First month of Gransport ownership

[Gp79]

Hello,

Just thought I'd report my first month, I bought a 2005 red Gransport that was listed on pistonheads.
Reasonable deal at 18k I think.

Lets start with the problems!

Carried out at Shiltech
Power steering hoses leaking caused by bracket at front of engine, both replaced - highlighted at PPI
Handbrake hopeless - new shoes fitted by last owner so adjusted - highlighted at PPI
Oil service
Including the PPI not much change from 1k

Central locking bouncing - lubed passenger door mech and moved anti rattle pad - free thanks sport maserati forum!
Drivers door window dip function fault, goes all the way down - free again! Micro switch sticky
Pollen filter soaked, cleared drain / leaves and replaced with Alfa filter - £17 - again great post from the forum.
Front tyres going down slowly, thought just required re-seal but once deflated found sidewalls all cracked. £340 for new tyres


Jobs left to do
Free up boot lock as key doesn't work
Change gearbox oil / clean filter and air filter replacement
Seats have a mind of their own when tilted
Day out at Bruntingsthorpe

In all nothing to unexpected.

But have a fabulous car that makes you smile just by opening the garage!

Cheers Greg

 

[dem maser]

exactly why we love Masers! Buy them, spend loads on them but still a smile when you see it..........

 

[CatmanV2]

Cool
Personally I'd recommend graphite over WD40 but each to their own

C

 

[Contigo]

Great story Greg. Enjoy it!

 

[conaero]

Well done, looks like you had a good buy there in the end.

With the boot lock, lube it up with white grease or as others have suggested above, lean down ******* the boot lid and work the key.

 

[MAF260]

Congratulations on your purchase and cheap/free repairs!

Are you coming to the Brunty day next week?

 

[Steve GS]

Wish I could find one for that price. Well envious

 

[Gp79]

Thanks for the replys.

Yes planning on Bruntingsthorpe but had a bit of a disaster and broken my collar bone last week (high side at Mallory park on my motorbike!) so will try get my Dad out to drive me along! I'm sure he will love to come since my wife isn't really interested in anything with wheels.

I'll try lube the boot lock up when I have 2 arms again, it pops fine from the glove box and zapper so can't be much wrong, thanks for the advice.

Do think a lot of car for the money, was a bit worried as the clutch wear couldn't be read at the PPI, the diagnostic tool wouldnt comunicate for some reason? so took a gamble and it turned out to be 50% worn when checked again at Shiltech, so not too bad.

Hopefully get to meet everyone at Bruntingsthorpe.

Cheers Greg

 

[Andyk]

Greg, what a shame you have a broken collar bone........Now I'm sure if you need me to drive your GS round track I would be more than willing to just to help you out ...

 

[allandwf]

Nice write up, also shows how the little niggles can build if not kept on top of. Good if you can take care of the majority yourself.

 

[Gp79]

Thanks for the offer Andy! I'll bare in mind!

I'm happy having a tinker with it, I hate being held to ransom by garages unless totally unavoidable. It's good to get to know the car too.

 

[SimonCC]

Hello,

Power steering hoses leaking caused by bracket at front of engine, both replaced - highlighted at PPI
Handbrake hopeless - new shoes fitted by last owner so adjusted - highlighted at PPI
Oil service
Including the PPI not much change from 1k

Hi Greg

Not very good news to read about your power steering issue - I may well have the same problem as when I took car out last night I found oil/fluid on the garage floor right at the front of the engine bay.

I also have the MSP traction control warning light on - hoping it isn't too serious, perhaps an electrical glitch will wait t see when it goes in.

But despite this, I wouldn't change anything it's a great car to own and drive!

S

 

[Gp79]

Hi Simon,

The steering hoses where quite easy to diagnose as the fluid is bright red (ATF), cost to renew both was 400 + vat at Shiltech so not end of the world.

They run all the way from the pump hidden under the inlet manifold to the steering rack so a bit of a bugger to get to unless you have a ramp or a pet spider monkey!

Hope you can solve the issues quickly.

Cheers Greg

 

[MAF260]

Thanks for the replys.

Yes planning on Bruntingsthorpe but had a bit of a disaster and broken my collar bone last week (high side at Mallory park on my motorbike!) so will try get my Dad out to drive me along! I'm sure he will love to come since my wife isn't really interested in anything with wheels.

I'll try lube the boot lock up when I have 2 arms again, it pops fine from the glove box and zapper so can't be much wrong, thanks for the advice.

Do think a lot of car for the money, was a bit worried as the clutch wear couldn't be read at the PPI, the diagnostic tool wouldnt comunicate for some reason? so took a gamble and it turned out to be 50% worn when checked again at Shiltech, so not too bad.

Hopefully get to meet everyone at Bruntingsthorpe.

Cheers Greg

I look forward to meeting you at Brunty. I love the look of GranSports in red, it'll be good to see one in the flesh.

 

[SimonCC]

Thanks Greg - I've just been in garage to check and it's oil that is dripping, yellowed-brown and definitely oil.

Am taking car in tomorrow for a check up.

Your car looks very nice - I was keen on getting a red 4200 before I found mine. Whereabout are you in the country?

 

[Gp79]

Hi Simon,

Since its engine oil, hopefully just the supply or return hose from the oil tank as is over that side. Heard the fittings on these hoses are prone to failing over time.

 

[MAF260]

Thanks Greg - I've just been in garage to check and it's oil that is dripping, yellowed-brown and definitely oil.

Am taking car in tomorrow for a check up.

Your car looks very nice - I was keen on getting a red 4200 before I found mine. Whereabout are you in the country?

Simon - check the fitting where the oil pipe goes into the tank in front of the o/s front wheel. The brass nut is known to crack which results in oil weeping from that join. Replacement of the pipe is the only solution and they're not cheap - c.£300 plus labour. I hope it's a simpler/cheaper fix.

 

[safrane]

That pipe needs sourcing from a UK manufacturer rather than a flawed replacement each time.

 

[CatmanV2]

That pipe needs sourcing from a UK manufacturer rather than a flawed replacement each time.

Indeed. There's no point in paying Maserati prices for a piece of pipe, frankly. Pretty sure it could be simply made up by anyone with a pipe bender.

C

 

[hodroyd]

Dodgy nuts on those, loads have cracked in time..!!