I have posted on here a few times about the low oil pressure problem on my FP 4200 4 mini+. I had it taken out of the boat and brought to the local FP factory authorized service guy. He calls me today to tell me that he has been on the phone with FP, and they pretty much told him they were not interested in helping to diagnose and fix the problem. The mechanic asked if we could ship it to them to fix and return, and they said no to that as well. The mechanic is telling me that he is going to be on, essentially, a wild goose chase to diagnose and fix the problem, and he is not confident he can do it at all. He is pretty much telling be not to bother and to just look for another unit to install on the boat - a 2006 330 Express. I am wholly unimpressed with FP and their product.
Now, this generator was on the boat when I bought it last year, and it has never worked right. It would run for 15-20 minutes, start flashing the low oil pressure light, and then shut down. I am pretty sure the old owner knew of this problem but knew we wouldn't run it long enough during the survey to catch it. Regardless, I think I just want to be done with it and move on to something else. So, here are what I think my options are.
1. Buy a new FP. This is not all that palatable to me since I have had nothing but problems with this one.
2. Buy a rebuilt/used FP 4200, plug and play, and hope this one is not someone else's problem that I have paid money for.
3. Replace it with another manufacturer's unit. I already contacted Northern Lights, and they say they don't have an ignition protected unit. I am also not that interested in gas generators. Is there another option out there on the market?
4. Be done with onboard generators and just use a Honda inverter. This is the cheapest and easiest, I know, but I really want to have an integrated generator.
What do you all think? Anyone replace a FP 4200 on their boat? and if so, with what? Anyone know a good place for a reliable used replacement?
Now, this generator was on the boat when I bought it last year, and it has never worked right. It would run for 15-20 minutes, start flashing the low oil pressure light, and then shut down. I am pretty sure the old owner knew of this problem but knew we wouldn't run it long enough during the survey to catch it. Regardless, I think I just want to be done with it and move on to something else. So, here are what I think my options are.
1. Buy a new FP. This is not all that palatable to me since I have had nothing but problems with this one.
2. Buy a rebuilt/used FP 4200, plug and play, and hope this one is not someone else's problem that I have paid money for.
3. Replace it with another manufacturer's unit. I already contacted Northern Lights, and they say they don't have an ignition protected unit. I am also not that interested in gas generators. Is there another option out there on the market?
4. Be done with onboard generators and just use a Honda inverter. This is the cheapest and easiest, I know, but I really want to have an integrated generator.
What do you all think? Anyone replace a FP 4200 on their boat? and if so, with what? Anyone know a good place for a reliable used replacement?
