"Hi,

I wonder if you have any good performance boosting tips for a 1988 Maserati 422."

"Hi Enriko!

My MASERATI is 424V (2000cc) model 1993 unleaded fuel.

I have already fitted an K&N air filter, free exhaust and catalyst. The difference in performance I saw was very little.

I took helpful information and I need some more. Can you help me? I need the degrees for tuning up the camshaft. If I change the IHI turbines with GARRETT Number 2, will it be necessary to have the Eprom re-mapped? If yes, where can I find the electronic chip? How the same engine gives 280hp to the MASERATI RACING model?

As well, can you answer to me about Eprom re-mapped? Where can I find person or company to do this? I know that GARRET turbochargers are better than the IHI and I want little biggers to give to my engine more air with the same press (0,7 bar). Do you know the differance between my engine (245hp) and the engine of Racing (280hp)? I am looking the way to take this power (280hp) or little bigger from my engine trustworthily.

I found that the 'Superchips' company has some chips which, as it claims, give 30 bhp more. I would like your opinion on this issue.

Regards,

Andreas."

"Hi Enrico!

My MASERATI is now 275 bhp and this costed to me 254 euro (EPROM re mapped and turbo pressure 0,95 bar). In few days, I think I can send you fotos and details..

Andreas."

"Sorry but don't have this info for a 2.0 litre.

If it is at all possible, please try to dissuade him from changing to different turbos!

Superchips.

Have seen cars that have had them fitted but have not got involved in fitting them ourselves.

Never seen a proper job though. increasing the boost is all very well but many chips do not take into account the fuel and ignition requirements and so lead to engine problems.

However, a small increase in boost can be achieved by drilling out the restrictor in the boost solenoid return pipe. This is a brass fitting and by drilling it out, the point at which the wastegates open and excess boost is vented is delayed. You can completely remove the restrictor but then the wastegates rarely open at all which is bad news. However, by drilling it out, you can achieve a small but useful increase in bhp.

Andy."

"Dear Maserati owners,

I have a 424 from Italy and the car is running great except for 2 problems.

One is that the automatic air conditioning is working properly when the engine is cold, but when the engine is warm, it can take up to one hour before the control panel will switch on and control the heating properly.

Second question is how to clean the fuel tank as it has rust inside?

Thank you for any reply.

Ben."

"Dear Andy,

By now my 4.24v. is ready to suffer its first engine intervention, the problem was after all, several damaged piston rings.

I heard that they were made by Moto Guzzi, is that right?

Remember, my car is a 1991 model, probably manufactured in 1990. I know that some engines were made with weak piston rings. Can yopu confirm that?

Can you also, tell me what kind of things I should look for once the engine is out?

What should I replace? The car vhas covered 106,990 km. Never changed the timing belt!! Never done a valve job!! Never replaced the timing chains!! And still I have power. No blue smoke at idle, but smoke on hard acceleration.

Fo course by now I hear some noises. Water pump, valves and chains when cold. Please tell me everything.

It ios a person with formation on the Maserati factory, who is going to do the work. Even so, any help would be highly praised.

Many thanks,

Miguel."

"Dear Andy,

By now my car has covered 100.000 kms. Remember, I am the guy from Portugal with the 1919 4.24v?

Well, I still have lots of oil in the air filter, probably it is indeed a worn piston ring. My question is:

Is it normal in the 24 valve engine to find worn piston(s) ring(s)?

When hot the idle is correct, there's no smoke of any kind. If I don`t push hard no oil at all, at least not significantly.

I still have the power and "push" from the turbos, the pressure gauge works perfectly. The turbo lack I told you, on our last contact, is gone. Everything is OK now.

The "tlek", "tlek" noise happened because the AMAL valve was full of oil that came from the 2 rubber hoses from the turbos, is this normal?

Anyway, I cleaned it and is everything OK! The reason I still didn`t have the car checked, is because here in Portugal the assistance to this kind of Maseratis is poor, and I hate to pay a lot for no work at all.

Of course, by now I run my car more smoothly!!!

Any ideas? If there's a problem with the pistons rings, what should I see from my car while driving it? Smoke on acceleration? What else?

Best regards,

Miguel."

"Dear Sir,

Something happened in my 4.24v engine that I have no way to fine out why. After a long trip pushing hard, as always, I found that my new air filter was covered with oil, a huge amount of oil. The oil level was normal and the oil came from the rubber breather hoses leading to the air filter housing.

I have also noticed that between 3800 and 4200 rpm I do not have the normal boost pressure. In 4th and 5th gears it is 'chaos'.

What could this be? Can anyone help please?

Regards, Miguel."

"Dear Enrico,

Thanks for the reply.

