Quattroporte Rattle on Start Up

Phil the Brit

Phil the Brit

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1,499
Just looking for some advice, yesterday and now today I started the engine on 2009 Quattroporte and for approximately one to one and a half seconds there is a top end rattle on start up. After that time it is quiet. If I stop the engine and restart it there is no rattle. The problem is only when cold. Recently serviced and oil looks perfectly clean and is at correct level (checked when hot).
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Phil
 
rs48635

rs48635

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3,181
Sure someone with proper mechanical expertise will be along soon.

My suspect would be oil filled adjusters in the valve train, once started they would be primed. Not sure if this is a fault or just a characteristic.
Can check mine later, but suspect we have different power plant. My 2006 QP has red cam covers denoting dry sump engine. Suspect your later 2009 car will be wet sump therefore blue cam covers. Cannot guarantee they retain exactly the same top end.
 
ChrisQP09

ChrisQP09

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I've only had my car few weeks and this has happened a few times. The rattle is deriving from the underside near exhausts and quickly goes away.

I can say for sure that it only happens when the weather has been 2c or below overnight. Any temperature above this, there is no problem.
 
rs48635

rs48635

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3,181
Chris

Mine has a rattle at the back on cold start too. I ignore it, as all of the other noises are such a joy. Maybe it is "loose bit" in the silencers which expand once warm?
 
ChrisQP09

ChrisQP09

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rs48635 said:
Chris

Mine has a rattle at the back on cold start too. I ignore it, as all of the other noises are such a joy. Maybe it is "loose bit" in the silencers which expand once warm?
Click to expand...

Not sure what the issue is, however, once read around it is definitely temperature related and something doesn't like the cold. Thus, not the greatest of concerns but as always with these cars, any unnatural sound is part and parcel with these cars.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Mine does similar. I think there's some non-return valves that are supposed to stop the lifters from drying out. These sometimes fail and thus you get a second of low pressure at the lifters. I don't think it does a whole load of damage as it *should* be only very brief

C
 
safrane

safrane

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That's the variaitors rattling, either they have gone or the valve has.

Valve is aprox £400 fitted but if it is the V's its almost £2,000.

The units keep the oil in the top end to prevent wear until the scavenger system get up to pressure.
 
ChrisQP09

ChrisQP09

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safrane said:
That's the variaitors rattling, either they have gone or the valve has.

Valve is aprox £400 fitted but if it is the V's its almost £2,000.

The units keep the oil in the top end to prevent wear until the scavenger system get up to pressure.
Click to expand...

Car just received a full Mas inspection and passed on everything except suspension bushes.

Edit: If the issue presents itself infrequently (cold days), at what point should it become crucial to have things checked if the car is starting? If it is either the valve or variators, if left without inspection can they cause damage to other parts?
 
safrane

safrane

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The longer the car is left the more oil drips back to the bottom collection tank hence why left to go cold the oil seeps back.

Theoretically it is designed to prevent wear/ noise but as long as it goes back to normal promptly it will be OK.

If the inspection was done on a recent run car the fault may not show.
 
ChrisQP09

ChrisQP09

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2,998
samsung7k777 said:
I just got mine changed with Maserati and it solved the problem. It is a common problem with Quattroporte.
Click to expand...

how long was your rattle lasting and how often? As diagnosis can take a long time if the "conditions" are not correct to induce the issue
 
M

Michael

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340
My 4.2 2008 GT with 21k miles does the same. Maserati will fix it for £5k ish! The challenge I have is when do get it fixed or is it a none issue. I guess it would be very useful to hear from someone who has a 4.2 QP or GT with high mileage to give their experience with their 'rattle'.

My car's rattle is 1-2 seconds long - cold morning are the worse. But it needs to be left overnight for it to happen. So if I drive to work - leave it parked all day then start it at 6pm - the rattle isn't there.

I had a 360 Modena before this and it did the same - I couldn't hear it as much as it was louder.
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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14,150
That sounds like the variators possibly. On 4.2 dry sump they have an oil pressure tank within th "V" at the top of the engine. Normally this is kept under pressure and when you start from cold the oil stored in here shoots out under pressure and oils the top end of variators. Trouble starts when the pressure tank starts to lose pressure. This can be replaced, it's under the cowl centre V towards the back and is about 8 inches long.
 
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