Maser 3200 GT (2000) Throttle Body??
Discussion
I would be grateful to any constructive feedback with regards to the current problems I have on the car.
The windows won't respond to the switch and instead lock/unlock the car, which as I'm in Dubai and it's currently in the mid 40's is not much fun?? Being hot, wet and sweaty I believe is best applied to other pursuits!
More problematic is the fact that the throttle seems to have a mind of it's own at the moment. Basically I can start the car sometimes and the acceleration is pretty much all there, sometimes it's limited, and others hardly there at all?? I can sometimes get a result by simply turning the engine off and back on (skill I've learnt from my IT days!!)and find I can then motor along.
I did take it to the Dealership here and after diagnostics they said the entire throttle body needs replacing - well they would wouldn't they?! Didn't have a great explanation on the windows.
If anyone has any comments that could possibly help me remedy this without having to spend half as much again as I bought the car for then I would be eternally grateful. My view would suggest a problem somewhere with the electrics but then I know nothing!
Cheers
Paul
The windows won't respond to the switch and instead lock/unlock the car, which as I'm in Dubai and it's currently in the mid 40's is not much fun?? Being hot, wet and sweaty I believe is best applied to other pursuits!
More problematic is the fact that the throttle seems to have a mind of it's own at the moment. Basically I can start the car sometimes and the acceleration is pretty much all there, sometimes it's limited, and others hardly there at all?? I can sometimes get a result by simply turning the engine off and back on (skill I've learnt from my IT days!!)and find I can then motor along.
I did take it to the Dealership here and after diagnostics they said the entire throttle body needs replacing - well they would wouldn't they?! Didn't have a great explanation on the windows.
If anyone has any comments that could possibly help me remedy this without having to spend half as much again as I bought the car for then I would be eternally grateful. My view would suggest a problem somewhere with the electrics but then I know nothing!
Cheers
Paul
You can do a reset procedure on the throttle body (potentiometer) to let it relearn the idle and full throttle positions. Unfortunately Im not where the info is at the mo but will post when I get home.
This will reset the actual poteniometer itself, however if it or the conections to it have a fault then it will re-occur. Disconect the potentiometer and clean the connectors then run the reset procedure.
If this fails to solve the problem then it is off to the dealers.
This will reset the actual poteniometer itself, however if it or the conections to it have a fault then it will re-occur. Disconect the potentiometer and clean the connectors then run the reset procedure.
If this fails to solve the problem then it is off to the dealers.
1) Reset the mechanical zero position
- Put gear lever in neutral
- Switch on ignition (to MAR position) but do NOT start the engine
- Do not touch the throttle pedal for 2 minutes
- Switch off ignition
2) Reset the mechanical Full Throttle position
- Put gear lever in neutral
- Switch on ignition (to MAR position) but do NOT start the engine
- Fully depress throttle pedal and hold for 5 seconds
- Release throttle pedal completely
- Switch off ignition
thats if were talking about the same component!
- Put gear lever in neutral
- Switch on ignition (to MAR position) but do NOT start the engine
- Do not touch the throttle pedal for 2 minutes
- Switch off ignition
2) Reset the mechanical Full Throttle position
- Put gear lever in neutral
- Switch on ignition (to MAR position) but do NOT start the engine
- Fully depress throttle pedal and hold for 5 seconds
- Release throttle pedal completely
- Switch off ignition
thats if were talking about the same component!
Thank you very much for the advice. I'll give it a go tonight and see if it does the trick.
On the subject of price I managed to pick up my 3200 GT for approx 10,000 pounds sterling and got it through Gulf News. It had 70,00 km on the clock and full service history. Been a dream car till this throttle and window problem and had a good year of driving before this.
Cheers
Paul
On the subject of price I managed to pick up my 3200 GT for approx 10,000 pounds sterling and got it through Gulf News. It had 70,00 km on the clock and full service history. Been a dream car till this throttle and window problem and had a good year of driving before this.
Cheers
Paul
Unfortunately the reset didn't work but then I didn't have a clue as to how to make sure the connections to the potentiometer were OK. There is now no acceleration at all and suspect that I'm going to have to indulge in a new throttle body or second hand?
However, on the positive side, it does still look very nice in the driveway!!
Any other suggestions please feel free to send before I have to come up with some ingenious Insurance ploy:-)
However, on the positive side, it does still look very nice in the driveway!!
Any other suggestions please feel free to send before I have to come up with some ingenious Insurance ploy:-)
The potentiometer is located down by the acc pedal. Looks like a black round cylinder with an arm out one end. Just undo the electrical conectors clean both male and female and reconnect. Try the reset again and see what happens.
The new part is (if required) is approx 500-600 quid here in the UK but there is a lot of speculation on here that it is exactly the same as one on an Alfa for about 150 quid.
Before you spend any money though get it put on a computer to check what faults have been stored. This should give a good indication as to which component/s are causing the problems. It'll cost little but could save thousands.
Good luck
The new part is (if required) is approx 500-600 quid here in the UK but there is a lot of speculation on here that it is exactly the same as one on an Alfa for about 150 quid.
Before you spend any money though get it put on a computer to check what faults have been stored. This should give a good indication as to which component/s are causing the problems. It'll cost little but could save thousands.
Good luck
Thanks once again for bothering to reply and the useful advice. I will see if that has any effect.
I did take it to the dealership here and get it on the computer. They said that the diagnosis meant I had to replace throttle body, potentiometer and gasket. that little lot is going to cost me about 4,000 sterling with labour.
If I can sort it out without this then so much the better. If not, suspect it is going to clock up some driveway miles for a while yet.
I did take it to the dealership here and get it on the computer. They said that the diagnosis meant I had to replace throttle body, potentiometer and gasket. that little lot is going to cost me about 4,000 sterling with labour.
