Optimax problems?

[swede]

I just got back from Erie. Out of the five boats in our group, three of us had Optimax motors and all experienced problems. There was another fellow staying in the cabin next to me and when I told him about our problems, he said his Opti was acting up also. So, out of the four Opti's that we knew of, all were having problems. There were two 150's and two 200's. One motor would not run above idle, one would not run over 3000 rpm, one had a check engine light on all the time, and one would just shut down without warning at all rpm's. Every one had lights and bells going off. The first thought was that every one got the same bad gas, but it turned out, we used three diferent gas stations. Have you ever been 800 miles from home, on lake Erie, with a motor that won't run? Let me tell you, it ain't a good feeling. Four out of four, this can't be a coincidence. What the heck is going on with Merc.? Anyone else out there having problems.

[Grampa_Joe]

Not a single problem here. I never had a problem last year either. Runs like a top.
Joe

[GetReel]

Merc at Erie PWT was changing Champion plugs on all the Pros boats. Something is up with the plug choice.

[Famous]

Both myself and a freind are running 150 opti digital tillers. We found we were running badly after trolling for 8 hrs at 450 rpm. Merc said the new motors were sent out with champion. Changed to ngk and ran lots better. Still beleive your not going to find a better moter than the OPTI.

[Erie_Tournament_Troller]

my 225 is running great, not digital though. I'd check the charge on your starting battery. May be a low voltage situation. They don't charge at idle. you may just need a good charge. For the one that wants to cut out , check the bulb and make sure is is tight. I'm beating the problems are some little stupid thing. (To me that makes them all the more aggrevating!!!!) Hope you get to the bottom of it without messing up any more fishin time.

[Will S]

For the motor cutting out all of the sudden...check the main wiring harness connector where it plugs into the motor. I had the same problem with low/no voltage and it was a bad ground connection in this connector. All that was needed was to spread the pins on the mail end of the connector and she now runs like a top.

[chris G]

I have a 99' 200 Opti and went all last year and the start of this year with no problems. Bad gas one time got me water in the fuel. But the filter did its job and no problems since. Good Luck.
Chris

[RR]

Sweed,
I just bought a optimax 225 and had it out 4 times and it has been in the shop 4 times and going back again!!!
The first time the water and oil light sensors went off. The second time just the 2 water lights went off. The third time just 1 of the water lights went off. The forth time one of the water lights went off again. Back to the shop again!!!
I am starting to loose my patience with this motor! Every time I take it to the shop I have to leave it and come back and pick it up later which costs me over $100 just in pickup expense. This doesn't include my time or all the hassle of loading and unloading all the equipment,etc.
I had one of the first DFI's in 1997 and had nothing but problems with that one too. However, I had a 1998 optimax 200 and didn't have 1 problem with it. I think Mercury better have better quality control on their motors before sending them to the dealers.
If the dealer doesn't get this **** thing fixed this time, it will be traded off for a Yamaha.
Good Luck,
RR

[swede]

Update--------- Of the four motors mentioned, two have been back to the shop. One boat (the one that shut down and wouldn't run above idle) was found to have a low battery. My boat (check engine light on and off, and would shut down without warning) was found to have nothing wrong, however when they checked the code history on the engine computer, it showed that it had registered over 270 problems. The factory was contacted and they think the problem is two bad sensors. The motor has 26 hr's on it, and it has been in the shop 5 times and to top it off, when the mech. was on the phone with the factory, the guy on the other end (the factory guy) got smart with him. It sure makes me proud to be a Merch owner-----NOT!

[Odie]

Sorry Guys! I've been out of town and catching up here. This post doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I put my new 115 Optimax in the water yesterday and the low oil light came on 30 feet from the dock. First time in the water. The motor mounted reservoir container was 3/4 inch from full, and the main oil reservoir which holds 3 gallons only took about a quart to fill up. Maybe a Merc person can tell me what oil level was low because the warning system isn't suppose to activate until you have 50 ounces left in the main reservoir.
Merc may have good service and warranty, but I'd rather have a motor that doesn't need it!

[Eye Catcher]

The oil level on the motors tank should be full to the top. If it is not it can air lock there is an alarm sender in both tanks and if the remote tank is low it will start beeping.
Hope this helps.

[Jason]

I had the same thing happen on my 200 optimax. The second time out the low oil alarm went off at the dock. I pulled the boat and checked the oil, it was 3/4 full on main tank. When I pulled the engine cover the reserve was about half full. I filled it up and haven't had any problems yet..knock on wood...other than this problem motor runs great.

[Odie]

Thanks Jason and Eye Catcher. I certainly appreciate the info and help. I took the boat out of the water and brought it home. Read the book again, thinking I must have missed this. It doesn't mention the engine mounted reservoir needs to be completely full...nor does it mention an air lock may occur if it isn't. Only that the alarm is activated when the main reservoir reaches 50 Oz. remaining. I filled both and will give it another go....keeping my fingers crossed.
I would think the engineers could resolve this as it seems many people have had this same problem. I would also think the dealers would make sure both reservoirs are full when leaving their lot. Merc putting this in the troubleshoot guide, and in the manual would eliminate some frustration.

[Jason]

I know what you mean. It is my first outboard and it was the second time I took it out. When the alarm went off I had know idea what the ##### was going on. I had just checked the main oil container that morning and it was full. After I filled the reserve it was fine. I have no idea how the reserve oil level went down, thats the only thing that scares me...

[Capt_Paul]

Odie,
Make sure the resivor on the motor is full to the top, if the next time out the oil doesn't feed from the remote res. to keep the one on the motor full check the hose going between the two, might be kinked or pinched during setup.

[CJHughes]

Hey Famous you said you had a digital opti,I have been told that the opti`s come in either analog or digital.Does your motor have anything on it to distinguish it as a digital,such as a serial number with a letter d or something.I know you can buy a upgrade kit for the analog motors.Here is my problem I order a Triton sf21 with bench seat,plus a digital 225.The boat comes in,not with the bench seat but the other model and the gauges are not the merc digital.So the dealer orders a new boat it comes in, he mounts the 225 on it but the required hardware for the digital motor doesn`t come with the motor.So the dealer calls merc they are shipping the hardware overnight.I do not think my motor is a digital,I tried calling merc all day but customer serv lines were all busy(not a good sign),I am going to have them check the serial numbers for me.The whole thing has been a mess from the start,I do not want an analog with the upgrade kit,I want what I paid 36000 for!Then I see all the problems posted,it really makes me wonder what merc is doing.The mechanic who is installing my motor just got the manual for it today,he also keeps repeating that the motor can not idle or troll at 450 rpms it will load up,isn`t that great!I am just glad I didn`t sell my starcraft yet.

[Mark]

I noticed that most of the Opti problems are the larger motors, has anyone had problems with the 135 opti?

[Mark]

I noticed that most of the Opti problems are the larger motors, has anyone had problems with the 135 opti?

[R.P.]

C.J. If you have a digital Opti it will say digital on the back of the motor under 225. If you have any more questons email me. R.P.

[Will S]

My problem was with the 135 motor, but it really was a rigging problem and not a problem with any of the components on the motor. The main wiring harness connector plug simply had a bad connection on the ground pin...It has been running well since the problem was found.

[CJHughes]

I just spoke to Merc the only indication that your motor is digital is the serial number,nothing on the outside of the motor will indicate digital.