

jpeezy I contacted Remy this afternoon via the phone. He looked up your boat and said you are dealing with a dealer in Virginia, is this correct? He told me he was going to print this post out and esculate this issue to his supervisor to see what he could get doone. He will probably give you a call to get some facts from you. Well I hope this is a step for the better so that you will be happy in your doo!