Help for newbie.... Check Engine Light... 3200GT Automatic

[Undefined]

Hi all, First of all, nice to see all in this forum... I am new to Maserati and just got my 2001 3200GT automatic. Very excited and the car was preserved very well, although it's been a 10 years old car!

However, the problem comes on my very first day I got the car, I was driving my 3200GT, it was in a bit of traffic and what I need to do is to press on the brake and release it an press it again (do it quite a number of times) for a slow forward movement... During this moment, the Check Engine Light went on suddenly and, at the same time, the speedometer was not working properly (it moves... however, it moves very slowly and does not really reflect to the current speed... but it will eventually get to the approximate speed that I was driving, it just takes time to let it goes to the correct speed). During the drive, I also notice that there was a very little noise, hard to describe, but similar to some noise from either electronics or pumps... But other than these... the car works normally and can still pick up some speed.

Tried to shut the engine off and start it again, the problem remains.... The previous owner changed the throttle body & coil from the dealer 2 months ago....

Any experts could help me on this? Thank you very much in advance!

 

[lozcb]

Not to up on the 3200 but sounds like it has gone into limp mode (cel) i would get it to the dealer soon as , where are you from take it your not in the UK


regards loz

 

[conaero]

Hi there if the throttle body has been done the next port of call is lambda sensors and throttle pedal pot.

If I were you I would get the error read. You can buy one of the many OBD fault code readers of eBay for as little as £20.

This will give you an indication of what the issue is.

Your speedo is playing up and it's electronic, no speedo drive cable, so I recon this indicates that you problem is wiring up under the dash, or the bridge can unit.

Get the code read and let us have it for more help.

 

[Undefined]

Hi lozcb,

Thanks a lot. Well.... believe that I have to visit the dealer in these few days... may need to pay some contribution to make myself more comfortable.... Hahahahaa.....

Hi Conaero,

Thanks for your advice! It's a really a good advice to get a fault code reader, I've never thought of it myself before! I searched some web and just would like to confirm, would the below one works for 3200GT, 'cos it's in my location, so believe that could be much easier for me to get it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U480-OBD2...tive_Tools&hash=item19c8541e9d#ht_3868wt_1139

Or, in fact, I also prefer some OBD tool that connect to a laptop computer and can have a view on more information.... but I am not sure which one got the software for 3200GT.....

Appreciate if you or anyone could share your experience.....

Thank you very much!

 

[conaero]

Pretty sure that will work. If you would like a laptop version try digimoto.com you also need the cable.

 

[Undefined]

Finally, I got the OBD tool.... checked and it said the fault code is P1665.

Did a quick search on the net and people said that relates to brake sensor and I believe that could be very valid as I was in the traffic and used quite frequent on the brake for stop and go.... but so far I don't feel any problem with the brake.... would that be a false alarm? For now, I just cleared the code and see whether it would appear again.... on the other hand, I am still a bit worry as it is related to safety..
Any recommendation from you guys? I will try to drive slowly.... and will take it to the dealer to have a check on the brake then...

 

[LeeH]

Finally, I got the OBD tool.... checked and it said the fault code is P1665.

Did a quick search on the net and people said that relates to brake sensor and I believe that could be very valid as I was in the traffic and used quite frequent on the brake for stop and go.... but so far I don't feel any problem with the brake.... would that be a false alarm? For now, I just cleared the code and see whether it would appear again.... on the other hand, I am still a bit worry as it is related to safety..
Any recommendation from you guys? I will try to drive slowly.... and will take it to the dealer to have a check on the brake then...

I too had this same fault briefly last year.

It appeared I slipped on the brake pedal a bit and caused pedal sensor to have a wobble.

Did a reset on the SD2 and all has been fine since.

Could be that simple....

 

[Emtee]

On the 4200 at least, the pedal sensor is a simple plunge switch behind the pedal that can come loose. Because it's linked into the safety system, it can throw all sorts of faults also, so it's definitely worth a quick look.

 

[conaero]

Glad you got it sorted, which reader did you buy in the end?

 

[dem maser]

Any news?? I have a 3209 and when tye light came on it was TB for me....
Would love ot if yours was simple fix, i would also suggest you get the contactless TB whether the car is alright or not as that will make the car bombproof.....a real improvement.....

