Gransport starter issue - where are all the ground connections?

[Geofflyn]

Well I have two concerns I guess

1) The brake interlock is a safety feature. Given it's pretty much impossible to manually ascertain if the car is in neutral, there is a possibility that you could have an un-intended take off as it were. Small risk, thought
2) I'm rather more concerned at the changes in behaviour and what that indicates about the bypassing that's been done. It sounds like you may well have bypassed nearly all the diagnostics that the car does before PTS is granted, and I wonder if there's possibility of causing damage somewhere.

I think, on balance, if it was mine I'd want to get behavour back to stock by finding out what the actual problem was as soon as.

On the other hand, I'd also be happy to be driving

C

I agree, even though it's solved your immediate problem I would be inclined to get it to that indie with the SD2 in Brisbane that's been mentioned or if needs be the main dealer. I would want to know that my diagnostics are working properly you don't want something sending warnings that can't be received.

 

[Emtee]

Agree with the previous comments. That cheap little plastic plunger behind the brake pedal is wired into pretty much all the safety systems for the car - ABS, MSP, etc, etc. If the start procedure has been bypassed, who knows what else might have been. I'd certainly advise to have it checked on an SD2.

 

[Oxytorch]

I think I'm a dill. I suspect that what I was describing with the brake pedal might just be normal behaviour. That is when the car in is N, I can start the car without having the brake pedal depressed. However, when in 1 or R, it won't start unless the pedal is depressed and before it starts, it drops into N. When I picked up the car from the auto electrician, he started the car by pressing the start button through the window and I had assumed that shouldn't be possible but of course it can if it's normal behaviour when the gearbox is in N. Can anyone confirm this - that is ability to start the car without having the brake pedal depressed when in N? If so, then I don't think there has been any tampering with the brake safety feature as was alluded to above. Even so, I have it booked for a full check up at the Brisbane Maserati dealer tomorrow. I'll be sure to bring all my credit cards...

Cheers.
John

 

[CatmanV2]

Nope. As far as I know it should simply not start without the brake being pressed.

I could be wrong though. I know mine (4200) won't even if it is in neutral

C

 

[safrane]

Yes if the can is in N it does NOT neet the brake peddle pressing. This has been the case with all three of my CC Maseratis

 

[Chrisbassett]

Mine starts without brake pedal if in neutral, otherwise it needs to be pressed when starting

 

[Oxytorch]

Yes if the can is in N it does NOT neet the brake peddle pressing. This has been the case with all three of my CC Maseratis

Thanks Peter. That does set my mind at ease. Because of the concerns raised, I did speak to the auto electrician about the specifics of the fix. He thought it could be a problem with the body control module but my suspicion is that it was due to a faulty ground connection somewhere because to get the car to start reliably, he wired a permanent ground to the start switch and another from the body control module. The body control module apparently controls accessories such as headlights, power windows, central locking, interior lights, radio etc. Anything electric not related to the engine/drivetrain. Although I didn't really understand what was done or for what reason, he did assure me that everything should work normally and so it has.

J