2008 115 optimax (my big black anchor!)

[qlube]

anyone have one of these? i sure do, they are garbage! the coils fail time after time i have been stranded 6 times, so if you want to be dead in the water like i have ,buy one of these coil burners!! what good is warranty if you are always stranded? mercury is fully aware of this and they say put another coil and go on your merry way! once warranty is done the coils are $200 each thanks mercury!! I'm going with something else! and it WILL NOT BE A MERCURY!!

[yarcraft91]

Some states have "lemon laws" that apply to boats. Check your state- you may have a case.

[GMC Jon]

I really like my 06 115 Opti. Is it the same coil every time? I have to wonder if your dealer is missing something such as a loose terminal fit in one of the connectors for the coil. I did have one coil go bad on #2 cyl, but that was over 2 years ago. Since then mine has performed excellent.

[qlube]

they have all went at one time or another lost 2 one time, they don'y have a clue whats causing it.

[I Walleye]

First thing I would do is try a different dealer.

[qlube]

First thing I would do is try a different dealer.
it's not the dealer they are stimped also when they did the last set they were on the phone with a mercury tech. my suburban has 210000 miles and the coil never failed. mercury knows there is a problem with there coils.thats what happens when you contract out stuff off shore ( china )the dealer bent over backwards for me and had my boat up and running in no more then three days all 6 times!!

[beeman]

Something is freaking out the coil

[Mr Fisherman]

when one coil goes bad it increase the amp's going to the others, so if you run it for any amount of time with one bad coil your hurting the rest buy over powering them. So tell the dealer to replace them all at one time and that should fix it. And other than bad coils the 115 opti is a great mill.

[qlube]

when one coil goes bad it increase the amp's going to the others, so if you run it for any amount of time with one bad coil your hurting the rest buy over powering them. So tell the dealer to replace them all at one time and that should fix it. And other than bad coils the 115 opti is a great mill.

they might be a great motor if your boat is tied to the dock. but how can a person go on an outing knowing you may not get back. it's a coin toss using my 2008 opti. i talked to one dealer he says he keeps fifty coil's for the optimax in stock.

[bvs]

I think there might be a bit of exaggeration going on in some of the posts in this thread, but I can understand qlube's frustration. There is nothing worse than spending a lot of money and ending up with a boat you can't trust. I think that Brunswick corp has made some questionable business decisions in their boating operations the last 5 years but from what I've heard Mercury's reliability is now better than ever.

For an interesting read, check out http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2009023.pdf

It doesn't look to me like there is a massive chasm between the best and worst marine engines (though mercury does always seem to bring up the rear).

For a comparison to cars, check out http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2009-Initial-Quality-Study-Results/page-2

Lexus, the most reliable car, averages 84 problems per 100 per year. Direct-Inject 2-strokes average 73? Now, cars get used a lot more than boats, but still, Outboard reliability looks pretty impressive if you ask me.

[MR Fisherman]

Are they the newest ones, and if ithey are it shouldnt be a problem getting four new ones on your motor all at one time then your blood pressure will go down! Because you can start regaining your faith in the opti!

[staylor]

I don't care how many awards they have- it is the dealer who can go to bat for you and get it fixed. The other posters who commented on changing all the coils are exactly correct- if one goes they all are going to go. They should be replaced with whatever merc lists as the current coil- not the same old ones that are frying if the P/N has been superceded. At the same time they should replace everything upstream from the coils- and this probably means a new ECU. If not, and your State doesn't have a lemon law, then call a lawyer after giving a second dealer a chance. I had a similar problem with a car once. The dealer would only change the part that failed. The second dealer changed out the entire ignition system and ECM, telling the factory that everything was "burned out". The factory had no complaints with this. No more problems after that. I know how you feel- and nothing is worse than having a problem and the dealer playing "I'm stupid" with you. I don't know if the moderator will allow it, but it would be nice for everyone here to know who your present "stealer" is- and where he's located- so that all of us here can avoid him.
Doug

[qlube]

I don't care how many awards they have- it is the dealer who can go to bat for you and get it fixed. The other posters who commented on changing all the coils are exactly correct- if one goes they all are going to go. They should be replaced with whatever merc lists as the current coil- not the same old ones that are frying if the P/N has been superceded. At the same time they should replace everything upstream from the coils- and this probably means a new ECU. If not, and your State doesn't have a lemon law, then call a lawyer after giving a second dealer a chance. I had a similar problem with a car once. The dealer would only change the part that failed. The second dealer changed out the entire ignition system and ECM, telling the factory that everything was "burned out". The factory had no complaints with this. No more problems after that. I know how you feel- and nothing is worse than having a problem and the dealer playing "I'm stupid" with you. I don't know if the moderator will allow it, but it would be nice for everyone here to know who your present "stealer" is- and where he's located- so that all of us here can avoid him.
Doug

all 3 coils have been replaced at the same time and they still fail.after complaining to merc they wanted a merc tech to be on the phone when my tech that did the work. the merc tech walked my tech through some other tests while talking on the phone.

[Opti-Mist]

But don't be disheartened. There are still a few folks out there who don't lurk here so there is still something of a market for you.

