Battery Trouble...???

[MasMania]

My battery was dead this morning - any idea's what might of caused this?

Some details:

The car (GTS Auto) was purchased new from the dealer on 1st March 2013. It has been on charge for the previous three weeks, and has been driven for circa two hundred miles over this weekend. It has a Nav Track fitted which could drain a little power, and I did copy a couple of CD's to the hard drive, however it was left over night without the lights being left on, and with the doors and boot being shut tight..... Now dead and back on charge!

This can't be usual, can it?

 

[2b1ask1]

Not what you signed up for Andy, a call to DL in the morning I think.

When you say it has been on charge, presumably a trickle charger/conditioner only? A new motor shouldn't have any issues and the Navtrac should be good for a good few years before the backup causes problems.

 

[MasMania]

Indeed - a call to DL is the first thing on my agenda tomorrow (it was a trickle charger BTW)

I suspect a dodgy battery.... at least I hope nothing more!

 

[lofty]

My 2010 GTS done exactly the same a couple of weeks ago.I phoned Maserati Assist who took it to the dealers.Turns out the battery was knackered, so they fitted a new one under warranty.Maserati told the dealer to advise me to use a trickle charger, but the car had been used for the previous four days so I can't see how it would have made much difference.If you ring Maserati Assist they will organise a hire car for you for 5 days.It sounds like its a common problem, it would probably be cheaper for Maserati to change all the battery's after two years free of charge, rather than having to pay for recovery trucks, and hire cars.

 

[bigbob]

I have a trickle charger for mine having been told they they need a 30-40 minute run to replace each start sequence in battery terms so it depends on how often you stop and restart when you are out. Also check when your car was built as it could be between September 11 and June 12 and if the car was a showroom model then that could have trashed the battery.

 

[MasMania]

Thanks Lofty & big bob.

If the battery requires a 30-40 minute charge for each starting sequence, this could be the problem as although I did circa 200 miles over 3 days, there were a number of stoops along the way.... but surely this shouldn't deplete a battery to the stat where the doors can't be opene remotely over night?

I called the local dealer who agreed to make a house call to get me started, then have the car in overnight to check it out.

Worse thing is I had planned to be driving it this week - very disappointed!

BTW it was a showroom model, so perhaps I just request a new battery and be done with it.

 

[bigbob]

Maseratis' and Ferraris' seem to eat batteries so a battery conditioner plugged in in the garage is sensisble if the car will be unused for over a week or if it's previous use involved a number of starts. It's a pain - my car was recovered when it had only been registered for three months and built for five months.

 

[bigbob]

PS It was fine in the old days. I could leave my 3200 for six weeks and it would start straight away.

 

[MasMania]

...and it would of been such a nice day for a drive today - I never had this problem with my faithful Jag

 

[Parisien]

It is a foible of the modern Maseratis....not entirely sure why........but neglect them at your peril!

P

 

[Grinzzz]

if the car will be unused for 3 days

EFA. T'is how long mine lasted. Went to start it this morning and dead as a dodo. Luckily had the booster fully charged. Going to put an ammeter on it this weekend but suspect I know the answer. Now wheres that tracker thread......

 

[MasMania]

Yea - I was told that the tracker can go toward depleting the battery - but that's ridiculous.... bloody trackers - cant live with them, cant get insurance without them ;-)

Plus - the dealer told me that if the car is left unlocked, this also drains the battery BIG TIME, as the car doesnt shut down unless alarmed... but the how much does the alarm draim - can of worms springs to mind!

 

[lofty]

Well my tracker isn't activated and the car was definitely locked, plus it had been driven the three previous days, so they can't use any of those excuses in my situation.The battery's obviously are not up to the job, simple.Got mine back today after almost 2 weeks, the majority of that was waiting for a part for the speedo malfunction.New battery fitted so hopefully all goes smoothly from now on.Hope you get yours sorted ASAP, did they not supply a loaner?

 

[Grinzzz]

cant get insurance without them ;-)

Actually my insurance company wanted to charge me extra if I had the tracker activated. Go figure.

 

[Grinzzz]

Well my tracker isn't activated

After a while the internal battery dies and starts drawing power from the battery. Appears to do this wether active or not. As you say though doubt it's the problem in your case but if you're not using it daily then I'd probably have the tracker fully disabled. The batteries they fit really are rubbish though.

 

[Emtee]

Unlike the previous generation Maser's, from what I've been told the tracker batteries in the GT's etc are far better and longer lasting, so I wouldn't assume tracker battery drain straight away. I'd more likely put it down to a combination of starting drain, cold weather and generally poor quality batteries fitted as stock.

 

[Blu Elettrico]

I thought the same thing MasMania. Picked mine up last August and I know it had been built in Dec 11 so sat in showroom for quite some while. Mine's no garage queen and has been out in all weathers, sat for a couple of weeks at a time and no trickle charger but not had any sign of a flat (you wait, tempting fate now!). I asked for a new battery before I picked up but dealer assured me all ok as they keep all their cars on trickle chargers apparently. Maybe you just have a duff battery but I'd ask for a FOC replacement anyway.

 

[bigbob]

Yea - I was told that the tracker can go toward depleting the battery - but that's ridiculous.... bloody trackers - cant live with them, cant get insurance without them ;-)

Plus - the dealer told me that if the car is left unlocked, this also drains the battery BIG TIME, as the car doesnt shut down unless alarmed... but the how much does the alarm draim - can of worms springs to mind!

It's suprising how quickly your car will not need a tracker for insurance purposes - some insurers work on £75k.

 

[Parisien]

Who'd truly want their nicked supercar back............not worth it, one short period of miss use......something fails quickly after


P

 

[bigbob]

Who'd truly want their nicked supercar back............not worth it, one short period of miss use......something fails quickly after


P

Always my view too.