Customer Satisfaction

Hey guys,

Im new to owning NEW boats and engines, and have recently bought a new Triton with a Mercury Optimax.  I am also a college student so i dont have much/any money, so i take care of my equipment better than anyone ive met.  I think im a bit obsessive compulsive when it comes to my engine especially, if something doesnt seem right i cant sleep until my dealer tells me it is ok.  

I bought the Optimax during their promotion for a 5 year warranty, so I have a good warranty on it which is important because i cant afford to pay an arm and a leg for something going wrong.

I was flushing my engine yesturday and popped it into idle for a moment, like the manual said was allowable.  The engine had been working great sunday, so it was a big surprise when something sounded like it was rattleing and grinding in the lower unit.  I immediatly drove down to my dealer who immediatly attatched a hose to flush it to hear the problem.........They didnt really know for sure what it was.  They checked the lower unit fluid and other plugs and their was not a trace of any kind of metal shavings, so they hypothesised that the rattleing was due to the fact that when flushing there is no load on the engine or prop and that the rattling was caused by the slight give in some of the mechanism in the lower unit.

Though i dont believe I have anything to worry about, it has got me thinking about Mercury's warranty.  I worry that if there was something wrong that i could be due to a dealer problem.......because it just recently went in to have its first scedualed 10hr maintnance after break-in.........i worry that if that is the case.......that maybe if the dealer failed to do the proper maintnance (dealer is a certified Mercury dealer and service center).   If this was the case.....could the dealer just deny that it wasnt them and was something i did?  

I just want to know if anyone has any input on warranty coverage.  I just want to know if engine companies usually bend over backwards for their customers.  Are these warranties pretty safe?  I would like to know if everyone is satisfied with their engine companies..........Yamaha, Honda, Mercury, Evinrude.......whatever.

(i would like to add that there has been no problem with any dealer,  or Mercury.......I have had nothing but a great experience so far with both, these questions are just hypothetical questions from a new boat owner.  I do not doubt either the dealer or Mercury Marine's commitment to Customer Satisfaction.  I am not looking for opinions on what you think could be the issue with the rattle in the engine either.)

Thanks