Help please guys - she won't start!

[Gary Richards]

Hi Guys

Help pleased - I am very depressed, in the recent past, whenever I have returned from a business trip abroad (every other week typically) the Masers won't start. I charge the battery overnight and all has been generally well.

The car is an 04 coupe 40K on the clock with he original battery, so deciding the battery was on it's way out, I have bought a new one and fitted it.

It is stuck in first, reversed into the garage, close to the wall and I can't move it - fitting the battery was a nightmare!

It was my plan to disconnect the tracker (which isn't registered) just to ensure it wasn't draining the battery once I could move the car.

The car goes through all its prelim ignition process but, turn the key and .....nothing, no click from the solenoid, no rattles from knackered starter.

OK, more info,

1) It had new clutch about 8K ago
2) When it has finished its ignition process, I have the following lights on the dash
3) Orange EOBD icon - which I presume is the problem, but what the **** is EOBD?
4) The ignition light in the top centre of the voltmeter showing its not charging
4) Handbrake light
and of course seatbelt lights - everything else works, mirrors, lights, seats, sat nav

Any comments, help guidance - even a bit of humour would help!

Thanks men

Regards

Gary

 

[dem maser]

i would have said its the battery but if you have changed it then i dont know....
all the lights come on when you turn it on so def not battery, i think someone on here had this problem so wont be long till they come here helping you...sorry i couldnt help

 

[bumoleo]

I think EOBD means European On Board Diagnostics - usually engine management checks. Hard to beliebe than an error here would prevent the
engine from starting.

Sounds more like that the problem is to do with the F1 gearchange not working hence stuck in first.

Relay and fuses ok?

good luck
Martin

 

[Parisien]

I believe the F1 pump is primed ( ie the battery kicks in and supplies power to the same) when you unlock the doors and then is ready to change gears as soon as.............if no battery power then this won't happen?

Sounds as if battery drained again, if you didn't disconnect the tracker...how long was it out of use for?

Do lights dim much when you turn key?


P

 

[Emtee]

Hi Gary, As you mention it's stuck in gear and that you had problems fitting the battery, check the fuses above the battery. Fuse No. 14, which is the left-most fuse on the top 'tier' is the F1 pump fuse.

 

[lozcb]

Have to go something along the lines of what Miles said , Car wont start if its in gear , so providing all the usual lights are on the dash ( oh and plus another one ) can you hear the F1 pump cutting in a) on opening the door and b) when turning the key to mar , does sound increasingly like the F1 pump has gone or the motor has stuck , so check the fuse and check the relay , when the pump goes it tends to throw a CC light which is a small icon of a gearbox and gear stick, need a bit more info /or feed back ,

Try a battery reset, could be you have confused the immobiliser and its stuck on





regards loz

 

[Gary Richards]

Guys thanks for the support

I suspect it is stuck in gear and some interlock is stopping it starting.

Brand new fully charged battery in, so it is not power - lights, seats etc all full belt.

I have read the manual and it says if the car doesn't start then the EOBD light will stay on until it starts, so it looks like it isn't that.

No cc light coming on.

I don't know what the F1 pump sounds like - there is a load of whirring etc when I turn on the ignition, but can't identify what it is.

Reason battery was such a b*stard to fit is the car was reversed close to the garage wall and I can only open the boot about half way - so removing the old & fitting the new was real gynaecology

Tomorrow I will look at fuses and try and track down F1 relay

I have left it with the battery isolated overnight and will reconnect tomorrow.

If it starts, I won't need to post, you will hear me cheering!!!!

Thank you all so far, more to follow

Immobiliser - don't know, but I thought it would still turn over but not fire if immobiliser is operational.

Best regards

Gary

 

[GransportFan1]

Hi Gary, sorry cant cure the problem, but i noticed you live in Congleton, used to live there until 2004, used to live in Mossley.

 

[Parisien]

Gary, its frustrating...we all know....but usually, by elimination and a few tips...it all falls into place......a steep learning curve is quite common for new Maseratisti.

Hope she goes for you tomorrow...if not do let us know!


P

 

[conaero]

Is the immobiliser light still on, on the dash board, failing that, is does sound like you are stuck in gear. Try rocking the car forward and back and see if that free's it up.

 

[Gary Richards]

Wehheheheey - she's running!!

Hi guys

Well, still a bit of a mystery, but I suspect that the problem was the brakes!

I noticed the brake pedal was mega hard when I was trying to start her unsuccessfully and so I pushed down hard, it gave a bit and then when I tried to start her, all was normal.

My guess is that the brakes had seized on and thus not allowing the pedal to depress enough to trigger the brake light switch, which I guess sends the signal to allow her to fire up - if it happens again, I will get someone to check the brake lights and see if they light up.

Anyways up, thanks to all for your support - I will park her facing forward in the garage in future

Regards

GAry

 

[Parisien]

Result then Gary..........good news so far.....


P

 

[lozcb]

Hi guys

Well, still a bit of a mystery, but I suspect that the problem was the brakes!

I noticed the brake pedal was mega hard when I was trying to start her unsuccessfully and so I pushed down hard, it gave a bit and then when I tried to start her, all was normal.

My guess is that the brakes had seized on and thus not allowing the pedal to depress enough to trigger the brake light switch, which I guess sends the signal to allow her to fire up - if it happens again, I will get someone to check the brake lights and see if they light up.

Anyways up, thanks to all for your support - I will park her facing forward in the garage in future

Regards

GAry

True there is a brake pedal sensor that is part of the sequence for selecting gears , as we all know to select a gear you have to have your foot on the brake ,before gear selection, the brake pedal sensor/switch can occasionally stick , glad its solved your problem


regards loz

 

[sibradbury]

I had the same problem the other day. Turned out I wasn't pressing the brake pedal hard enough!

Not sure whether changing the brake pedal sensor might help, so I've bought one but haven't got round to fitting it yet. It's only cheap from Eurospares - something like £15-20.

 

[ENZ525]

I had the same problem the other day. Turned out I wasn't pressing the brake pedal hard enough!

Not sure whether changing the brake pedal sensor might help, so I've bought one but haven't got round to fitting it yet. It's only cheap from Eurospares - something like £15-20.

Once you have had a chance to change it, let us know the result Si,
Cheers,
Enzo.

 

[Easyplan66]

Just read this for the first time and it somes up why this is such a Fantasic forum, owner has a problem, not sure where to turn and does not want to have the expense of having a dealer come and get his car to sort a simple problem which could have cost £200 quid. Within a few hours lots of comments and advice and the problem is sorted.

Without SM having a car like this would not be such an enjoyable experience. I am not very good with a spanner but do not worry about any issues with my car as I know to best place to come for advice. You bunch of car mad lunatics! Long live Sports Maserati

 

[Parisien]

Well said Andrew....a big thank you to all the guys off the forum who've been there, done that and are happy to help out the rest of us!


P

 

[sibradbury]

Once you have had a chance to change it, let us know the result Si,
Cheers,
Enzo.

Will do Enzo. Not looking forward to sticking my head in the foot well - last time I did anything under a dashboard (squeeky clutch pedal) I nearly got stuck under there and I'm not as flexible as I was back then!

Simon

 

[sibradbury]

Bottled out and got the garage to fit this when it went in for a service.

Can't feel any real difference if I am honest!