Variator issue on all GT ?

J

Jess

Junior Member
Messages
37
In my search, I have seen the odd FS advert saying that the variators have been changed, but the car was post engine number 148xx, (which was when I heard they no longer had issues). So does the problem exist regardless of engine number?
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,631
Or being written by traders/people who do know what they are doing as in lying.

As winter comes round we have 3 in for cap modification so it is still very much an issue.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
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48,782
conaero said:
Or being written by traders/people who do know what they are doing as in lying.

As winter comes round we have 3 in for cap modification so it is still very much an issue.
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Are they in the impacted engine number, range, Matt?

C
 
dickygrace

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,339
Jess said:
What is a Cap modification, and is it serious/ expensive ?
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The cam caps require modification when the new variators are fitted. It’s part of the job, Maserati do them when you send them back. The job is £4-5k all in.
 
J

Jess

Junior Member
Messages
37
conaero said:
Or being written by traders/people who do know what they are doing as in lying.

As winter comes round we have 3 in for cap modification so it is still very much an issue.
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Do you mean they are doing this without variator change ? The way you have worded your response makes it seem like a separate thing
 
T

TimR

Member
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2,731
When I was @ McGrath Maserati earlier in the year, I'm pretty sure I was told that Maserati will do the variators under warranty...
Im sure T&C's apply...when dont they folks....
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
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48,782
TimR said:
When I was @ McGrath Maserati earlier in the year, I'm pretty sure I was told that Maserati will do the variators under warranty...
Im sure T&C's apply...when dont they folks....
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Only if the car is in warranty and assuming the number is correct, none of them will be. Warranty Wise paid for a large chunk of mine. Which was nice.

C
 
rossyl

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
Bit confused.

On all Granturismo's and GTS's is there an issue that requires the Variators (and ancilliary jobs) changing? Or, is it only the early Granturismo's that suffered this?

I had heard that all F430's have this issue.

Thanks
 
W

Wagons-Lits

Member
Messages
250
in my opinion, as time passes it is possible there will be cars with engines built after the 148xxx 'ring fence' that develop problems related to oil starvation. Nothing lasts forever, and any of these parts in this related ecosystem can fail ... the solenoids, the one way valves etc.

For those who are new to the marque, at the root of the problem is oil starvation - hence Maserati prescribed a factory-fit modified cam cap with machined in valves, to stop all the oil draining back down. For cars prior to that factory fit (148xxx), if during this procedure it's discovered the variators have been irreparably damaged due to lack of oil, they are also replaced. The accepted wisdom seems to be to do it all at once when you're in there
 
J

Jess

Junior Member
Messages
37
Wagons-Lits said:
in my opinion, as time passes it is possible there will be cars with engines built after the 148xxx 'ring fence' that develop problems related to oil starvation. Nothing lasts forever, and any of these parts in this related ecosystem can fail ... the solenoids, the one way valves etc.

For those who are new to the marque, at the root of the problem is oil starvation - hence Maserati prescribed a factory-fit modified cam cap with machined in valves, to stop all the oil draining back down. For cars prior to that factory fit (148xxx), if during this procedure it's discovered the variators have been irreparably damaged due to lack of oil, they are also replaced. The accepted wisdom seems to be to do it all at once when you're in there
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Thanks for explaining, and in a easy to understand way.
 
W

Wagons-Lits

Member
Messages
250
Jess said:
Thanks for explaining, and in a easy to understand way.
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you're welcome - hopefully I've got my facts straight.

I think the bottom line is this: if you're looking at a GT or QP pre 148xxx, make sure the variators have been done. It's a known issue and ticking (haha) time bomb and if it hasn't been done one should budget for it, either out of pocket or as part of your purchase price.

On the other hand, if you're looking at post 148xxx factory modified cars then in theory they should be safe. Yet as the years pass the likelihood - however small - that something will fail (including parts related to this issue) increases
 
tasnam

tasnam

Member
Messages
196
Wagons-Lits said:
you're welcome - hopefully I've got my facts straight.

I think the bottom line is this: if you're looking at a GT or QP pre 148xxx, make sure the variators have been done. It's a known issue and ticking (haha) time bomb and if it hasn't been done one should budget for it, either out of pocket or as part of your purchase price.

On the other hand, if you're looking at post 148xxx factory modified cars then in theory they should be safe. Yet as the years pass the likelihood - however small - that something will fail (including parts related to this issue) increases
Click to expand...

Where do I find my "148xxx + or - " number?
 
Navcorr

Navcorr

Member
Messages
3,839
tasnam said:
Dead link....please correct as I would like to read it.
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That's odd - the link is working fine here. The thread title is "Another Variator Question". Should be able to find it via the search function or Google.
 
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