Hi Gents, newbie from Kent and some advice needed.

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
should that fail I will take the route of installing a valve bypass

I hate to labour the point, but if what you've described is accurate (or I'm interpreting it accurately) that isn't going to help.

If the valves are left without vacuum, they default to open i.e. loud. If your car is quiet all the time and the valves move freely and return to a default position, something else is going on (like the mechanical link from the actuator to the actual flap is broken, or someone's already replaced them with valves which are the wrong way round (i.e. default to closed)

C
 

Loveday558

New Member
Messages
19
I hate to labour the point, but if what you've described is accurate (or I'm interpreting it accurately) that isn't going to help.

If the valves are left without vacuum, they default to open i.e. loud. If your car is quiet all the time and the valves move freely and return to a default position, something else is going on (like the mechanical link from the actuator to the actual flap is broken, or someone's already replaced them with valves which are the wrong way round (i.e. default to closed)

C


Hi Catman, the car is definitely quite all the time, what I will do in the morning is start the car get underneath it and move the link (not sure what the proper name is) that attaches to the valve to see what happens then.
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
I hate to labour the point, but if what you've described is accurate (or I'm interpreting it accurately) that isn't going to help.

If the valves are left without vacuum, they default to open i.e. loud. If your car is quiet all the time and the valves move freely and return to a default position, something else is going on (like the mechanical link from the actuator to the actual flap is broken, or someone's already replaced them with valves which are the wrong way round (i.e. default to closed)

C

This one is bizarre. The actuators both go up and down with a push and return to the normal ‘loud’ position when not under pressure but the car is quiet on start up. I agree that it sounds like the flaps but it’s strange that both have failed closed.

OP beautiful car BTW and please report back.
 
Messages
1,687
Hi OP
Beautiful car. A quiet Maserati though. Does not compute ;)
Before you start paying out massive amounts more money, I would go back to the dealer.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is quite explicit on dealer car sales. (dealer/trader/etc)

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you the right to ask for a full refund in the first 30 days after buying any product that proves to be faulty, including new and used cars. The law also provides protection for servicing and repair work that renders your car faulty.

You can bet your bottom dollar that (a) the dealer who sold you the car was aware of the fault and (b) is also aware
of your rights and his responsibilities. I took a very dodgy dealer to Northampton High Court last year over a Range Rover Classic and he paid out exactly what I was asking for in my claim on the morning the case was listed to be heard. Obviously, you'd hope that your dealer will hold his hands up to this and any other faults, warranty or no warranty, but if he doesn't you have strong legislation on your side. Either to refuse the car and demand a refund, or reclaim costs for the repairs which you may have to carry out.

Keep contemporaneous notes, receipts, photos etc etc just in case you need to go down the court route.

Very sorry to hear of your problems and I hope they get sorted out to your satisfaction immediately.
If its reassuring at all, my own Granturismo is the most reliable car I've ever bought, in forty odd years of driving and I'm sure yours is the same. Once you get past this 'blip' caused by a lazy dealer.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
Hi Catman, the car is definitely quite all the time, what I will do in the morning is start the car get underneath it and move the link (not sure what the proper name is) that attaches to the valve to see what happens then.

Actuator. Take a photo as well, perhaps?

C
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
Hi Geoff, I bought it from a small dealer who trades from home, so not a main dealership so to speak, it come with a 6 month warranty but to be honest I don't hold much faith in warranties (unless it's from a main dealer), any old excuss not to pay out, I will do a few basic checks tomorrow morning as suggested by a few members on here, should that fail I will take the route of installing a valve bypass, I can buy the bits needed from Ebay for £50, I will also be ordering a x pipe tomorrow from autoshield Maserati so hopefully will sound really nice.

And Ashford is about 30 minutes from me so not to far.

I would still go back to him about the sport button. As if the boxes need replacing (worst case scenario) then you're looking at over a grand.

Make him aware, anyway, because this is what would be covered under the warranty.

If he's trading Maser's then he should be aware of the potential costs involved in a warranty claim.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
I would still go back to him about the sport button. As if the boxes need replacing (worst case scenario) then you're looking at over a grand.

Make him aware, anyway, because this is what would be covered under the warranty.

If he's trading Maser's then he should be aware of the potential costs involved in a warranty claim.

