Can you help? Please!
 

Any owner having a problem with their Maserati can send me details and I will publish these, together with any subsequent advice I receive, on this page.

Just drop me a line at maserati123@btopenworld.com

 

Even if I don't succeed in helping you with your problems; and I do try, it would help other Maserati owners a great deal if you could let me know how you managed to solve your problems. THANK YOU!

 
 
 
 

Zeljko in Slovenia writes:

 

"Dear Friends:

I seek technical advice. I own Maserati QIV V8 Evo and it has engine problem. It won't hold revs while idling. When gas pedal is slightly pressed revs begin more and more to oscillate till engine dies, CO emission also oscillates from 0.1% to 1.5%. Previous owner had valve control problems and had to replace 2 pistons and valves (few 1000 km away).

Idling valves are OK. What could be wrong?

Regards to all!

Zeljko."

 
 

Reply from Andrea:-

Re: Quattroporte - "engine problem!"

"It does sound like an idle control valve problem from the info given but to be honest, the best way to sort this model is to get it plugged into the diagnostic kit.

Andrea."

 
 
 
 

Tim in the UK writes:

 

"Dear Enrico,

Firstly let me say what a superb web site, many thanks.

I have just bought a 1998 Quattroporte 3.2 V8 and have fallen in love.

I noticed a hot oily smell in the car when stationary and this morning lifted the bonnet whilst the engine was running.

There is a small amount of oily smoke rising from around the area of the steering fluid resevoir. I guess oil is dripping onto the manifold from somewhere but I can't see where from.

Is this a common issue, and can you offer any advice as to where it is likely to be coming from?

Many thanks,

Tim."

 
 

Reply from Andrea:-

Re: Quattroporte - "oily smell!"

"Sounds like a leak from the Power Steering reservoir to pump feed pipe which is a common problem and simple to rectify (the pipe tends to get kinked causing a partial blockage). Is the level down in the reservoir?

Could also be a leak from a steering pressure pipe, which is more expensive to fix. Either way, worth getting done quickly to avoid any oil contamination on rubber hoses, bushes etc.

Andrea."

 
 
 
 

Jerome in Switzerland writes:

 

"Hi Enrico,

CONGRATULATIONS for your internet site which is simply the reference about Maserati on the web

. I found out a used Quattroporte Evoluzione V8, model 1998, with 56,000 km on clock in a very good standing. The guy sells it because he doesn't need it anymore and it seems that he didn't use it for more than 1 year.

I would like to know the different points I have to check (and how to do it) during the test drive and visually in the engine bay. Furthermore, do you know which parts should have been replaced since 1998 according to the km done, in order to find out if the service bills matches with the manufacturer's recommandations.

As the car didn't move for more than 1 year and if I buy it which parts may be replaced or checked carefully ?

This is a dream I will realize since 1995 and the day I saw this amazing car (in its 1st version) on the Maserati stand at the Geneva's Motor Show. I don't want to live a nightmare...

Thanks a lot for your kind help!

Yours,

Jerome."

 
 

Reply from Andrea:-

Re: Quattroporte - "What to look out for!"

"You really should have a professional inspection carried out by a Maserati specialist, but in brief:

Check for when the cam belt was last changed (it may have been done at this mileage (should be 40,000kms). If it hasn’t been done, assume that it must be done immediately.

The same goes for the strength of the antifreeze in the coolant. You must have this changed every two years regardless of mileage or serious internal corrosion will result.

Because of the period of storage, check for rusty brake discs and seized calipers.

Check for corrosion in the exhaust silencers.

Make sure that the engine runs to temperature with no ‘check engine’ warning light coming on and that the cooling fans cut in and maintain 90 degrees in traffic – there are lots of fuses and relays that can corrode through lack of use.

Run the shock absorbers through all of their settings (sport/.ice) a few times to see if they adjust properly – watch out for the red warning light.

Check that the air conditioning works and that the climate control is accurate.

Andrea."