If I can sort it out without this then so much the better. If not, suspect it is going to clock up some driveway miles for a while yet.
Paul
Unless Dealer is including other work, the price quoted is ridiculous. The throttle body to order is £1,446.11 at Eurospares in UK on link Throttle Body and the potentiometer in stock at £375 on link Throttle Potentiometer The work required to change either is insignificant, max 2 hours.
However, before proceeding with the change, check with Dealer exactly what errors reported on their SD2/3 diagnostics and demand a full printout. FYI, there have been many examples in the UK of Dealers swapping out these components in the hope that it cures the problem only to find that their "swap it and see" method did not work.
FWIW, the price quoted and the requirement to change both TB and Pot (which is unusual) makes me a touch suspicious.
Hope this helps
Edited to add TB gasket link at £14.52
Unless Dealer is including other work, the price quoted is ridiculous. The throttle body to order is £1,446.11 at Eurospares in UK on link Throttle Body and the potentiometer in stock at £375 on link Throttle Potentiometer The work required to change either is insignificant, max 2 hours.
However, before proceeding with the change, check with Dealer exactly what errors reported on their SD2/3 diagnostics and demand a full printout. FYI, there have been many examples in the UK of Dealers swapping out these components in the hope that it cures the problem only to find that their "swap it and see" method did not work.
FWIW, the price quoted and the requirement to change both TB and Pot (which is unusual) makes me a touch suspicious.
Hope this helps
Edited to add TB gasket link at £14.52
Edited by Nigelo on Thursday 14th June 12:14
Thanks Nigelo for that feedback - got me thinking even more now. I had the diagnostics done a few weeks ago now so not sure if they will still have a record? Paid for it though but they just thrust a quote into my hand for all the subsequent work.
Problem is I don't trust this lot as far as I could drop kick them but have few alternatives. I did take it initially to someone else I know who runs a garage and they thought some of the problem lay with the circuit boards which had somehow got wet. Now in Manchester I can understand this but in a desert?? Anyway god bless em they did get someone to try and see if they could mend them but couldn't. This perhaps explains problem with windows not going up but would it affect the throttle?
If I have to cough up I have to cough up but, particularly after your comments, how do I know where the problem really lies and if all this quoted work will do the trick? Is there a way you can think of that I can get a second and definitive opinion without shipping the car anywhere.
Problem is I don't trust this lot as far as I could drop kick them but have few alternatives. I did take it initially to someone else I know who runs a garage and they thought some of the problem lay with the circuit boards which had somehow got wet. Now in Manchester I can understand this but in a desert?? Anyway god bless em they did get someone to try and see if they could mend them but couldn't. This perhaps explains problem with windows not going up but would it affect the throttle?
If I have to cough up I have to cough up but, particularly after your comments, how do I know where the problem really lies and if all this quoted work will do the trick? Is there a way you can think of that I can get a second and definitive opinion without shipping the car anywhere.
The problem is where you are located. All I can suggest is to go back to the Dealer who carried out the diagnostics and obtain a "printout" of the diagnostic checks particularly the errors.
What you should be aware of is that the diags are done on either an SD2 tester (Maserati specific) or the later SD3 (handles both Ferrari and Maserati). In both cases it is standard practice to "print" all errors stored in your ECU and then clear those errors. Then the car is tested again to see if any errors recur - If so, they are then "printed" and an analysis can be done sometimes involving further specific diag checks.
The important info is contained in those "printouts" - The good news is that these "prints" are actually mini data files created on the SD2/3 tester in a bespoke Digitek format that can be transferred to and read by the accompanying software loaded on the Dealer's PC / Laptop (or more to the point anyone else who has an SD2/3). It contains details of vehicle / date and time and of course the error details / test results. These results are usually stored by the dealer along with your vehicle details for recall when your car arrives for repair.
That's the background. As you have paid for the diag work, demand copies of ALL of these diag files for your car (basis you need to know chapter and verse etc) and contact me through my profile - I will let you know where to email them and hopefully can throw some light on the matter. At the very least, they cannot refuse to let you have hard copies of the results but you do need everything ie original errors found and those that repeated after resetting. Don't let them fob you off with any excuses.
Hope this helps
What you should be aware of is that the diags are done on either an SD2 tester (Maserati specific) or the later SD3 (handles both Ferrari and Maserati). In both cases it is standard practice to "print" all errors stored in your ECU and then clear those errors. Then the car is tested again to see if any errors recur - If so, they are then "printed" and an analysis can be done sometimes involving further specific diag checks.
The important info is contained in those "printouts" - The good news is that these "prints" are actually mini data files created on the SD2/3 tester in a bespoke Digitek format that can be transferred to and read by the accompanying software loaded on the Dealer's PC / Laptop (or more to the point anyone else who has an SD2/3). It contains details of vehicle / date and time and of course the error details / test results. These results are usually stored by the dealer along with your vehicle details for recall when your car arrives for repair.
That's the background. As you have paid for the diag work, demand copies of ALL of these diag files for your car (basis you need to know chapter and verse etc) and contact me through my profile - I will let you know where to email them and hopefully can throw some light on the matter. At the very least, they cannot refuse to let you have hard copies of the results but you do need everything ie original errors found and those that repeated after resetting. Don't let them fob you off with any excuses.
Hope this helps
Edited by Nigelo on Friday 15th June 00:08
I am concerned but not surprised that a main dealer is just guessing at what is wrong with your car. I do not believe that both components have failed, i suspect the throttle body is faulty. If you have done the basics as listed above and the problem still exists then it does require further investigation but like nigelo has said it needs the read out info to help. I have had numerous clients coming in blaming the potentiometer when a simple reset does actually cure the problem.
good luck
good luck
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