A most often asked question here. The really are no “good and bad” years for verados. They have been all good if the updates have been done. No matter what you hear like “the Gen I’s are bad and Gen II’s are good”, that’s rubbish. They all have had updates and none suffer from any major design defects. So here are some tips:
1. Get a Verado Certified tech to look at your motor. This is a must no matter what they tell you. Put it on the computer and see what has been done.
2. Get the ser # and call merc and ask what updates are needed/have been done. 920-929-5040.
3. Read everything here about batteries, wiring and power steering. If there are any problems, most of them stem from boat builders and dealers and how they cut corners rigging them, not the motor. Too small of batts, bad wiring, etc. Verado was the 1st motor to have digital shifting and power steering std (on 6 cyl) and most builders did not take that in account and train their people.
4. Ethanol tends to eat up the fuel floats - get them changed unless they have been changed in the last year. The new floats solved the problem. If a 2005-06, get the "t-stat dump fitting" checked:
http://www.veradoclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=92.05. Read everything in the new owner’s section so you know what to ask.
And if you want to see why you should do the above, read about one of our members that just bought without checking:
http://www.veradoclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=2451.0
