"Dear Sir,

I am rebuilding my Ligier engine and I got caught in timing problems.

Could you provide me with the proper timing settings?

Regards,

Samer."

"Enrico,

What do you recommend as the best treatment for Maserati Indy leather?

I'm thinking of using Lexol brand leather cleaner and treatment.

Thanks,

Gary."

Reply from Enrico:

Hi Gary,

I don't know anything about that particular product, so I can't comment.

The recommended procedure is to wash the leatherwork down with a soapy (NOT detergent) solution; something like LUX Soap Flakes is ideal. Once dried, use Connolly 'Hide Food'. Now you may find it difficult to get hold of now, but you could try your local Saddlers etc. A good leather food will do fine. I hear the Autoglym Leather Conditioner is also very good.

Check out: www.ferrariclub.com

Hope this helps,

Enrico."

Hi,

We are continually getting an ABS speed sensor code on this vehicle and none ot the Chrysler dealers in Pittsburgh have a book to diagnose it. We replaced the sensors and are still getting the same code. Can you help us or send us someplace that can?

Thanks,

Mike."

Reply from Andy:

Hi Mike,

Sorry, we have no experience with the Chrysler TC.

Andy."

Hi,

You have a very good web site; can you help?

Do you know of any manufacturer, who builds Replica Maserati Birdcage cars? Any leads or information? Many thanks. Richard ."

Reply from Enrico:

Hi Richard,

Try www.kitcar.com/dio/home.html

and www.sktc.net/risinghouse/

These are the only ones I know of. If I hear anything else, I'll let you know.

Regards,

Enrico."

I am in the South London area and am looking for someone who can carry out some repairs to my 1986 Maserari 420 Biturbo. It has been standing for about three years and now I am not getting any spark out of the coils?

I hope you will be able to provide me some help.

Many thanks, Justin."

"Does anybody know who supplies the large thermometers that I have seen on the continent?

They are navy blue enamel and about 2 feet tall.

Ken."

"Hello,

Thanks for your quick reply. I wonder if you could help me.

I am interested in buying a Maserati. For a long time I am a fan of this marque and hope I will be able to drive one.

I hope you can give me some advice. I want to buy a car for driving Rallies with my son. Not Rallies for speed but strictly and only for touring and fun. The kind of Rallies who are held more often nowadays and will keep the car in perfect "healthy" state. Further we just want to drive the car for weekend trips in the summer.

I am really in doubt what kind of car to buy. There are two classic cars, beside the more modern examples, that I like very much, the Bora and the Mistral coupe. Of the modern cars the Ghibli GT 2.0 or the Ghibli Cup attracts me the most. Could you give an advice in which car would suit my purposes best? And perhaps regarding to the Mistral and the Bora, which car gives the less risk of big mechanical and therefore financial trouble?

Thank you and with best regards,

Hennie."

Reply from Enrico:

This is Maserati's recommended course of action.

It depends on the kind of Rallies that you want to do. If it is just Maserati Club type events then it does not matter whether the car is modern or classic. Of the modern cars, I would certainly choose a Ghibli Cup. It offers the best driving experience and I believe will become a classic. If you enjoy driving fast then they are also good track day cars.

If however, you are considering rallies like the Winter Marathon, then you have to look at the early classic cars. Even a Mistral may be too new. A 3500GT is a great car for these type of events.

If you particularly want a Mistral or a Bora, then I would say that overall cost of running would be the same. The cars have different strong points and the Bora is certainly more complicated but I would not consider one to be a more practical buy than the other. Neither will be cheap cars to maintain and my advice would be to buy the best car you can find as this will be cheaper in the long run. Also, make sure the car is good by taking an expert with you to view any potential purchase.

It really boils down to whether to buy a Maserati at all and the answer to that should be a definite YES!

Andy."

"Hey, thanks again Enrico.

On another note, I'm trying to register my 'new' Maser with the www.maserati.com factory information site. They sent email back to me asking me to correct the VIN# (??). I checked the number and replied to their email saying it was correct with the title. I was at work so I couldn't check the car itself though. (Not that I don't drive it to work because I do). When I enter it into carfax it shows as listed but 'staff@owners.maserati.com' said it is incorrect and have asked me to send a fax of the registration complete with VIN#. I have since verified it to be correct against the driver door sticker and the VIN plate on the dash (LHD driver's side). All seventeen characters are correct. Here is their e-mail message about my VIN number. Can you see any numbers that look wrong? My other Maserati (Biturbo) starts with ZAMAL instead of ZAMFN. I'm getting ready to send them a fax this afternoon if I can find their phone number. Is country code 035 used for Italy? I hope to complete the registration so I can see the heritage and owner stuff they have posted on the site.

I know this is a long email but I have one more question for you.

The climate control WILL NOT work. I have scoured your site as well as the Biturbo archives for this problem but 'Fix the Fuse Box' is too vague. I called Gino in NJ to order a new fuse box for my '84 Biturbo when it failed. But I pulled it out and repaired it myself and I've had no problems since. I beefed up the copper trace that was severely burned with wire. What should I check first?

The car is starting and running excellent, the windows go up and down, windshield wipers, horn, radio (well at least it looks like it would be okay if I had the code entered correctly), power antenna, and lights. The climate control is backlit at night but no LED read-out or buttons indicating anything is going 'ON' or 'OFF'. No heat, no fan, no AC. I got used to this on my '84 but I really need the defroster in the mornings at the moment.

Regards,

Rich."

"Presume this is a later Biturbo? If so, you may find that there is a separate fused relay which governs supply to the entire panel for Climate. On a RHD car, this is mounted on the inside of the LH 'A' pillar behind the dash. Not totally sure where it would be on LHD but probably same place on other side of car. There was a mod available to take the current out of the fusebox and through this relay (which is the same type as for fans, headlights etc) which most cars have. Could be a good thing to check first as the relays are notorious.

If this is not the case, then you may unfortunately have a problem with the panel itself. We have seen quite a few now where the panel is at fault. Have never tried to repair one but the day must come as they are very pricey new and secondhand ones are being used up.

Hope this helps.

Andy.

"Hello,

No one seems to be familiar with an original Maserati radio code-lock (with Maserati OEM stereo + 1989 Spider Zagato 2.8-liter). Do you know how to enter the code?

I called MIE and he said to remove the unit and look on the back of the radio. I find it very hard to believe they would be so negligent as to record it there. Or maybe ingenious? As always, any help appreciated.

Rich."