 
 
 
 

Tony in England writes:

 

"Hi,

Great site, I have a 1999 Evo 3.2 and has been fine done 53k now and on the way to work when oil was hot in traffic the oil pressure dropped quite low when under load and under 1000 rpm to about 2.4 bar and the warning light came on as soon as the car is over 1000 rpm everything is fine, with full 5 bar pressure being shown. Any ideas???

Tony."

 
 

Reply from Andrea:-

Re: Quattroporte - Oil pressure!

"With a few miles on the clock, there is some wear in the engine and hot idle will cause the pressure to drop to around halfway on the gauge, which is what you have. However, the warning light should not come on at this pressure. If the gauge never drops below 2.4 then I would suggest that you have a warning light problem. This should not be anything to get alarmed about, but get the light fixed soon to make doubly sure. Also, you could change the oil more frequently, which will keep the pressure up for longer.

Andrea."

 
 
 
 

Jon in the UK writes:

 

"Can you help me? I have fallen in love with a Mk IV Quattroporte and may buy a 97 version with 50,000K on the clock. However, never having owned a Maserati before, I wonder about the reliability and running costs of such a car. I have owned a Lotus before!!

Can anyone offer any advice about the reality of running such an amazing 2nd hand car? I would use it for weekend trips out of London but mainly for running around London.

Any comments greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Jon."

 
 
 
 

Erik in Denmark writes:

 

"Hi,

I'm the happy owner of Quattroporte IV having the problem finding a front windscreen.

Can you help please? My eyes will run in water if I don't have the windshield.

Venlig hilsen/Best regards

Erik."

 
 
 
 

Dante from Sweden writes:

 

"Hello Enrico!

Thank you for the good advice because I managed to find the problem with the 'Check Engine' light. It was a bad electrical contact on one of the sensors. I have a 2.0-litre Quattroporte as you know.

Now I have a new problem because the Revolution Counter does not function anymore.

Please tell how or where to search to find and fix this new problem.

My best regards,

Dante."

 
 
 
 

Daniel in the UK writes:

 

"Enrico,

I don't know if you're still involved in shelling out advice, but I am considering getting a QP - have to upgrade from my Corrado to something with 4 doors, and if I have to change, I just feel I want something more than the ubiquitous BMW. Anyway, it looks like I can pay between 11 and 16000 GBP (16 for an EVO), I have though a few questions:

Mileage - is it a huge issue?

Auto vs Manual - how good is the auto or perhaps how much better is the manual?

Are there any pertinent issues I need look out for or get a mechanic to test before purchasing one.

Thanks very much,

Daniel.

 
 
 
 

Michele in Italy writes:

 

"Dear Enrico,

As I understand, you are a great expert on Maserati cars, so I wanted to ask you about a problem which happens always on mine.

My car is a Quattroporte IV Seicilindri 2.0 litre seconda serie export model of 1997 (the one which has the air-conditioning system like Evoluzione model and suspension control button at the right of hand-brake, close to controls of mirrors), a car which should be not very different from your Ghibli.

The problem of my car is that the battery run down very fast; for example, Sunday 2nd May I’ve changed my old battery with an used one which was perfect (as told me a friend which is a Citroen engineer here in Florence) and, that day, we have measured the battery consumption with a tester and it was 0.

I don’t use the Quattroporte very much, as long as, for my work, I must do 100 kilometres every day, so I have a Renault Clio 1.9 Turbodiesel; I drive the Maserati only once or twice a-week, on Saturdays and Sundays, and only with sunshine (I must admit that I’m little frightened to use a rear-drive car on wet road!!!); so on the other days the car is closed in my garage.

On Wednesday 5th May I went to the garage and I’ve tried to start the engine; when the key was on 'drive' position, before starting engine, the on-board voltmeter was indicating '11' and the alternator light was on as it should be; I tried to start the engine and I did it, although I saw that the engine started very weakly; I got off the engine after five minutes (the voltmeter was on '14' during all the time), then I tried to set the key on 'drive' position to wiew the voltmeter and it was on '12'. This afternoon (Sunday 9th of May) when I went to the box, the battery was completely down and nothing worked.

