3200 GTA Ongoing electrical problems

[Tompelli]

Having a dose of the hate part in my love/hate relationship. Recently had electrical gremlins, faulty battery(s), alternator output down, jump starts etc. Had a company replace parts of the alternator (diodes?) looked like a horseshoe of components & they measured the output at 14.25V at the (new) battery. The dashboard battery gauge has always sat bang in the middle of 13V but now wanders between 12V (not marked of course) & 13V. Have completed several short trips with no problems. Drove approx 300Kms & the after that the car was a pig to start - usually starts first time. Cranked well enough but when started was eventually way down on revs. Possibly my imagination, but while trying to start, the gear selection indicator on the dash seemed to flash between P & R.
Any pointers, logical sequence of checks would be appreciated - have done a throttle reset. Always complications as communicating in Thai is not so easy, so I have to have some idea of what direction I should be pushing them.

 

[CatmanV2]

Sounds like they replaced the rectifier / regulator which would be a reasonable idea.

The voltage gauge wandering would be totally normal, and in fact, expected. Ignore it. Put a meter on the battery at idle if you want to check.

If it's hard to start from warm it *could* be the crank sensort

C

 

[Tompelli]

Thanks Mr. C having googled the regulator that is what was replaced. Will trawl the forum & find the crank sensor cleaning info (remember that much).
Always going to be difficult in a foreign language, especially if I have two separate issues.

 

[Contigo]

The voltage when running should be about 13.7V, ignore the voltmeter as it is about as reliable as a chocolate fireguard. 14.25V although high wouldn't make me worry too much.

Is there a CEL? I would start with the Crank and Cam Sensor. Take them out, clean them and retest. If that fails replace them.

 

[Tompelli]

Thanks Phil (it's a 3200 - of course there's a CEL), trying to search on the forum for location of the sensors. The CEL I have is an pre-existing one throttlebody related & doesn't make any difference to how the car starts, runs or idles.
Tom

 

[jluis]

The dificulty to start is low cranking power or the engine just won't fire?
If it won't fire but cranks well, most likely it's the cam sensor.
If it cranks poorly, probably the battery does not have enough juice.

As others said, stick a multimeter/voltmeter across the battery terminals with the engine off and running to compare the values

 

[Tompelli]

Hi Jorge,
While searching for the sensors on the forum I saw your previous post. Cranks well but won't fire, so I will clean both crank & cam sensors as both are reasonably new.
Appreciate the help, the forum is a real help for the non rocket scientists.
Tom

 

[jluis]

Difficult to start is usualy the cam sensor.
I think it's quite cheap so it's probably best to just replace them.

 

[Tompelli]

For sure Jorge, but for now I am in the jungle.

 

[jluis]

For sure Jorge, but for now I am in the jungle.

Doesn't UPS service the jungle?

 

[Tompelli]

 

[Contigo]

Thanks Phil (it's a 3200 - of course there's a CEL), trying to search on the forum for location of the sensors. The CEL I have is an pre-existing one throttlebody related & doesn't make any difference to how the car starts, runs or idles.
Tom

A failing or sticking throttle body could also cause a starting problem like you mention. I would clear the code and then try to diagnose when the CEL comes back on if it does at all. A Cam sensor fault will be logged and will have a different code.

 

[Rex B]

When my throttle body went it started with the odd CEL but always started, then over time it got worse and sometimes it would not start for ages and eventually it failed completely.

Rex B

 

[Tompelli]

Thanks Phil & Rex, Fitted a contactless TB from Luuk couple of years ago, dealer when checking the faults just says need new Maserati throttle body at £2K. This was before the current hot start problem. Think majority of faults are caused by wiring/contact problems.
Very hot here (Thailand) just now & I haven't got the stamina to be under the bonnet for a couple of hours. Will report when I have had a look.