Newbie - Just bought 2006 4200 (manual) with 97k - Silver/Black Leather

Tifoso27

New Member
Messages
21
Hi All,

Everywhere I've read about Maserati on the internet has pointed me to this forum as THE source of sound advice and reliable information, so here I am.

The title of the thread may lead you to think that I'm clinically insane (97k!) but the car is in fantastic condition and has recent receipts for work at Joe Macari and Carrs of Exeter. It seems to have been very well looked after, and maybe all the stuff that can go wrong has already gone wrong and been sorted. I sure hope so....

I drove a few manuals (and a CC - not for me), and nothing came close to this one so I took the plunge. I'm going to use the car as a daily driver, doing around 12k per year. I have a good warranty and a sizeable fund to cover the issues. I'm also joining a car club for the Maser's 'days off'.

I'm a veteran of 2x Integrales, a 155 V6, a 308 GTS and a Brera so I know all about the 'joys' of Italian car ownership.

Any advice or knowledge on the following interesting items so far would be greatly appreciated:

  1. MSP button lit up and MSP (struck through) appeared on dashboard. Went away after car stopped and restarted. I took it easy while light was on.
  2. Red '!' flashed on dashboard this morning on the way to work for about 10 seconds. Stopped of it's own accord.
  3. Clutch was very soft when I started the car this morning - lots of give. Couldn't engage 1st or Reverse. Clutch firmed up after 5 mins warming up, and was then fine in driving.
  4. Alarm seems to be triggered very easily.
  5. Wing mirror electric adjuster doesn't work but they reset themselves to a bad position each time I stop car.
  6. Cooling fan comes on very easily and graunches and vibrates the whole car (not v.loud though). Spent the day in London traffic yesterday and no overheating issues (never above 90).
  7. Brief random electronic beeping about 10 seconds after starting the engine.

Cheers!
 

hunta

Member
Messages
405
Congrats, and hopefully mileage won't be an issue as you say. Did you get a pre-purchase inspection done, and if so did it come up with anything?

Have you only just taken delivery of the car with it having been stood unused a while, e.g. at a dealer? Some gremlins aren't unheard of in such circumstances and may clear of their own accord with regular use.

The cooling fan can be noticeable but shouldn't be overly obtrusive. You might want to get that checked out.

The beeping could be the tracker if that's still fitted?

Might be worth talking to Emblem about their Saturday morning clinics if you're anywhere near the southern end of the country.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
5. Is typical, mine can’t make its mind up where it should be when in reverse then next thing it’s pointing at the sky. Seems to me working ok now but no doubt it will go it’s merry way again.

7. Still checking stuff, mine does it.

Oddball lights that come and go are part of the packages! As long as stops, turns and goes you should be ok if they are random.

Battery reset will help, basically disconnect it for an hour or so and reconnect....
 

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,491
5. Is typical, mine can’t make its mind up where it should be when in reverse then next thing it’s pointing at the sky. Seems to me working ok now but no doubt it will go it’s merry way again.

7. Still checking stuff, mine does it.

Oddball lights that come and go are part of the packages! As long as stops, turns and goes you should be ok if they are random.

Battery reset will help, basically disconnect it for an hour or so and reconnect....
Don't lock yourself out doing a battery reset. Could also be battery is down on charge if sitting unused for a while or perhaps the battery is past its best and needs replacing.
Remember alarm on mine would go off for virtually no reason. Eventually switched it off.
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,654
Well done...Some people reckon you need to be brave to own these cars. The 4200 is a pretty sound car, once you learn its foibles and weak spots.
The question about an inspection is kinda moot by now as youve already bought it, I guess...?

1- could be a wheel bearing. ABS sensors are built in to these and when they go bad, they can throw out an MSP light on the dash. This is doom and gloom because it may not be anything more than a battery thing...I'd be hopeful with a reset, and/or new battery,as the dash is also showing you the exclamation in red, then disappearing.. If its a bearing, you need to replace the whole thing About £420 ish quid and then fitting..

5- There is a small contact switch in the console and it is supposed to be activated by the gear stickk shaft making the connection when you select reverse, which puts the mirrors in the reversing set-up. Try holdng the gearshift into the reverse position with hand pressure to see if this maintains the contact circuit at all...If so, you have your culprit ! Just prise the gaitor free from the shaft and you can see the switch I mean..Looks like a bike brake lever switch if that helps...!?

6- sure its the fan ? Cos the secondary air system will kick in to get O2 sensors upto temp at dtart up too...and the noise may be this; or the aircon pump bearings going bad. Aircon pumps can stop the car when they seize. Its a fairly common problem but wouldnt coincide with the fans running....



Good luck. Weathers been shite so far this year...:(
 
Last edited:

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
MSP button lit up and MSP (struck through) appeared on dashboard. Went away after car stopped and restarted. I took it easy while light was on.

