Endfloat Did you know!

[conaero]

I had a very interesting chat with an ex main dealer engineer today, we chatted at length about all things Maserati, were we got onto the subject of my old 3200 and enfload wear.

Would you believe it, but it was well know within Maserati circles that the reason for premature endfloat wear was, and wait for it.....some of the endfloat washers were installed the wrong way round. What this meant was the hardended face of the endfloat washer was facing the wrong way and the softer side was in contact with the crank face.

To say I was astonished was an understatement!

 

[Parisien]

If they knew it was a manufacturing fault.....and either blanked owners or failed to recompense then they were was acting in less than good faith IMHO


P

 

[conaero]

...or tried to sell you a new engine at £15k like happened to me.

I ended up using David Askew's engine rebuilders and it cost me about £2.5k all in. I had to remove the engine myself, which was not small task, but even so.

 

[Parisien]

I think thats shocking Matt.

P

 

[Parisien]

....so shocking that I am off to bed......and taking extra meds....................





P

 

[Maser Sod]

...or tried to sell you a new engine at £15k like happened to me.

That would have given a new meaning to getting shafted.

(I'll get my coat.)

 

[Guest 1678]

Mmmm - glad mine was covered by a warranty, strangely provided by a Main dealer.

If the fault was known I agree with Parisien - they were acting fraudently. Was there ever a recall?

Damon

 

[conaero]

No recall, and there is no way Maserati were going to recall all the cars and strip the engines down. Best just to deal with them as they happened. When mine went the car was 5 years old so no chance of anything back from Maserati. As for main dealers acting fradulantly, that would be wrong for any of us to suggest without proof. The point I was making was a new engine was offered at £15k plus at the time.

 

[hodroyd]

Any idea when this originally happened, or was it on all 3200 engines?

 

[Andyk]

Matt if thats true that is shocking...An easy fix that did not happen but cost loyal customers 1000's....

 

[Guest 1678]

No recall, and there is no way Maserati were going to recall all the cars and strip the engines down. Best just to deal with them as they happened. When mine went the car was 5 years old so no chance of anything back from Maserati. As for main dealers acting fradulantly, that would be wrong for any of us to suggest without proof. The point I was making was a new engine was offered at £15k at the time.

Matt - I was more concerned that it was dealer wide, not specific to one dealer. I was lucky mine was under warranty, as I was also quoted the 15k cost if I were not covered by a warranty.

At the time, I was told it was a very rare problem with only a couple of impacted cars.

 

[adam01]

IMO

If this problem (and implied cover up) could be properly documented and substantiated, path would be to go directly to Maserati SPA - customer relations.

A goodwill factor maybe considered subject to who did the work etc etc. Age and the old chestnut of wear & tear will be a hurdle though

 

[conaero]

Any idea when this originally happened, or was it on all 3200 engines?

It happened on a few 3200's usually manuals. The design of the pull clutch put further stress on the rear endfloat bearing.

TBH with the 3200's being with us for over a decade now, any endfloats that were going to happen, would have happened by now. It's a shame as the 3200 engine is a very strong unit.

 

[conaero]

Matt - I was more concerned that it was dealer wide, not specific to one dealer. I was lucky mine was under warranty, as I was also quoted the 15k cost if I were not covered by a warranty.

At the time, I was told it was a very rare problem with only a couple of impacted cars.

I never implied it was one dealer. TBH it would have taken a while to work out the bearings were in the wrong way round.

 

[Guest 1678]

Matt - I did not read it as one dealer, so all is well in our world. Apologies if my very early morning reply was less than precise.

I must stop responding to the forum on the train!

Damon

 

[conaero]

Matt - I did not read it as one dealer, so all is well in our world. Apologies if my very early morning reply was less than precise.

I must stop responding to the forum on the train!

Damon

Ha ha, no problem fella.

We all love our cars and Maserati dearly, just sometimes you have to go in with your eyes wide open.

 

[Danny]

This is shocking...

 

[NickP]

Glad mine appears to be fitted the right way round. I wonder if this will begin to dispel the rumours about the end-float issues that as you say should by now of happened in all the cars that it was going to happen in

 

[hodroyd]

Do we assume then that the end float issue was a blip and not all cars may have had the problem, or is it suspected that all these engines may well have the issue? If all, then how do you tell if the end float washers are the wrong way round?

Cheers
R

 

[conaero]

Do we assume then that the end float issue was a blip and not all cars may have had the problem, or is it suspected that all these engines may well have the issue? If all, then how do you tell if the end float washers are the wrong way round?

Cheers
R

I was told that it happened in early cars, which would tally with the bearings being fitted wrong...better quality control in the factory. Mind you, mine was a 2001 model, it had the updated OBD compliant ECU etc.

Personally, I still blame the clutch design, I always start my cars with my foot on the clutch....so cold oil, very heavy pull clutch, it does not take a genius to work out why mine went. Besides, my engine builder would have told me if the bearing was in the wrong way round.