Problem with Champion generator
I bought a new champion 2000 watt inverter generator a couple of weeks ago and it worked great these past two weekends. I went out earlier to winterize my TT so I fired it up and plugged in my trailer...
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agesilaus wrote:what does any of this have to do with the OP’s problem?
OK I have had several rounds with Champion customer service. First I have to say that they are good and responsive. Easy to contact most of the time. They will suggest fixes based on their assessment of your mechanical skill. And they will send you to a service center.
That's when things go downhill. My 3500 digital ran fine with one problem that was easily fixed. Then one week it started making loud noises and burning oil at a prodigious rate. Called the customer support guy in California, no problem the guy speaks english and after some diagnosis sends me to a not very local service center--Billy-Bobs Rental service (names changed ect) which was 40 minutes away.
OK Billy-Bobs takes in the generato, says they think the motor is fried and away I go. Call back a week later, they apparently stuck it in a corner somewhere, start calling every day based on the squeeky wheel theory. Finally after 2 weeks they diagnose the motor as bad, ring failure scored cylinder ect. They recommend Champion replace the genset, nope Champion want to send a new motor. OK takes 2 and a half weeks for Champion to send a motor and over a week for it to get here. And when it gots to Billy-Bobs who opens the box after 3 or 4 days, it's the WRONG motor.
I contact Champion, raise cain demand a new generator, Billy-Bob says he did the same. Champion finally agrees to send a new genset. Another 8 days passes until I get the call that it has arrived. If you add all this up it comes to almost 6 weeks.
Then the new generator has a problem, I'm afraid to call Champion again. Apprently a solinoid on the carb is bad and needs to be replaced. But it still runs AND
The backup generator, a 3500/4000 construction type fails. Can't pull the recoil starter cord. Champion diagnoses as maybe stuck valve that just need lube. Send me to Dave's which is closer. Dave seems to be a part time motor fixer tho, and he was skeptical of the diagnoses mumbling about a bad motor AGAIN.
Both of these Champions were bought in the spring. Anyway no word from Dave after 8 or 10 days. Left a message on his voice mail today.
