Problem with my 3200gt?

[mark taylor]

i'm having a little problem with my 3200gt....engine management light comes on, loses power then cuts out....any ideas?
Maserati specialist says that this does not normally happen on these models....has on mine, 3 times now... got towed home today as a precaution, very embarrassing!
Could it be electrical or a fuel issue? When i fill the car right up it smells of petrol.

 

[NickP]

Sounds like its going into limp mode, when you say it cuts out do you mean its unresponsive or the engine just shuts down? I'd get it on an SD2 and get it properly diagnosed as it could be anything. The smell of petrol when you fill it right up sounds like mine, I think there is a small leak on the fuel filter, your could be that or the breather pipe clips on the other side of the tank. Have you had the throttle body replaced with the contactless one or the throttle pot done, they are the normal culprits of the CEL .

 

[davy83]

I'd worry about a "specialist" who says 3200's are not prone to engine management lights coming on. a quick dredge round this forum will establish this. However i would say get the engine management code read and this will tell you whats causing it. If its 2000 onwards roughly it will have an ODBII connector under the dash near the steering wheel and you can connect any ODBII reader to it and get the code. If its older then its more difficult and you need a real specialist with the right gear to read the code. I presume the car runs fine after the code is reset? There are a list of things that might cause this, including the throttle body, and pedal pot, and engine sensors particularly the knock sensors, and the lambda sensors. the error code will point you in the right direction.

 

[lozcb]

All sound advice , take it , thats what the diagnostic is for , if it is the throttle body or pedal pot dont be persuaded by the indie/dealer to renew with oem part , come here and get the solid state one via Boomerang (LuuK) on here , there are no moving parts to wear out ,



regards loz

 

[dem maser]

Sounds like what my car used to do.....
I got a contactless tb and pot and not looked back since.....

 

[hodroyd]

Does the engine actually stop when it cuts out, or does it carry on if you lift off the throttle?? Sometimes if the turbo waste gate has an issue, too much pressure will cut off the injectors completely and if you ease off the pressure drops and the engine will carry on. Also the knock sensors can cause the engine to power down to save damage.

 

[Andyk]

COuld it be the exhaust sensor/coil thing.....If it needs replacing then the car would go into limp mode as oit thinks you are pushing out too much exhaust fumes and breaking the law.....The engine would then shut itself down..........The car runs too rich which could be the petrol smell...Or this is what happens with some makes of cars so could be the same for Maserati....

 

[mark taylor]

thanks....it seems the contactless one etc is what every one else is saying. I'll look into the fuel issue.

Sounds like its going into limp mode, when you say it cuts out do you mean its unresponsive or the engine just shuts down? I'd get it on an SD2 and get it properly diagnosed as it could be anything. The smell of petrol when you fill it right up sounds like mine, I think there is a small leak on the fuel filter, your could be that or the breather pipe clips on the other side of the tank. Have you had the throttle body replaced with the contactless one or the throttle pot done, they are the normal culprits of the CEL .

 

[mark taylor]

it loses power and has cut out completely 3 times.

Does the engine actually stop when it cuts out, or does it carry on if you lift off the throttle?? Sometimes if the turbo waste gate has an issue, too much pressure will cut off the injectors completely and if you ease off the pressure drops and the engine will carry on. Also the knock sensors can cause the engine to power down to save damage.

 

[mark taylor]

sounds like good advice as everyone else mentions the same...thanks

Sounds like what my car used to do.....
I got a contactless tb and pot and not looked back since.....

 

[mark taylor]

the specialist is not saying that the light is not normal its the cutting out completely that he reckons is rare? It is going back tomorrow for computer readings etc. throttle body/pot etc will put to them...thanks

I'd worry about a "specialist" who says 3200's are not prone to engine management lights coming on. a quick dredge round this forum will establish this. However i would say get the engine management code read and this will tell you whats causing it. If its 2000 onwards roughly it will have an ODBII connector under the dash near the steering wheel and you can connect any ODBII reader to it and get the code. If its older then its more difficult and you need a real specialist with the right gear to read the code. I presume the car runs fine after the code is reset? There are a list of things that might cause this, including the throttle body, and pedal pot, and engine sensors particularly the knock sensors, and the lambda sensors. the error code will point you in the right direction.

 

[mark taylor]

thanks alot....you say come here, do you mean to you or on the site somewhere?

All sound advice , take it , thats what the diagnostic is for , if it is the throttle body or pedal pot dont be persuaded by the indie/dealer to renew with oem part , come here and get the solid state one via Boomerang (LuuK) on here , there are no moving parts to wear out ,



regards loz

 

[hodroyd]

Mark,
Loz means come on to the SMF and PM Boomerang, he does the contactless throttle body.
Cheers
R

 

[mark taylor]

thanks will do

Mark,
Loz means come on to the SMF and PM Boomerang, he does the contactless throttle body.
Cheers
R

 

[dem maser]

i can say his TB is excellent........

 

[mark taylor]

thanks for the support,
hopefully the computer readout/test can find out what the problem is?

i can say his TB is excellent........

 

[Maser Sod]

Check battery terminals are firmly affixed. Power cut-out would be a symptom of this,say if you hit a bump in the road.

 

[mark taylor]

thanks did that the first time it happened...no difference i'm afraid

Check battery terminals are firmly affixed. Power cut-out would be a symptom of this,say if you hit a bump in the road.

 

[hodroyd]

It's worth having it checked on an SD2/3, saves the worry and then you will know.

 

[mark taylor]

yep the dealer has towed her away today to do that....it was put on a sd2/3 4 weeks ago, cleared the fault codes and seemed to work....but not for long.

It's worth having it checked on an SD2/3, saves the worry and then you will know.