QP boot locking problem - advice sought

[jaisharma]

Hi,

I have travelled to Italy by QP and arrived yesterday. Car ran faultlessly, except some numbskull (i.e. me!) trapped a strap in the boot closing mechanism. Now it does not lock electrically, and can not be opened by the button on the key or the button on the dash. It can be opened by key in the slot, and closed by just closing the lid firmly.

The dash indicator shows the boot open even when closed.

Any ideas on a simple fax or is it a dealer trip? We are in italy for the month so if I can easily get it solved that would be great.

By the way, amusing start to the journey when I tried to fix my magnetic GB sticker onto the bootlid - fell off - must be ali!

Cheers
Jai

 

[Emtee]

Hi Jal, If the mechanism is working manually, then you're less likely to have damaged it, so I'd start with a battery re-set just in case the sensor has gone all Italian on you. A good squirt of oil won't do any harm either.

Enjoy your trip! A month in Italy, I could take a bit of that for sure.

 

[TridentTested]

How was the drive?

 

[jaisharma]

Thanks. Does a battery re-set leave the electric parking brake unaffected? I just want to be sure because I read something about the EPB being re-set at some point - maybe after battery change - and would rather be safe than sorry!

 

[jaisharma]

ok found out how to re-set, will try tomorrow.
As for the drive, car loaded with the pair of us, a toothbrush each and the entire worldly posessions of our two year old son. Car is effortless on the autoroutes/autostrada, set the cruise at 140/145 kph and the miles just go by quietly, with the odd blast to stretch the legs a bit. When going through Switzerland there was opportunity for a bit of "sport" mode on the twisties. The car is a continent crusher and I am sure we could have gone from Essex to Lausanne in one day rather than the two we had scheduled. The car has a radar jammer but concerned about using that until the legalities are checked. Even the economy was better than expected at a bit over 22 - do I get a prize for that!

Jai

 

[Emtee]

Hi Jaisharma, I'm not familiar with the workings of the QP electrics, so I'm afraid I can't help you on the parking brake other than assuming that a standard routine such as a battery disconnection should not affect it.

Sounds like you had a good run down. Hope you get the boot sorted and that you enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[jaisharma]

Just to update in case anyone has the same problem, I tried disconnecting the battery but that didn't work. So I found a dealer in Arezzo, about half an hour away. Went there on Saturday, and they plugged in the diagnostic and re-set it. A twenty minute job for a very reasonable 30 euros, so I was well pleased. It is a bit of a trek, but if you are in Italy they are Italcar, they also rebuild older Maserati & Ferrari engines for the factory as far as my linguistic skills could work out. They had various Maseratis in, including 3200/Merak/biturbo and Citroen SM. Also a couple of 348 Ferraris and a 208 turbo, integrales etc etc. They then took me to their new premises and showed me the 458 challenge car. All in all a nice way to spend an hour on a Saturday and recommended.

 

[Emtee]

That's good to hear Jaisharma, and a very reasonable price. Crazy that it takes a diagnostic to sort though. Sounds like it was an interesting garage.