Yamaha Warranty - Engine Motor Mounts

[rsaid19fish]

Looking for some info from the local die-hards.....

I have a three year old Yamaha HPDI 250 on my Skeeter 20i. Took it to the dealer becaue of a medium-pitch "whirring" noise on startup. Only happens on startup......rest of the day is fine. Dealer said that my motor mounts are bad which is creating slop and the whirring is the driveshaft against internal components. Cost for repairs of motor mounts is $1,200 parts and labor. To top it off, I have the Yamaha extended warranty (YES Program) through 2011 and Yamaha says they won't cover this......that this is "normal wear". Do engine motor mounts go bad in three years? Or am I getting hosed?

First newer engine like this that I have owned.  I take good care of my boat and I am friends with the guy who owned it before me and he took good care of it as well. Its never been in an impact and I don't drive like a maniac. Frustrating......

[Durand Dan]

Sounds to me like your getting the runaround. I have an extended warranty on a Merc and it states that the only thing not covered is the prop, under normal wear and tear conditions.

[djkimmel]

This is the first I've heard of something like this. My motor is in its 5th year. No problems.

I don't know the warranty to that fine a degree, but it seems like I would have heard of something like this?

I have not heard it is 'normal' for motor mounts to wear out on any outboard in just a few seasons? There have been issues with questionable parts in other brands in the past that led to problems as fast or faster - the only times I've heard of motor mounts failing.

Many boat/motor issues do seem to arise for Great Lakes boaters because they know how hard the rough water up here can be on equipment.

Maybe you can get a 2nd opinion from someone else through Yamaha? Or get them to cover the parts maybe with some polite persistence since motor mounts don't usually wear that fast?

Is it the parts the motor attaches to, or the where the mount attaches to the boat hull? If the boat hull, there might be some issues if bolts worked loose for a while?

[MadWags]

You are getting hosed! It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Call Yamaha directly and speak to their technicians. If you are talking aout the motor mounts within the cowling I do not see how this repair would cost so much.

[McCarter]

this makes me uncomfortable being that i am a first time yamaha owner

keep us updated.

McCarter himself

[djkimmel]

First I've heard of this type of problem with Yamaha outboards. I've had zero issues with mine going into the 5th season. Past experience with friends and fishing partners has led me to firmly believe they are the most dependable brand overall. Turn the key reliability.

[gr@ssmonkey]

something sounds "fishy" about your motor mounts i would look deeper inti it  and get a second opinion,i am going on my 4th season with my 200 hpdi and havn't even changed the sparkplugs YET!!!!! i'm pretty impressed to say the least.....when the motor was still under warranty i was in a BASS weekend series i ran the motor an hour and a halve wide open 5700 rpm never lifted one time the motor never missed a beat not even a sputter the hole ride there,now thats what i'm talking about........i don't care what name the motor has on the side of it if i'm going to run it i demand performance or i'll get one that does.........i'm still running a yamaha because it flat performs.........

[rsaid19fish]

Thanks for the input guys.  I will keep everyone posted.  I have done some serious digging on the warranty and the there are only two things that are not covered under the first two years or for the next three years if you get in on the YES extended warranty program (which I have)
1.) ABUSE - ya'll know me and know how I drive and how I take care of my equipment.  Guy before me was no different.  There is no evidence for absue of any kind on that engine.
2.) NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - between this website, Bass Boat Central, three Yamaha dealers in the tri-state area, an Evinrude dealer, four or five guys who fish the big waters regularly (lots more than I do).......not a single one has said they have seen motor mounts wear out that early.

Regardless of what comes of this, I do believe that engine is the best out there for reliability.  Stuff happens.  I am an engineer for Chrysler so I know that.  Yamaha's are great engines and at this point my next engine will be a Yamaha too (unless they really hose me over here.)