Hot start delay 3200GT

[graham-mutlow]

Hi All. I have a lovely 3200GT S2 which I’m slowing renovating with the ‘help’ of local garages and indi’s. The mechanical works are coming along OK, although there are details getting some parts. Main problem which Mike at Maserati shed is working through (while servicing the car), is poor starting when hot. It appears that the ECU doesn’t recognise the engine has stopped (as i understand it) for about a minute, before it will go through it’s start sequence and start. Very frustration. Has anybody experience anything similar

[profchristopher-green]

https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/3200gt-starting-hard-when-engine-is-warmed.19556/

 

[graham-mutlow]

Thanks. Read through all old posts on link. Very interesting, but I thinkwe’ve gone through most of these optiona and others, but it seems to be the ECU its self. Its like it needs a reset button. Mike at Maserati Shed who seems to be the man on 3200’s is trying to get a wiring diagram of the ECU. I’m hoping if anybody can help Mike can. I’ll post the cure when (if) we find it.

[Tony Jaskeran]

Mike looked after my old 3200, so you’re in good hands. I also had this and changed the crank sensors to fix it, however there are so many other items to check.

Have you thought about sending David Askew a note & see if he has come across this, as these cars get older and there are not that many around some issues are not seen that often or not materialised yet.

I once had loss of all electrical power intermittently, Mike traced it to a hot rubber pipe coming loose and melting a wire, so I’m sure he will find it, just a matter of time.

[graham-mutlow]

Thanks Tony, yes I think Mike is the best guy to resolve. I just thought I’d put it out there in case someone had the same problem.

Changed all the usual sensors etc, but the problem remains. Mike has pin pointed the prob;em to the ECU (which is more then anybody else has), but to worked out how to correct.
I’ll post the solution when we know in case it helps anybody.

Graham

[Lee Moore]

I have a similar issue, although not just hot start, if i turn the car off or stall it, it will not restart for about 30 seconds, it has always done it and previous owner did tell me about it, neither he, I or Mike (when i took it to him for a service) have managed to resolve it, seems to also happen if the car doesnt fire up straight away from cold but obviously not so easy to check as normally statrs first time.

Touch wood – its the only thing that seems to be a problem with the car in over 7 years of ownership – awkward if you stall it in a dodgy location / junction.

[graham-mutlow]

Thanks Lee, useful to know. I’ve had the car a couple years. the previews owner didn’t mention it, so I’ve been worrying whether to is likely to get worse and strand me, but luckly it hasn’t although I have been stuck for a very long minute at a junction a few times. it’s been less of a problem the longer I have the car.
Mike still has the car so I’m hopeful and if he sorts I’ll let you know.

[julian-brookehoughton]

First delve into the forum – I’ve had mine from new and this used to be a great embarrasment, spoiling the pleasure of driving it in towns particularly. For some unrelated reason – corrosion I think – the crank position sensor was changed several years ago and since then the problem has not recurred. As with all things Maserati -fingers crossed!

[graham-mutlow]

Thanks Julian. Crankcase sensor has certainly been changed (more then once) Car is currently with Mike Roberts at Maserati Shed who has been investigating in some detail following a cambelt and radiator change and service. Not an easy problem to resolve. I’ll let everyone know the result.

[Lee Moore]

A few years back Mike did look at mine to try and sort the restart issue but he never got to the bottom of it.

 

[graham-mutlow]

Hi Lee, as post back in Feb, I had the hot start problem and left the car with Mike (Roberts), for some months (as I couldn’t collect due to lock down), for a cambelt change/service and to look at the hot start problem which combined with a tendency to stall, which was driving me mad.

Mike has developed a module which somehow resets the ECU, so the engine restarts even when hot. Car has also lost its tendency to stall and is much easier to drive. To test I had to deliberately drop the clutch!

Now drives like a proper GT, great fun.

Mikes certainly the man to sort 3200 problems out, were several other garages have failed. If your car still has the problem maybe this is the fix for you.

[Lee Moore]

Thanks, I may speak to him again when this is all over. My car doesn’t really need to be hot to suffer the problem if I start it in the morning and instantly stall it or turn it off, I need to wait the 30 seconds before it starts. I have had the car quite a few years and it’s rarely an issue, although in the early days, before I sorted the handbrake, hill starts etc were a nervous time!

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