Have to agree with this

C
 

Loveday558

New Member
Messages
19
Hi gents,
I got under the car this morning and on starting the car the arms / rods on the actuators moved up instantly, I pulled the vacuum pipes of one at a time and both pipes are sucking air in, if I physically pull down the arms / rods on the actuators the car does sound louder, and when I let go of the arm it springs back into place, on pressing the sport button the arms on the actuators don't move, so not sure if there is a fault or not or it's just me not fully understanding how it should work, a friend of mine once had a Maserati gt with mc gear box and I seem to think that once he pressed the sport button the noise change was instant, I may be wrong.
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
Hi gents,
I got under the car this morning and on starting the car the arms / rods on the actuators moved up instantly, I pulled the vacuum pipes of one at a time and both pipes are sucking air in, if I physically pull down the arms / rods on the actuators the car does sound louder, and when I let go of the arm it springs back into place, on pressing the sport button the arms on the actuators don't move, so not sure if there is a fault or not or it's just me not fully understanding how it should work, a friend of mine once had a Maserati gt with mc gear box and I seem to think that once he pressed the sport button the noise change was instant, I may be wrong.

The noise change is instant. The Sport button should perhaps be called the loud button.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
Hi gents,
I got under the car this morning and on starting the car the arms / rods on the actuators moved up instantly, I pulled the vacuum pipes of one at a time and both pipes are sucking air in, if I physically pull down the arms / rods on the actuators the car does sound louder, and when I let go of the arm it springs back into place, on pressing the sport button the arms on the actuators don't move, so not sure if there is a fault or not or it's just me not fully understanding how it should work, a friend of mine once had a Maserati gt with mc gear box and I seem to think that once he pressed the sport button the noise change was instant, I may be wrong.
Sounds like Matt is on the money with the actuator (what a surprise).
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
OK so it sounds like the solenoid valve is dead and not responding to the command to close of the vacuum.
I guess the only other test would be to get someone to rev the car >3k revs while you observe the movement of the valves when it's in sport. They should *definitely move. I mean they should move a but as soon as Sport is pressed but could be they are just not moving enough.

I think that his point I'd be very clear at taking it back to the dealer (or at least claiming on the warranty) The replacement of the solenoid is probably cheap and easy. If there's something wrong with the ECU, and the Solenoid is fine then this might be a bit spendy

C
 

Loveday558

New Member
Messages
19
Hi gents,
I got under the car this morning and on starting the car the arms / rods on the actuators moved up instantly, I pulled the vacuum pipes of one at a time and both pipes are sucking air in, if I physically pull down the arms / rods on the actuators the car does sound louder, and when I let go of the arm it springs back into place, on pressing the sport button the arms on the actuators don't move, so not sure if there is a fault or not or it's just me not fully understanding how it should work, a friend of mine once had a Maserati gt with mc gear box and I seem to think that once he pressed the sport button the noise change was instant, I may be wrong.
OK so it sounds like the solenoid valve is dead and not responding to the command to close of the vacuum.
I guess the only other test would be to get someone to rev the car >3k revs while you observe the movement of the valves when it's in sport. They should *definitely move. I mean they should move a but as soon as Sport is pressed but could be they are just not moving enough.

I think that his point I'd be very clear at taking it back to the dealer (or at least claiming on the warranty) The replacement of the solenoid is probably cheap and easy. If there's something wrong with the ECU, and the Solenoid is fine then this might be a bit spendy

C

Cheers Guys, I really do appreciate all your input, like I've said before, I'm not mechanically minded at all, so I wouldn't of had a clue where to start, what I will do is order the solenoid first as they are only £32.00 if that sorts it I'll be happy, if it doesn't then i will phone the dealer to get it sorted, on the plus side I've just ordered a x pipe from autoshield so will be with me next week (I can't wait) again thanks guys as it was down to you lot that pointed me in the right direction and I saved a few pounds too.

Just curious do the people on here meet up for car meets etc as would be nice to get to know a few of you, obviously once this covid is over with.
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
OK so it sounds like the solenoid valve is dead and not responding to the command to close of the vacuum.
I guess the only other test would be to get someone to rev the car >3k revs while you observe the movement of the valves when it's in sport. They should *definitely move. I mean they should move a but as soon as Sport is pressed but could be they are just not moving enough.

I think that his point I'd be very clear at taking it back to the dealer (or at least claiming on the warranty) The replacement of the solenoid is probably cheap and easy. If there's something wrong with the ECU, and the Solenoid is fine then this might be a bit spendy

C

Nice idea but the auto 4.7 GTS only opens the valves over 3000 revs if in gear - pain really!