Learned Something New: Posted this on MaseratiLife too

slidefighter

slidefighter

Junior Member
Messages
52
Again, this is likely just another post in my award-losing "something I didn't know that everyone else does" series, but here goes anyway.

Let a friend drive my 2002 4200 Coupe/CC and afterwards popped the hood so he could listen to that little jewel just purring away. Drove off with all well and right with the world. After about 5 miles, I thumped over a little bump in the road and a red cross bar light appeared across the front of the little green car symbol in the instrument cluster. As usual, I didn't put 2 and 2 together and didn't know what it was (hadn't ever seen it before). Decided to stop and consult the manual, but a dump truck came up behind me so I decided to move around the corner a ways.

Unexpectedly, the car wouldn't shift into any gear, either 1st or reverse. Shut it off to reset the system, but on restart the bar was still lit and the car still wouldn't shift out of neutral. Hmm. OK, warning lights on for safety. Hmm. Flash! The hood is not fully latched! Turns out it was down when I drove off but not fully latched (so no light). Hit the bump and the hood bounced enough to turn the "hood latch warning light" on. Apparently, the system is designed to prevent you from driving off with it unlatched but keeps the engine running if it comes on while driving, only preventing you from shifting back into gear once you've come to a stop.

Thought there might be at least one other person out there who didn't know this. I have been through the manual in some detail, but I missed this one.

Happy driving,


Lee...
 
M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
Lee - that's quite funny in hindsight!

i know of one other 'senior' member who had the same issue on his driveway and went into panic/meltdown mode as he didn't know why it wouldn't move!
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,863
Found this out on my first when trying to move it in the garage whilst getting an MOT.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,038
I discovered while on a rolling road, had to disconnect the sensor so the car could be 'driven' with the bonnet open.
 
c4sman

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,260
Same applies with the GT I think. You certainly can't reverse with the drivers door open with the mcshift box.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
MAF260 said:
Lee - that's quite funny in hindsight!

i know of one other 'senior' member who had the same issue on his driveway and went into panic/meltdown mode as he didn't know why it wouldn't move!
Click to expand...

Urby wasn't it, I remember the panic phone call from the old goat, classic!
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,180
c4sman said:
Same applies with the GT I think. You certainly can't reverse with the drivers door open with the mcshift box.
Click to expand...

Which is a right pain in the ar5e at times. iirc you *can*, but you need to maintain a certain speed. Or something like that. It's a bit bizarre.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,789
I seem to be one of the only people that reads the manuals :) As another example, the 'Parking Brake Off' warning that pops up occasionally for GT / QP owners is actually listed in the manual as being a battery issue :)

Maybe I should get out more?

C
 
slidefighter

slidefighter

Junior Member
Messages
52
This has been fun; glad I could provide some (slightly) useful info! My problem is that I've never had a car with a hood latch warning. My wife buys new cars, I always seem to end up with "old" cars (I only buy new motorcycles though). Anyway, I should have known what the original warning light meant and shouldn't have needed the manual for that. Having never seen one before, I was slow to figure that out. The instant that clicked, I knew it had to be an interlock issue. Already had the manual out of the glove box, but didn't need it. So far, that is about the 5th or 6th thing on this car that I'd never seen on any earlier cars and this thing is a 2002! Maybe I need to get out more! My 2015 BMW 1000RR is easily as (or more) complicated than the Maser, but it's mechanization is not the same at all---its "human factors" logic doesn't transfer. In the end, I think Catman is right. Gotta read the manual...again.


Lee...
 
Steve GS

Steve GS

Member
Messages
1,526
On reading this as some of you may know I have an intermittent problem with my drivers window and reversing could they be linked
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,314
CatmanV2 said:
I seem to be one of the only people that reads the manuals :) As another example, the 'Parking Brake Off' warning that pops up occasionally for GT / QP owners is actually listed in the manual as being a battery issue :)

Maybe I should get out more?

C
Click to expand...

You've just opened the floodgates for everyone to ask you questions instead of reading their manuals now!
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,944
CatmanV2 said:
I seem to be one of the only people that reads the manuals :)
C
Click to expand...

How bizarre, in my first job as a trainee the bosses answer to any question I asked was RTFM, since leaving there I have successfully managed never to read another one and I ain't about to start now :)
 
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