As mentioned, possibly ABS sensor.
  1. Red '!' flashed on dashboard this morning on the way to work for about 10 seconds. Stopped of it's own accord.
Brake fluid perhaps? Maybe low pad warning
  1. Clutch was very soft when I started the car this morning - lots of give. Couldn't engage 1st or Reverse. Clutch firmed up after 5 mins warming up, and was then fine in driving.
Pass
  1. Alarm seems to be triggered very easily.
Sensors can be tuned I believe, or at least some de-activated.
  1. Wing mirror electric adjuster doesn't work but they reset themselves to a bad position each time I stop car.
When you stop? Try the seat reset? The systems are linked
  1. Cooling fan comes on very easily and graunches and vibrates the whole car (not v.loud though). Spent the day in London traffic yesterday and no overheating issues (never above 90).
Resistor may be corroded away.
  1. Brief random electronic beeping about 10 seconds after starting the engine.
Pass :)

C

Welcome!
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,654
I wonder if the soft clutch pedal is related to service techs not flushing the fluids fully...?
They share brake and clutch fluid ( manual) and if not pruged fully, the fliud can solidify by degrees as it absorbs water, and that would be affected by temperature.IE- As it warms through affected by ambient temperatures and use...Or perhaps, thats the brake pedal that goes squishy..? Im sure someone more knowedgable will throw educated light on my aspersions...!
 

Tifoso27

New Member
Messages
21
Huge thanks to you all for your input :urock:

The car is going in for a thorough PPI (post-purchase inspection :whistle:) next week so I'll feedback on the issues and how they were resolved.

I'm based in KT8 and looking at Autofficina, Mototech (who made that V8 Dino!) and also Joe Macari (as they had it last) and Maranello. Anyone else I should be considering in the area?

Thanks again
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Ok, thanks to Ar Terry in Nor'n Iron I can advise some hard learned information about the clutch, The pedal return spring may be weak!, if the pedal is not absolutely lifted the clutch cannot pull fresh fluid in! CHECK THIS FIRST. Bleeding the clutch can only be done with a vacuum puller and then only if you know the first point is correct!

The shared fluid in the brakes is a common oversight to changing with minimal fluid, ALWAYS change for top quality fluid and use a 5lt flush process. If you don't have one get a vacuum/pressure bleed system, start left rear and pull 1.5lt through the system, then the other 3 corners pulling 1lt through each and then 0.5lt through the clutch.

Mirrors - it sounds like you have the reverse dip system/memory seats so as others have suggested reset the whole lot, bleeps after starting could be anything but may well be air con not happy and this can also be reset.

Random lights/MSP failure not uncommon after laying up for a while.

Good luck.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
1. Wheel hub sensor

2. Low brake pads/low brake fluid/handbrake problem

3. Clutch master cylinder OR... It may have something to do with Point 2... If the brake fluid is low it will effect the clucth as itnuses the same fluid from the same reservoir

4. Check car battery. Alarm may have a separate battery. My 4200 has been set off very easily twice over the past two days... Once during a heavy down pour of rain, another time on the ferry at Dover.

5. Maybe the car battery... They should auto save the previous position - does the cigarette lighter socket work? They are on the same circuit

6. The fan has two settings controlled by a relay that may burn out (common problem). That said on full chat the fan makes my car shake too so it may be a matter of "they all do that"... But Check the relay anyway

7. Not sure could be a few things you might need to describe the circumstances more
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Aslo MSP etc lights (on the QP there an Unholy Trinity of them) can come on when you rush into reverse or drive via the lever, happened to me, drove fine. Also did it when searched at Holyhead and customs guy wanted to search the engine bay for bombs/just have a butchers at the engine. Come on then and drove fine, gone on next start. Also got same when clutch position sensor failed but that usually meant no start. That wasn't cheap IIRC. I think it mainly does it when it's confused poor thing.

My fans come on early (to me) and are fairly noisy but there's no vibration or anything sounding knackered.

Mine bleeps constantly through the status procedure even with no warning lights and finishes the a couple from the rear as I assume it's checking the parking sensors.
 

hunta

Member
Messages
405
Remember alarm on mine would go off for virtually no reason. Eventually switched it off.
Anyone know the procedure for disarming the alarm? I've noticed mine can go off if not parked on a level surface (like my drive).
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Check the resistor in the front grill area for the fan issue... They corroded and make tfje fans run full.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Alarm tends to be spiders or spider webs in the A-pillars and then even light rain makes them shake in front of the microwave sensors!

Like Father Dougle = very small or far away!

Easy enough to pop the A-pillar cladding off and just unplug them (one either side) tape them out the way so they don’t rattle and pop the cladding back on.
 

Geo

Member
Messages
616