My car is a 1991 model and has now covered 89000 Km. The oil is all over the air filter. It only happens when I'm driving flat out. What kind of things should happen if it is a worn piston ring? Oil in the exhaust pipes, smoke? What else?

I have the performance, I have power and no smoke at all, just when I reach 3800 rpm in 4th or 5th the needle in the turbo boost pressure guage reaches the yellow zone and then starts to fall.

If I lift my foot off the accelerator and then press hard again the turbo boost goes into the yellow zone and then starts to fall. It is 'chaos' until it reaches 4200 rpm and them 'BOOM' power again! The harder I drive the more oil is on the filter. Now the oil level in the engine has started to drop!

A few days ago, I noticed a strange noise coming from the AMAL valve, "TLEK,TLEK,TLEK". If I lift my foot off the accelerator it stops and on some occasions it returns and on other occasions nothing. This happens mainly in 4th and 5th, when in recover. Strange isn't it!

Finally turbo damage. I don't think so. No blue smoke or lack of power.

Is it possible that the cylinder heads need a valve job? For example, when I slow down, some oil comes to the heads and therefore comes out through the breather pipes. Any ideas?

My car is probably the most travelled Maserati in the Iberian Peninsula, around 120 km per day since June 2001.

I love the car and I keep it in pristine condition.

Regards, Miguel."

"Hi Enrico!

I'm from Germany and am looking forward to buying a 1992 4.24v.

Since I stumbled over your great site on the net, I thought I could ask you for advise on what I have to look for whilst buying a 4.24v.

I also have the question, if the 92 model already had a g-kat?

I would be grateful if you could help me!!!

Thanks a lot,

Digi."

"Hi,

On your site at page http://www.maseratighibli.co.uk/home14.htm, Peter is proudly showing his red Maserati 222. I see he has aftermarket wheels which look very good.

Can you help about aftermarket wheels - or maybe ask Peter, or give me his e-mail address so I can come in contact with him?

I have a Maserati 4.24V myself, but the wheels need to be changed, and I don't know what to use instead of the genuine Maserati wheels - which are far to expensive - and only 16".

Does anyone know what make of aftermarket wheels I can fit to my car(5 bolt pattern)? Hope you can help,

Regards from Denmark,

Lars."

"Hello,
My name is Micha and I live in Holland. I want to buy my first Maserati, it is a 1993 Maserati 4.24v. with 103,000 km's on the clock. Can you give me some purchase advise before I buy it?
Thank you for your time,
Micha."

The 4.24v. is a car not marketed in the UK but is essentially the same as the 430 4v but with a two litre rather than a 2.8 litre engine.
This car has a very advanced specification as it has the 4 valve engine - very reliable but must have it's timing chains changed every 80,000 kms. This means taking the engine out. You should check in the service history to see if this has been done as it makes the service very expensive. Otherwise, make the usual checks for blue smoke at idle which indicates worn turbos, check that the engine has no oil leaks and that the water pump is quiet.
The suspension of this car may have the active ride shock absorbers. These need to be tested in all positions and if the red warning light comes on in the key pad during the test, then it means that one or more of the shocks are faulty. This is important as they are expensive to replace.
Otherwise, carry out a full inspection under the car for rust, especially the sills (which are covered by skirts), the jacking points, the inner wings by the front suspension and the bulkhead area near the fusebox.
Inside the car, check that everything works, including the air conditioning as what may seem like minor items can be expensive to repair.
On a road test, check that the boost gauge moves to the orange sector - less indicates a seized wastegate on the turbos, more indicates that it has been modified, which is not good for the long term health of the engine. Listen for noise from the gearbox (some noise at idle is normal), listen for noise from the differential and if present, flick the car from side to side to see if the noise goes away - If it does then it could be a rear wheel bearing. Because the 4 valve engine produces more power than the earlier cars and still uses their axle and rear suspension, it can wear out the differential prematurely.
Check the condition of the wheels as they are quite fragile and can get bent (expensive to replace). Look also at the angle of the rear wheels from behind the car. They should both display some negative camber. If they look different then the car may have been slid into a kerb and a new rear suspension arm may be needed. Check also the condition of the headlights as they are expensive to replace on these cars.
Above all, check for a full service history which substantiates the mileage and also find out who serviced the car. There are only a few good people in The Netherlands that I know of - Karol Krieger and Franco Auto. If it has been looked after by them then it should be good!

Wants a little advice about his newly acquired 4.24v. It seems that he needs to replace the alternator...from what he hears, a quite common problem. It is not charging the battery as much as it should, yet it charges enough to start every morning. The problem however is this: When he accelerates hard and reaches about 4000-4500 revs (180kmph), the battery light begins to flash on and off. Does this have anything to do with the alternator, or does the problem lay elsewhere?
If you can advise Shane please let me know!