Maserati 3200GT starting problem

[Popeyed]

Can anyone give me any pointers regarding my Maserati 3200 which has developed a starting problem.

On turning the ignition key the engine will turn one or twice, maybe three times but it is quite laboured. It appeared to be a battery problem, so I tried both my batteries to no avail. I then brought a brand new battery as both my other ones have had a hard life so I thought they may just both be on their last legs.
With the new battery the engine turned over slightly more each time I tried, and eventually I managed to get the engine fired. I ran the engine until warm with the intention of stopping it and then trying to restart it when warm, which should of been a piece of cake for the starting motor, unfortunately the engine turned once or twice and that was it and I've note been able to start it since.

It appears to be a starting motor problem, but someone tells me that these are quite rare on these cars. Otherwise it was running fine the day before and no warning lights have come on.

[Mattserati]

I haven't had first-hand experience of this, but when I bought my car last year, the previous owner told me he had replaced the starter motor fairly recently. It had 60,000km (about 40,000 miles) at that time. So I guess it isn't all that rare. On the plus side, I am sure the part itself is not horrendously expensive.

[stevenM]

you can get replacement bushes for the starter motor from eurospares...

[s3200h]

i was told mine had had a new starter motor prior to me buying the car, i got the car with 36000 miles on the clock.

[Popeyed]

Thanks everybody, mine has 39000 on the clock so judging by the mileages quoted it's quite usual when the car is heading towards 40000 miles. My wallet will sleep a little easier now!

[wicked1]

The starter motor problem is not unusual, this is not a particularly nice job because it lives in the vee of the engine. The problem is nothing to do with mileage but to do with time and heat. As you can imagine it lives in a very hot environment and this does take its toll on the poor old starter.

They can be overhauled very easily, the genuine item is fairly expensive but we do offer an exchange service with our overhauled ones.

Hope this helps

[stevenM]

wicked1 - since my engine is in bits at the minute with ~40k miles would it be prudent to replace the starter bushes? i presume that this is all that overhauled ones have done (apart from greasing etc - this would be the bit effected by the heat, right?)

cheers
steven

[wicked1]

Th company we use replace windings as necessary, new bushes and brushes. Not complicated but i suppose each is repaired differently by different companies. The choice is yours, say fit a new one or reconditioned and keep the other as a spare.
If your luck is like mine the new one will fail and the original one will last forever, typical.

Hope this helps