[qlube]

yes there is something that causes to burn maybe to much voltage who know's i will take your advice and go pound on the dealer ...and know i'm not going to give up... when it runs it runs well

[qlube]

don't even know what to say or think... lost 2 coils on sunday needed to be towed 16 miles, kids crying wife totally pissed !!!! im so happy with my big black anchor...off to the dealer once again.. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[yarcraft91]

I repeat- lemon law- see if your state has one that covers boats. Under a lemon law, if the dealer cannot repair a recurring problem that disables a warranted vehicle, then they must replace it. Get your service paperwork in order and start hammering on this with both the dealer and Mercury.

[Hot Runr Guy]

Qlube, a question for you. I have a friend who's a Mercury "insider", when I pointed him toward your thread, his first question is EXACTLY what starting battery is this motor connected to? If you still have the rig, get the manufacturer name, model, MCA & CCA specs, and if you happen to have a voltmeter, grab a static voltage reading. He has seen where weaker batteries, that don't meet the required minimums, can give Opti's erratic operation issues. Let's hope the dealer didn't short-change you on the battery he (or whoever) installed when the boat was rigged.
HRG

[Boaterdude]

Hey I know, slap in some new coils and drive 20 miles into the lake to test them.

dude, force the dealer to fix the problem that is causing the coils to fail. This is obviously not normal. Leave the rig at the dealer and refuse to pick it up until they can tell you that they have fixed it. Not just replaced the coils, but replaced coils and identified and fixed what is killing them.

Or....you can do the same exact thing over and over again and expect different results.

[B-lou]

don't even know what to say or think... lost 2 coils on sunday needed to be towed 16 miles, kids crying wife totally pissed !!!! im so happy with my big black anchor...off to the dealer once again.. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Qlube....get on the BBC website- mercury engines and pm a guy named Don Weed from europeon marine....he really knows his stuff and I am sure can help you out with your coil problem......B-lou

[Zipp]

Alot of repeat ignition component failures are ground issues. Have the dealer run a seperate ground wire. It should run from the the negative battery cable where it mounts to the starter housing, over to the plate that the coils are mounted on. The problem isn't the coils but something else that's causing them to go bad. As others have said make the dealer fix the problem or find one that can.

[qlube]

Qlube, a question for you. I have a friend who's a Mercury "insider", when I pointed him toward your thread, his first question is EXACTLY what starting battery is this motor connected to? If you still have the rig, get the manufacturer name, model, MCA & CCA specs, and if you happen to have a voltmeter, grab a static voltage reading. He has seen where weaker batteries, that don't meet the required minimums, can give Opti's erratic operation issues. Let's hope the dealer didn't short-change you on the battery he (or whoever) installed when the boat was rigged.
HRG


the battery is a marine starting battery 1000 MCA.. 800 CCA...180 Ah just what the owners manual calls for.
thanks for the tip...

[Rich S]

don't even know what to say or think... lost 2 coils on sunday needed to be towed 16 miles, kids crying wife totally pissed !!!! im so happy with my big black anchor...off to the dealer once again.. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I thought you said you were carrying spare coils so this would not happen?

[Excaliber]

qlube
That's a real bummer your Merc is having nothing but problems. That's why I refuse to buy a boat with a Merc on the back. Both Merc's I had were nothing but problems.
Being that it's an 08 It sounds like you already have a bunch of money in it.
Can you just bite the bullet and trade that Opti bomb in on another motor? You might just find a dealer willing to give you a decent dollar for it in trade. Hope it all works out.

[qlube]

i am working on trading this in, the cost to upgrade from the big black anchor to a yammi or a suzuki is 6K, money is not the problem its just having to part with it, and do a little more homework on my next purchase. i thought i did that with the optimax guess not!! i will never promote a mercury marine product again!! the value of the optibomb dropped 40% in just over a year!! i really don't know what to say other then stay away from the optimax it will leave stranded like it did me!!!

cheers!!!

[Hot Runr Guy]

i am working on trading this in, the cost to upgrade from the big black anchor to a yammi or a suzuki is 6K, money is not the problem its just having to part with it, and do a little more homework on my next purchase. i thought i did that with the optimax guess not!! i will never promote a mercury marine product again!! the value of the optibomb dropped 40% in just over a year!! i really don't know what to say other then stay away from the optimax it will leave stranded like it did me!!!

cheers!!!
Qlube, if you would, please post or PM me the serial # of your Opti. I'd like to ask my friend there to review the service records, and see what the dealer has tried.
Thanks, HRG

[GMC Jon]

While there may be some coil issues with Mercury, I think yours is a rare case and your dealer is missing something. Weird electrical issues can happen to any brand not just Mercury. I had 1 coil put on my 115 Opti and that was 2 years ago. In the last 2 weeks I probably put on close to 100 miles on my boat and it runs perfect. Check this out and see if your dealer ever checked your crank sensor--This was posted on another website.

Re: 08 115 optimax blows second coil (csurp) » 9:52 PM 5/20/2009 Reply Edit

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ANY time multiple coils failures have occurred, the CPS (crankshaft position sensor) should be checked/tested (should read 200 or MORE ohms resistance).
Why no boat for Memorial Day? Those coils are readily available (I have several on the shelf)... and only take a couple minutes to install!




(Certified Mercury Technician)- Mercury Outboards, Mercury Racing and Mercruiser Sterndrives, Greenville, SC
Not an expert by far- now working on 34th year as a "Marine Apprentice" (still learn something new every day). BBC Sponsor

[Chucker57]

glube, how much would you sell the motor out right for? I may know some that is interested in it.

Thank's

Chuck

[guest]

I have a 2005 opti 115 and no problems yet with this motor, I have 205 hours on it.