GTS - Park Off warning (even when driving) / battery voltage drop

Felonious Crud

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As this has popped up on another thread I thought I'd post what the manual has to say on the matter. There was another thread on Maseratilife which broadly concluded the same thing, but in the interests of expanding the vast knowledge base which is SM I thought I'd add some info here as well including, straight from the horse's mouth, a pic from the manual:

IMG_0548.jpg

What I can't quite work out is *why* the battery voltage would drop.
 

EXCF350

Junior Member
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177
Not sure I understand your question but the EPB is activated when the engine is turned off so is therefore under battery power. You can also engage and disengage the EPB with the ignition on but engine not started - again under power from the battery. I guess it's just preserving power and not leaving you in a position where you can't start the engine or disengage the EPB
 

Felonious Crud

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Sometimes the Park Off warning comes on when driving, which on the face of it makes no sense. Clearly it would be worse if the EPB came on when driving but otherwise I've no interest in the status of the automated EPB unless I've stopped and am planning on parking and have decided that I don't want the EPB to automatically engage when I turn the car off. It's a voltage drop which causes the warning to come on whilst driving, so the question relates to what would cause the battery voltage to drop?
 

EXCF350

Junior Member
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177
Could be anything including such things as faulty alternator, bad ground, Italian software....
 

Felonious Crud

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The battery seems pretty chipper. I plugged it into the CTEK charger / conditioner this afternoon and it was up to the green conditioning light within an hour or two. I had the battery disconnected for an hour on Sunday to give it an electronic kick up the jacksy, but that didn't seem to make any difference. My money's on contrary Italian software. :smile:
 

spkennyuk

Member
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5,932
The battery seems pretty chipper. I plugged it into the CTEK charger / conditioner this afternoon and it was up to the green conditioning light within an hour or two. I had the battery disconnected for an hour on Sunday to give it an electronic kick up the jacksy, but that didn't seem to make any difference. My money's on contrary Italian software. :smile:

Italain electrics. One of my Alfa's used to come with with hill holder not available for no logical reason whilst driving. I wouldnt of minded if i was on a hill or even a slight slope and something was confusing the sensor.

If only the Italians designed the cars and the Germans did the electronics.
 

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
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469
Mine still does this whilst driving and sounds like there is a grinding noise from the drivers side as if the EPB is engaged, now I get a transmission error as well before the Park OFF light comes on.

Software, Italians, grrrr

Going into Marios anyway to see if can replicate the error and resolve, been the bug of this car since bought it and drives me crazy
 

FF1078

Member
Messages
1,123
Stewart do you leave your car on a CTEK charger all of the time or not?
Mine was doing this so I called JCT600 and they told me to leave the car on charge when not using it and it's cured the problem. Something to do with voltage dropping when not in use
regards Nick
 

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
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469
Worth a try, challenge is getting CTEK hooked up as my garage is old school and car can't get near it. Good thing is since new battery its been 60 miles of driving without it, hit bumps and all. Also I made sure all the fuses were pushed in and locked in whilst I had battery compartment all open and access to EPB actuator as well.


So recommendations on CTEKS to get ? :)
 

StuartW

Member
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9,306
The new battery will most likely cure your problem for now but once it starts to get old, it could well re-occur unless the car is driven more often or trickle charged.
 

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
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469
I tend to driver her every few days but sometimes they are short trips, 100 mile round trip maybe once a week so not really best driving to keep pushing power back into the battery.
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
I tend to driver her every few days but sometimes they are short trips, 100 mile round trip maybe once a week so not really best driving to keep pushing power back into the battery.

I use the CTEK all the time when parked at home, saves any issues. Makes me think I have a Tesla too!
 

FF1078

Member
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1,123
Yes that's the one to go for that Dave got from Amazon

Made me laugh when my new next door neighbour asked "is the masser electric as I always plug her in when I put her in the garage"
Yes I said all that noise is just a CD I play:lol2:
 

CatmanV2

Member
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48,557
Worth a try, challenge is getting CTEK hooked up as my garage is old school and car can't get near it. Good thing is since new battery its been 60 miles of driving without it, hit bumps and all. Also I made sure all the fuses were pushed in and locked in whilst I had battery compartment all open and access to EPB actuator as well.


So recommendations on CTEKS to get ? :)

A man's charger :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-...1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444139280&sr=8-1&keywords=ctek

C
 

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
Messages
469
Ok so bang the CTEK on when not using or short periods and let it condition the battery, give it a good massage. Time to think about linking a nice external electric socket on the side of the house :)
 

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
Messages
469
Since the new battery has been fitted Ive done over 150 miles and its like a new car, no warning lights, no EPB coming on, it starts, its loud, it drives.....
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
Mine did this today, new battery time I guess....what are my options?

It looks like the original battery so she's done well.

NOT going to be putting original in, so sensible suggestions if you would.

I have been struggling with what I have been told is contaminated actuator pots which Zep will testify too and issues with the handbrake release. I am now thinking rather than drop the gearbox, a new battery might be the actually root of all issues (and a crappy EPB which is on the list to look at)

You never know, I might get lucky :)