After leaving it on the drive for 7 months, it turns out to be the battery...

[Monaco73]

Hi Gents,

I’ve not posted for a while as after it’s service my car was playing up even when kept on a trickle charger. However after changing the battery, the car has a new lease of life (literally) and the Wife has calmed down from the “why is that thing still on our drive”. She even complimented it, as we’re using it once it twice a week to pop to Tesco in these strange and dangerous times and whilst I say this touching a windowsill, it’s running really nicely.

Stay safe gents.

 

[Scaf]

Great news, these cars need to be used.

Time and time again I read on here people who are having problems that turn out to be related to lack of use, or the very least a flat battery.

 

[Rex B]

I agree these cars must be used regularly even during the winter months, it gets the oil around the engine and turbo's , lubricates the seals, Keeps sealed bearing lubricated, and get rid of any rust build up from the discs. Just don't take it out if there is salt on the roads.

 

[Monaco73]

Thanks Gents. It’s looking like a lack of use is the main culprit here! Absolutely fallen in love with the machine again now

 

[Saigon]

Thanks Gents. It’s looking like a lack of use is the main culprit here! Absolutely fallen in love with the machine again now

Not just a Maserati, in my opinion no car survives a long period of storage unless it’s professionally stored. I had my E31 850 stored in a barn belonging to a friends mother, kept it on a battery conditioner, which is fine for the battery, (E31 two batteries) but doesn’t help the rest of the car. I only started it up once every couple of months as I was working away, but didn’t drive it. Then she moved a couple of horse boxes into the barn and I couldn’t even move it a few feet. So I decided to take it back home, I only got a short distance out of the barn and bang, after the low loader to my local BM indie it has cost me over 4K to get it up and running. It was running well the year before when I put it in storage. I now drive it every opportunity I get, but I also have to drive the 4200 for the same reason, no good if it just sits in the garage. And neither of these are my everyday car. It’s difficult during these covid times, as no where to drive to. I have therefore decided to sell my 4200, so keep an eye out on auto trader for an excellent, and I mean excellent, 04 reg 4200. Bought from Nuvola, FSH, not many miles on the clutch, X pipes and Larini back boxes, new discs, full MOT when sold, mileage presently 54K, but as I said above, still driving it.

 

[alfatwo]

Thanks Gents. It’s looking like a lack of use is the main culprit here! Absolutely fallen in love with the machine again now

And don't forget there were designed to go down to the South of France in 12 hours in comfort

Dave