Fuel tank recall help!!

[Dannyjd]

Ok, so I have a 93 & 95 xp.
I emailed BRP Australia with both hins telling them I have heard there is a safety issue with fuel tanks.

The response was....

Hi Danny

Yes those two units have not had claims lodged for the fuel tanks.

You will need to contact an Authorised Seadoo dealer and they can book you in and have the units inspected.

Regards
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Inspected?? I thought the inspections were early 2000s and then was a matter of a straight forward replacement?

So I rang my nearest "authorised seadoo dealer"
He told me they only work on 2008+ models as that's all they "scan"
I told him there was nothing wrong with the skis, nothing to "scan" its just a matter of pulling out the tank and putting in a new one!!??

"sorry mate, I'll have to get the boss to call you tomorrow to see if we can do something like that"
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WTF!!!

Anyone care to shed some light on this for me!

 

[Dr Honda]

Well... as I recall... there wasn't a real "Recall", but it was a safety bulletin. If your tank is cracked... a dealer should replace it. But, that's in the USA.

If your tank isn't actually cracked, then they won't replace it. (not all tanks crack)

It sucks that the local dealer won't work on it, but I do understand. If you have an old ski, that is only worth $500 running... then how does a dealer justify handing you a bill for $600 for the service. The problem is... then they get stuck with a ski, that the owner won't pay for... and they don't have the paper work to sell it. (a lien sale isn't easy)

 

[suke]

Well... as I recall... there wasn't a real "Recall", but it was a safety bulletin. If your tank is cracked... a dealer should replace it. But, that's in the USA.

If your tank isn't actually cracked, then they won't replace it. (not all tanks crack)

It sucks that the local dealer won't work on it, but I do understand. If you have an old ski, that is only worth $500 running... then how does a dealer justify handing you a bill for $600 for the service. The problem is... then they get stuck with a ski, that the owner won't pay for... and they don't have the paper work to sell it. (a lien sale isn't easy)

It became a safety recall I believe in 2002. Not sure exactly what changed, but that's what they told me when I called bombardier. Granted I have no idea if that translates outside of the US.

 

[Strizzo]

It became a safety recall I believe in 2002. Not sure exactly what changed, but that's what they told me when I called bombardier. Granted I have no idea if that translates outside of the US.

i've been told that they should replace any tanks that fall in the recall at no charge, but when i called the shops around here they said they didn't work on the 2-stroke skis and referred me to an independent mechanic that said they'd have to inspect the tank and couldn't assure me that BRP would pick up the tab for the work.

 

[suke]

i've been told that they should replace any tanks that fall in the recall at no charge, but when i called the shops around here they said they didn't work on the 2-stroke skis and referred me to an independent mechanic that said they'd have to inspect the tank and couldn't assure me that BRP would pick up the tab for the work.

Call BRP directly with you HIN and find out if the recall has been done. Then no need for the "inspection". From that point hopefully they'll help you find a dealer that can help you.

 

[mashenden]

If you find the right place, they will replace the tank without it being cracked.

Also if you find the right place, they will swap a new tank for the old tank without even bringing the jet ski in (actually all that is needed is a cut out that includes the necks and the section that has the data stamped into the plastic).

I have done this once recently, and still have one more to do.

I suspect that such places bend the rules a bit, but thankfully they are willing to do that because the rules are pretty stupid in some cases... like some dealer's position that for liability reasons they must do the install, even on a ski that is completely stripped out for a rebuild (insert tank through storage compartment hole, re-install 2 rubber straps - done). That said, kudos to BRP for addressing the issue even on old models.

Not sure if any of this applies to AU, though.

Danny - Since BRP has confirmed that they were not replaced, I'd take them in and see what they say. Pull the "liability" card on them if they try to get by with just an inspection - that would not be an acceptable solution for me unless they could provide a written document defining a time period or something that would conclusively confirm that your tank was not prone to failure.

 

[bigJake]

These are the skis that were included in the fuel tank recall.

 

[donkey]

hmm,,while i was building the 717 for the 95xp,i asked my local dealer about my 95 and 96,,he said the 95 was done in 02,but the 96 didnt fall into the recall.any ideas why the 96 wouldnt "qualify"?

 

[mashenden]

hmm,,while i was building the 717 for the 95xp,i asked my local dealer about my 95 and 96,,he said the 95 was done in 02,but the 96 didnt fall into the recall.any ideas why the 96 wouldnt "qualify"?

'Cause the dealer was wrong. While I am impressed that BRP is willing to replace tanks in old skis, the whole effort has been very inconsistently managed and poorly documented.

 

[Dr Honda]

What Jake posted supported what I was saying....

If it was a true "Recall"... that last box wouldn't say "Contact Bombardier". A dealer could do the work, and just submit the paperwork. They have to contact them to get an approval.

The other reason it wasn't a true recall, is because the Lawyers would have a field day wit it. A recall admits that they are liable. A safety bulletin simply says that they acknowledge that there COULD be an issue, and they will take care of it. On the up side to the safety bulletin is that it never expires.


OK... with all that said... it means nothing out side of the USA. Unfortunately... in other countries... the laws on the statues of limitations are different... and Bombardier may be free and clear on "Safety" with a 17 year old ski.

Since you are down in OZ... you may have to get a little nasty with Bombardier directly, and have them tell the local dealer to take care of it. Or... at minimum... get the dealer to just swap the part so they don't have to do the work.


A last word on this.... I'm not 100% sure how Bombardier does things... but I know Kawi, Polaris, and Yamaha all kind of suck on warranty work back to the dealers, and they generally don't like to do it. A lot of times... a dealer has to pay for the parts, and pay their mechanics to do the work... and it takes a while to get reimbursed. AND... a lot of the time... they may only pay for 1/2hr worth of labor (or a reduced labor rate) when it may actually take 2 hrs for the tech to do the job.

Since I make parts for different local shops... I've heard it a bunch of times how the dealer gets screwed on warranty.