 

[javier]

Hello,
P1665 is a failure in the brake pedal switch. The brake pedal switch is unexpensive and very easy to replace (you even do not need a tool for that purpose). You can also remove it and try to clean the contacts. I can confirm it, I suffered this one
Regards,
Javier

 

[javier]

Hello,
P1665 is a failure in the brake pedal switch. The brake pedal switch is unexpensive and very easy to replace (you even do not need a tool for that purpose). You can also remove it and try to clean the contacts. I can confirm it, I suffered this one
Regards,
Javier

Forgot to add: this does not implicate that the brakes does not function, simply that the switch has two sections, routed to several subsystems: brake lights, ECU, ABS, transmission... if the system detects a malfunction in the swtich (i.e. sees one section as pressed and the other section as depressed), it triggers the CEL.

 

[Undefined]

Glad you got it sorted, which reader did you buy in the end?

I got a Mini ELM327 OBD-II Bluetooth Auto Scan tool and I just downloaded an app on my Andriod phone... then it works! Well.... I was a bit nervous when checked that is related to brake... however, so far, nothing happen to the brake and the brake works great!

I believe still want to have a health check and change oil soon... but since I will be on business trip and the dealer got no time slot available before I go... so, maybe after my trip then.... Thanks again to all of your help!

 

[Undefined]

Hello,
P1665 is a failure in the brake pedal switch. The brake pedal switch is unexpensive and very easy to replace (you even do not need a tool for that purpose). You can also remove it and try to clean the contacts. I can confirm it, I suffered this one
Regards,
Javier

Thank you very much, Javier! You suffered this one before? So, the warning signal should not go off until you clean the switch or what? 'cos, for now, I just clean the code at the car computer and the error does not come out anymore... until now... so, would that be just a sudden sensor error at that point of time?

Anyway, will see whether I can reach the brake pedal switch as you mentioned, see whether cleaning the contact would be even better! Thanks!

 

[Undefined]

Any news?? I have a 3209 and when tye light came on it was TB for me....
Would love ot if yours was simple fix, i would also suggest you get the contactless TB whether the car is alright or not as that will make the car bombproof.....a real improvement.....

Thanks! But how do I know whether the TB is the one you mentioned? 'cos from the invoice the previous owner, the local dealer "renewed throttle body" 2 months ago (in July/2011) and I notice that there is an item named "THROTTLE BODY D. BY W" and the code of this item is "M585064604".... Do you know whether it is the contactless TB you mentioned? What's the difference between the contactless TB and.... the old version? How can I know it is the contactless or not?

I don't have a clearer picture with me... not sure whether by seeing the below pictures, it is possible to point out whether the TB is the one you mentioned? Really appreciated!

 

[javier]

Yes, I suffered this one. In my case, CEL appeared from time to time, and usually went off after stoping and restarting the car. The error code, however, gets stored so it can be read even if the cause is no longer there. If you have cleared the error, and CEL comes again, you can check if it is the same.

I forgot to add, I think that you car, being a 2001, has a different ECU version than mine, a 1999 one (mine has no standard OBD connector), so the behaviour can be different - but I think that the error codes are same for both ECUs.

 

[conaero]

I got a Mini ELM327 OBD-II Bluetooth Auto Scan tool and I just downloaded an app on my Andriod phone... then it works! Well.... I was a bit nervous when checked that is related to brake... however, so far, nothing happen to the brake and the brake works great!

I believe still want to have a health check and change oil soon... but since I will be on business trip and the dealer got no time slot available before I go... so, maybe after my trip then.... Thanks again to all of your help!

That sounds cool, can you get it for iphone to?

 

[Emtee]

That sounds cool, can you get it for iphone to?

Don't think the iPhone runs the full bluetooth protocol does it Matt? Think it's do-able but you'd need to jailbreak it and download a bluetooth package.

 

[NickP]

Undefined you need to take the Throttle Body off and photo the Throttle pots which are on the side of the unit, they are square black plastic units.

 

[Pibbow]

Had the same error code once last year braking while on a cattle grid. Matt you may remember my numerous phone calls that day! never re- appeared It's the sensor on the pedal so not a safety issue.

Peter