Do you understand what problem could my Quattroporte have? It would be very kind from you if you can answer to my mail (possibly also replying by e-mail and not only on your site). Many compliments and keep up the good work!

Michele."

 
 
 
 

Paul in Japan writes:

 

"Dear Andy,

I have a Quattroporte IV. The alternator has ceased functioning. You said on your site that this is a common problem and that the alternator can be repaired.

Could you tell me what it is that actually goes wrong with the alternator and give me any information about how it can be repaired? Three days ago, mechanics replaced the alternator IC, but yesterday the red light indicating that the battery is not charging came on again. There are no Maserati dealers on this Japanese island where I live, so any information that you can give me would be really appreciated.

Best Regards,

Paul."

 
 

Reply from Enrico:-

Re: Quattroporte alternator.

"Hi Paul,

Is your battery OK? Did you replace it at the same time as the alternator was repaired?

When I was in Italy, I left the headlights on while I went for a long lunch. When I returned the car wouldn't start. A mechanic close by got me started and took a look at the car. He was convinced that the alternator was not charging. He removed the alternator and had it tested. All OK. I asked him to fit a new battery. This in spite of the fact that he had re-charged the old BOSCH battery and said it was OK. I wanted to make sure so he fitted the new battery. He told me I was wasting my money.

I returned to England and it was whilst on a visit to Goodwood that my alternator finally packed up. My mechanic replaced the diode on the alternator, which had burnt out. After I refitted the alternator I found that the alternator was working OK. I then replaced the old BOSCH battery thinking it was OK.

A couple of days later, I took the car out for a short journey to a nearby VW garage, about 12 miles away, to purchase a part for my wife's car. On my return the alternator light came on and fortunately I broke down outside a tyre specialist who happened to sell batteries. I bought another new battery, he didn't have the correct battery for my Ghibli so I bought one that would get me started and last the 2 miles to get me home.

I replaced this battery with the new one that I had purchased in Italy and touch wood, everything works fine now. It appears that the old BOSCH battery would no longer take any charge as it was kaput!!!

Did your mechanic test the alternator before refitting it and was it OK? Have you tried it with a new battery?

Hope this helps,

Enrico.

PS: Did you know that the warning light on the voltmeter is an integral part of the charging circuit and if it fails to light up, when the alternator is working, then the battery will not be receiving any charge and will eventually discharge itself."

 
 

Paul in Japan replies:

 

"Hi Enrico,

Thank you for your quick reply. Your information is very useful.

While I was writing this email, the mechanic came. Actually the car belongs to my wife and, as she had spoken to him, I wasn't sure exactly what he had done. He told me that he had suspected that a problem with either the regulator IC or the diode. He changed the IC and the light indicating that the battery is not charging stayed off. But two days after getting our car back, the light came on again. This time they are going to check the diode.

The battery is in very good condition. It is fairly new. I think that our alternator deteriorated slowly over a period of several months and then suddenly stopped working altogether..... About a year ago the battery started going flat and needed recharging about once a month. We thought that the problem was that the car is driven only a few kilometers each workday, and during the summer it is so hot here that the engine fan stays on a long time.

Anyway, we replaced the battery with a new one last autumn (6 months ago), and we thought that the problem was solved. About 3 weeks ago as spring/summer arrived, the new battery started running out, this time very quickly. We fully charged it twice, the voltage being 12.7 after the electrolyte was given time to become homogeneous. Each time, it lasted only 3 or 4 days. The indicator showed that the battery was not charging and I confirmed it by measuring the voltage across the battery when the car was running.

Thanks for the useful information.

Paul."

 
 
 
 

Valerio in Italy writes:

 

"Dear Enrico,

I would like to ask you your advice on 2 problems:

I just bought a 2001 Maserati V6 2.8 Evoluzione with 18.000 miles on the clock. The car is fantastic, very fast and comfortable. The only thing I'm not sure of, is the high temperature it gains as soon as I stop at a traffic light or if I proceed slowly in town. The water after very few minutes, rises over 90°C and the fan goes immediately on. Only then the water temperature starts to decline. But as soon as the fan stops again the water rises over 90°C. Is this normal?

