Floating rev counter / delayed throttle response

[RussBird82]

I just took the 4200 for a spin since getting it back from the garage after the clutch went. It has since had the master cylinder replaced with a modified Audi part (by all accounts the Maserati part is no longer available). Couple of issues before I flag it with the garage.

1. The throttle lunges when floored in any gear. E.g say pedal to the metal at 2000rpm, there's a delay before it lunges to where it should be, then drops back around 3500 revs as if some sort of minor limp mode kicks in and then progresses with relative normality. Kind of feels/sounds like driving an auto when it changes gear (no burning smell).

2. Clutch seems worryingly sticky. I only drove maybe 10 miles and every traffic light was unnecessarily stressful. Could be my imagination but it was reminiscent of when it broke down the first time, i.e. struggling to find the biting point. Wrong fluid or air in the system perhaps? Could have been my imagination given the other issues but don't think it was.

3. The battery charge level was all over the place, moreso in the latter part of the journey. Dropped so low I thought the alternator had packed up and then back to relative normality in the final mile or so.

Any thoughts before I contact the garage and request an extended test drive? I did think the battery may have gone duff while in their care but put it on charge when I got home and it's normal levels.

Thanks in advance.

 

[conaero]

Sounds like the clutch has been fitted poorly/not all parts changed or it’s not been set up correctly.

Who fitted it?

 

[RussBird82]

Sounds like the clutch has been fitted poorly/not all parts changed or it’s not been set up correctly.

Who fitted it?

Allitalia : Italianspecialist : Alfa, Lancia, Fiat

allitalia Ltd, italianspecialist, Alfa, Lancia and Fiat specialist, classic and modern

www.allitalia.co.uk

They 'know their onions' so to speak and it's not a slur on their reputation. Just surprised they wouldn't have picked up on it. Possible they only took it round the block to check the clutch works.

Original issue was that the rubber on the master cylinder piston perished/expanded/split. But driving it tonight started to feel the same as that fateful evening. Worried I may not make it home it was that bad.

 

[CatmanV2]

3. The battery charge level was all over the place, moreso in the latter part of the journey. Dropped so low I thought the alternator had packed up and then back to relative normality in the final mile or so.

If you mean the volt meter on the dash? These used to make great compasses...

C

 

[RussBird82]

If you mean the volt meter on the dash? These used to make great compasses...

C

Mine has always been reliable to be honest, that's why I wondered if it's low voltage.

 

[CatmanV2]

Mine has always been reliable to be honest, that's why I wondered if it's low voltage.

Fair shout. I think it's the only one I've heard of (being reliable)

Get one of those little digital jobs that plug into the cigar lighter, see what it says (assuming it doesn't just go straight back to the garage)

C

 

[RussBird82]

Fair shout. I think it's the only one I've heard of (being reliable)

Get one of those little digital jobs that plug into the cigar lighter, see what it says (assuming it doesn't just go straight back to the garage)

C

I put it on trickle when I got home, battery was fine. I was just wondering if the car was playing up because it thought the battery was bad etc

 

[CatmanV2]

I put it on trickle when I got home, battery was fine. I was just wondering if the car was playing up because it thought the battery was bad etc

Can't imagine that. Probably just time for the voltmeter to have a lie down

C

 

[RussBird82]

Have booked it in for an extended test. Ah the joys of Maserati ownership...

https://media3.giphy.com/media/AbPW...a&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

 

[allandwf]

Clutch sounds very like when my slave cylinder was sticking. Got worse the warmer it got. All good once replaced, but traffic lights and junctions were a nightmare.

 

[RussBird82]

Clutch sounds very like when my slave cylinder was sticking. Got worse the warmer it got. All good once replaced, but traffic lights and junctions were a nightmare.

Do you think the damage could have been done first time round? The garage were content (and even showed me) the master cylinder pissing fluid out. Is it possible for an external leaked to affect the slave? By all accounts it was just a combination of heat + 20yr old rubber that caused the initial fault.

And yes traffic lights on a hot summer's evening in a car that could break any second...not enjoyable. I literally only took it out to clear the rust off the brake discs/collect some beers as I washed it at the weekend.

 

[allandwf]

Do you think the damage could have been done first time round? The garage were content (and even showed me) the master cylinder pissing fluid out. Is it possible for an external leaked to affect the slave? By all accounts it was just a combination of heat + 20yr old rubber that caused the initial fault.

And yes traffic lights on a hot summer's evening in a car that could break any second...not enjoyable

Mine was fine, for about a couple of miles until it got warm, then progressively got stickier and stickier until it was virtually undriveable. Maybe your car had both cylinders faulty, and they hadn't realised the other was faulty too , as it would drive fine in and out of the garage.

 

[Mr S]

have you tried an Italian Tune up? I found if i dont move my 4200 Gransport for a while the first few clutch engagements are a little sticky, but after a good thrashing its fine. Have you tried turning the isolator off and leaving it (on trickle charge) and then trying again?

 

[RussBird82]

Mine was fine, for about a couple of miles until it got warm, then progressively got stickier and stickier until it was virtually undriveable. Maybe your car had both cylinders faulty, and they hadn't realised the other was faulty too , as it would drive fine in and out of the garage.

So did you manage to escape with just doing the slave cylinder? AA guy said get the clutch done at the same time for economies of scale, but given it's a fairly new clutch 15-20k would be overkill unless it's contaminated and I've never needed a new clutch in all 25yrs of driving. But putting 2+2 together does sound like it needs more work . Was running fine until I dared attempt taking it to a car show

 

[RussBird82]

have you tried an Italian Tune up? I found if i dont move my 4200 Gransport for a while the first few clutch engagements are a little sticky, but after a good thrashing its fine. Have you tried turning the isolator off and leaving it (on trickle charge) and then trying again?

Yeah that was my thinking. Unfortunately it only got worse

 

[RussBird82]

have you tried an Italian Tune up? I found if i dont move my 4200 Gransport for a while the first few clutch engagements are a little sticky, but after a good thrashing its fine. Have you tried turning the isolator off and leaving it (on trickle charge) and then trying again?

I can try the isolator but there was definitely a mechanical feel to the stickiness (it's a manual). Rev counter/voltage jury's out

 

[allandwf]

So did you manage to escape with just doing the slave cylinder? AA guy said get the clutch done at the same time for economies of scale, but given it's a fairly new clutch 15-20k would be overkill unless it's contaminated and I've never needed a new clutch in all 25yrs of driving. But putting 2+2 together does sound like it needs more work . Was running fine until I dared attempt taking it to a car show

Yes, just changed the slave, but sourcing one was another story.

 

[RussBird82]

Yes, just changed the slave, but sourcing one was another story.

Fingers crossed. This garage seems quite good with the knowledge. I mean who knew an Audi part could be swapped/modified for the Master cylinder?

 

[safrane]

When I had my new clutch on the GS it was like night and day... the engagement and change was sooo much better.

 

[RussBird82]

When I had my new clutch on the GS it was like night and day... the engagement and change was sooo much better.

Assume GS Auto? This is a manual. Only issue I ever have is into the cold when it won't go into 2nd for a good half hour of driving. So I'm very much a 1, 3, 5 driver. Took me a while to get used to the manual but I actually quite like it now, hence I'm sure these recent issues aren't my imagination.