Different rain in Italy?

[Froddy]

Chaps,

Heavy rain has caused a rather curious electrical niggle in my MY05 GS ....

The interior lights randomly flash on and off, which is slightly annoying but no more than that. The real problem is that the car takes me out of gear whilst stationary, and I have to accelerate to keep the gears engaged.

The car obviously thinks the doors are open as there is that ridiculous 'safety feature' which engages neutral if the doors/bonnet are open.

So water's got in somewhere, but the problem is 'where'? There's no corresponding light on the dash to suggest that any door is open so I'm guessing it's not a sensor on the door itself.

The problem first occurred in heavy rain on my way back from Le Mans last month, which rendered the queue for Eurotunnel a little stressful! The car dried out over the following two days and had been fine until today.

Any ideas??

Many thanks,
Froddy

 

[Parisien]

Froddy, you've checked generally for water ingress......front passenger footwell, under the carpet with the fuses and relays, same under the bonnet, and in the boot? The reservoir for the F1 pump aint low?

Do you have your handbook to check relevant fuses/relays?

P

 

[DaveT]

Not just in Italy Froddy.

My alarm went off a couple of times last week when the car was sat out in a thunderstorm with no one near it.
Now thinking may be the same issue.

 

[Froddy]

Hi Parisien,

Thanks for your reply.

The front passenger footwell is always wet during the summer months as water seems to drip down there with the use of airconditioning; I've lifted the mat and opened the fusebox to dry it out as a precaution - it was wet, but not excessively so (no more than normal!). Under the bonnet looks ok - no evidence of water gathering anywhere and no leaves/debris to interfere with drainage. The boot's dry as a bone (I've also checked the spacesaver compartment) and the f1 pump levels were checked on Thursday.

It seems too much of a coincidence that this has only happened during rain so I don't think it's related to the air con water. I can't work out how the car senses that a door is open - there's no visible switch which the door would press against upon closing. The fact that this is a new problem (I've had the car for 13 months) makes me think there's some rubber or plastic somewhere that's been dislodged or is perishing.

Intermittent electrical faults - gotta love 'em!

Froddy

 

[Froddy]

Hi Dave,

I wouldn't worry too much about your alarm going off in a thunderstorm - especially if it was raining heavily at the time, or if the thunder was rumbling nearby - it's pretty normal for most cars, in my experience ...

I can't arm my GS on frosty nights as she doesn't like the cold for some reason and the alarm goes off repeatedly(!)

Why don't the Italians just put Japanese electrics in their cars? Would make them perfect!

Froddy

 

[Emtee]

The front passenger footwell is always wet during the summer months as water seems to drip down there with the use of airconditioning; I've lifted the mat and opened the fusebox to dry it out as a precaution - it was wet, but not excessively so (no more than normal!).
Froddy

Hi Froddy, You may be right that this isn't the root of the problem, but is your aircon charged? If so it may be that the aircon drain (drivers side centre console foot well just above foot rest) may be blocked. It's not uncommon. This may at least solve the problem of a damp cabin.

Cheers, Miles.

 

[Emtee]

It seems too much of a coincidence that this has only happened during rain so I don't think it's related to the air con water. I can't work out how the car senses that a door is open - there's no visible switch which the door would press against upon closing. The fact that this is a new problem (I've had the car for 13 months) makes me think there's some rubber or plastic somewhere that's been dislodged or is perishing.

Hi Froddy, There is a sensor in the door I believe that activates from the door handle, both inside and out. Is there a gap between your window and the seal? If so then moisture could be getting in and throwing the sensor? Only a thought as I'm not certain of the detail, but may be worth a check. Also I believe there are relay switches relating to the door mechanism in the passenger foot well 'fuse box', so if you have damp in there also, then this may also be contributing.

Cheers, Miles.

 

[Parisien]

Hi Parisien,

Thanks for your reply.

The front passenger footwell is always wet during the summer months as water seems to drip down there with the use of airconditioning; I've lifted the mat and opened the fusebox to dry it out as a precaution - it was wet, but not excessively so (no more than normal!).....at this point F...even heavy humidity is enough to make electrical things work as they shouldn't - things need to be bone dry, and if relays involved maybe even corrosion of a type if happeneing over a period........check!!)). Under the bonnet looks ok - no evidence of water gathering anywhere and no leaves/debris to interfere with drainage ( so you've undone the screws at either end of the plastic trim nearest the windscreen...BUT NOT FOR REMOVAL....to allow fingers in to remove leaves??). The boot's dry as a bone (I've also checked the spacesaver compartment)..(.ok....but water got in via the petrol filler neck at the side an ran done onto the fuse/relays above the battery in my 4200!!!) and the f1 pump levels were checked on Thursday.

It seems too much of a coincidence that this has only happened during rain so I don't think it's related to the air con water. I can't work out how the car senses that a door is open - there's no visible switch which the door would press against upon closing. The fact that this is a new problem (I've had the car for 13 months) makes me think there's some rubber or plastic somewhere that's been dislodged or is perishing.

Intermittent electrical faults - gotta love 'em!

Froddy

F, see above...plus am sure theres a fix for the air con...have a look........hope you get it sorted!

P

 

[Froddy]

Hi Froddy, There is a sensor in the door I believe that activates from the door handle, both inside and out. Is there a gap between your window and the seal? If so then moisture could be getting in and throwing the sensor? Only a thought as I'm not certain of the detail, but may be worth a check. Also I believe there are relay switches relating to the door mechanism in the passenger foot well 'fuse box', so if you have damp in there also, then this may also be contributing.

Cheers, Miles.

Hi Miles,

Brilliant: I think you may have cracked it for me! The trim at the junction of the driver's door and window keeps popping out of place, and I keep pressing it back down into position. It's conceivable that water is running into the gap at speed and getting into the sensor from there.

Will watch it like a hawk over the coming weeks and see whether the problem recurs ...

Thanks everybody for your replies!

Froddy

 

[Emtee]

Hi Froddy,

As per Parisiens comment above, I'd recommend this thread for your aircon. I had exactly the same issue with water in the footwell. I followed the procedure (not difficult) and hey presto it was gone.

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/sho...ean-out-pollen-filter?highlight=pollen+filter

Cheers, Miles.

 

[dem maser]

how many forums do you think out there are having posts about their cars f****** when it rains??? i loooooove maserati

 

[Froddy]

Thanks again, chaps - a wealth of useful information as ever ...

 

[safrane]

Don't forget the bonnet switch too. If this is saying 'Open' you cant engage gears.

My Air Con backed up when I was at Le Mans, the mat was soaked so much you could ring water out of it...followed the blocked air con hose post and it was sorted in an hour...hot sweaty job in the 38o heat!

 

[Parisien]

how many forums do you think out there are having posts about their cars f****** when it rains??? i loooooove maserati

Am not a member of other forums currently, so can't truly compare, but I do know, the Maseratisti in the UK take their responsibilities as "keepers" of the Maserati faith very seriously.

Its appears to me to be an unwritten, non-stated way of behaving when you've been allowed into the hallowed halls of Maserati ownership.

I don't know what it is, why its happened, or whether or not its just imagined on my behalf.........................but I am delighted to be part of it.

Long live Maserati!

Long live Sportsmaserati!!


P