Thanks and best regards,

Valerio."

 
 

Reply from Enrico:-

Re: Quattroporte water temperature.

"Hi Valerio,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Do you have the same problem when the car is out on the road?

It sounds OK to me, the important thing is that the cooling fans are doing their job. You must bear in mind that in traffic the engine is being cooled only by the cooling system which appears to be functioning. On the open road this cooling system is aided by a flow of cooler air through the radiator and therefore the fans are not required as often. Remember this is a highly tuned engine and should run hot.

I will look into this and get back to you.

Where did you buy the car? Where are you based?

Regards,

Enrico.

PS: If you fans run very fast an seem to be rather noisy then it could be a heat resistor that is at fault. The part is not expensive (around £30) and is easily accessible so it shouldn't take long to change. Do you have a Maserati dealer near you?"

 
 

Some comments from Bernard:-

Re: Quattroporte water temperature.

"I recently bought a Quattroporte 3.2 Evo (model end of 2000) and I was surprised to see how frequently the fan came on (with noise) in traffic conditions (use in Paris): same symptoms as Valerio.

I had a major service one month after buying the car (3 years, 28000km) and the garage gave me a completely new car !! (Maserati Forza, Paris). No more fan in traffic or when I stop at a traffic light now ... and when it goes on, I cannot hear it anymore. The temperature is high, but stable in traffic (around 80-85°). But it remains true that the fan still goes on more easily than other cars I used to drive (still on when I go out of the car after parking for example)... are Quattroportes really made for a "city use"?

With my best regards,

Bernard."

 
 
 
 

Dante from Sweden writes:

 

"Hi!

My name is Dante and I live in Sweden. I have a 1995 2.0-litre Quattroporte and the "CHECK ENGINE" light comes on sometimes and sometimes not. The last time the check light came on was after I drove for about 80 km. Oil pressure, battery voltage, temperature is good.

I have another problem with the AC system. It gives a low temperature. Even when the engine is warm and I want 25°, 26° or a higher temperature, the system gives out very little warm air. What can I do?

I have already paid out €3300.00 for a water pump, toothed belt change and a radiator repair.

I thank you in advance for all advices.

Dante"

 
 

Reply from Andy:-

Re: Quattroporte 'CHECK ENGINE' light!

Hi Valerio,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Do you have the same problem when the car is out on the road?

It sounds OK to me, the important thing is that the cooling fans are doing their job. You must bear in mind that in traffic the engine is being cooled only by the cooling system which appears to be functioning. On the open road this cooling system is aided by a flow of cooler air through the radiator and therefore the fans are not required as often. Remember this is a highly tuned engine and should run hot.

I will look into this and get back to you.

Regards,

Enrico.

PS: If you fans run very fast and seem to be rather loud then it could be a heat resistor that is at fault. The part is not expensive (around £30) and is easilt accessible so it shouldn't take long to change. Do you have a Maserati dealer near you?"

"Ciao Dante,

The problem with the check light is normally due to one of the sensors sending a fault signal. Does the CHECK ENGINE come on and stay on every time you start the car? Or does it come on from time to time? If you stop the car and then re-start the engine, does the light come on and stay on?

The problem with the air conditoioning sounds like a fault in the control panel in the centre console. If this is your problem, Marcello Candini can supply you with a reconditioned unit at a reasonable price. Tel 0039 059 828280 or info@candinimodena.com

Do you have workshop manuals for the Quattroporte?

Regards,

Enrico."

 

"Hello Enrico!

The Check Engine do not come every time I start the engine, it comes from time to time for example I can drive 300 km without the "red light". If I stop the car and then re-start the engine the Check Engine stops to come but after 50km or 100km or 200km the red light can come again and stays on until I stop the car. I do not have a workshop manual for the Quattroporte.

My best regards,

Dante."

 
 
 
 
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