[Keith Davies]

Richard, I own a biturbo model 222E and the usual problem with the clutch is leakage from the slave cylinder.  Check the fluid level in the combined brake/clutch reservoir up by the bulkhead or firewall.  If it is low then top up with dot 4 fluid and work the clutch a few times until you get some pressure building.  dont worry about the brakes as there id an internal wall in the reservoir that prevents the fluid emptying the brakes reservoir. This is not the answer but you may be able to move the car to a place where you can get it checked for leakage.  If its the master cylinder then you may get some fluid dripping on to the drivers side floor as the master cylinder is just above the clutch pedal.  I have had both these experiences.  I hope it all works out well but both slave and master cylinders are not available and you may need to “sleeve” them.

 

Cheers  –  Keith

[Keith Davies]

Mark, the date to allow headlight upgrades is 1986 after which you cannot replace a headlight except with the original type. So your 1970 Ghibli can go to full LED lights that considerably reduces the current through the headlight switch. There are a couple of suppliers but best talk it through with them. Normally there is enough room behind the fittings for LED lights that need more space than regular headlight bulbs.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Robert, I have an Indy with 4 twin-choke Webers and find that you need to let the fuel pump run for a while to charge up the float chambers etc. as the fuel evaporates quickly after a run when the engine is hot. I would suggest up to a minute as a good time. Then a couple of pumps on the throttle (two slow pumps but all the way) then try to catch it as they say!

Good luck – you will get the hang of it soon. Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Mark, the number 115 is the “tipo” number for the original Ghibli. The second number is for the Ghibli SS spyder (115/S49) fitted with the engine tipo AM115/49 (or 4930cc capacity)

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Adrian, I agree with Tony, just get it somewhere warmish like an airing cupboard for a few days in the hope it will dry out naturally.

Good luck – Keith Davies

[Keith Davies]

It may be better to try for a Classic Car Insurance but you do need a regular “day” car as the Classic Insurance would be for a limited amount of miles. I am not sure how old a car has to be for Classic status. There are companies advertised in Trident that may help and well worth a try.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Roland, it may be worth asking Pilkington Automotive who make windscreens for the older cars and with the addition of optional heating.

Cheers – Keith Davies

[Keith Davies]

Andrew, I have a 222E bi-turbo a bit earlier than your Ghibli II at 1990. A common cause of starter motor failing to work is the starter motor relay up on the bulkhead – the one without a fuse. Take it out, give it a sharp tap and re-seat it. If you can then hear the starter solenoid “ticking” when you try to start then the problem is with the starter motor itself.
Have a look on “Enrico’s Maserati Pages” for all sorts of information on the Ghibli II.
I am sure one of our members has a wiring diagram but try the starter motor relay first.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Chris, I agree with you about the use of Esso Supreme 99+ as an insurance against ethanol damaging some of the older cars. I am not sure about the use of fuels in a QP V and as you have discovered the manufacturers and dealers do not want to make any statements that may give rise to later claims for damage. It may cost more but most of the older cars have a low annual mileage and so the cost is bearable at present. I still use TetraBOOST in my Indy (1972) and am considering adding it to the fuel in my 1990 Biturbo 222E where it is supposed to counteract for up to 15% ethanol. Neither of which has a catalytic converter. The lead content in TetraBoost would kill a catalyst in the QP V.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Maurice, the GranSport has a manual gearbox with an electronically operated clutch. So if you stop at traffic lights or for any other reason your are “slipping the clutch”. It is better to shift into Neutral to avoid this excessive wear. As for the actual clutch operation there is a school of thought that thinks Sport Mode, with it’s quicker shift time reduces wear but this is probably marginal compared to selecting Neutral when stationary.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Mark, try also Pilkington (or NSG Group) for these older windscreens, some of which can now have heating elements fitted at http://www.nsg.com.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Mick, the new binding is known as “perfect binding” and I think an improvement on the stitched (or stapled ) version. You just need to run a finger down the spine for it to lay flat. The edge now gives the more formal information of issue number etc. for ease of filing.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Getting back to the basics, Esso are still saying there is no ethanol in their supreme fuel, likewise with Texaco. So use those for now until further legislation determines where to go next. Shell still do not say anything about ethanol content in their fuels so you have to assume that their fuels are “as marked” on the pumps.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Robert, it depends where the car is currently stored as you would not want to drive it to other locations for a valuation. From the north to the south Autoshield (Manchester) : McGrath Maserati ( Hertfordshire) and possibly Emblem on the south coast.

Cheers – Keith

[Keith Davies]

Most manufacturers design cars with a life of 7 years and with all modern cars having masses of electronics inbuilt there is a conflict in getting old cars off the road (as the manufactures want) against the logical one of keeping them going for many years to reduce the overall carbon footprint. Audi took the best approach with increasing and extending their spares supply (at high prices admittedly) rather than shutting down spares requirements after 10 years as is the legal requirement. As for E10 and according to the Esso web site there is still no ethanol in their premium octane petrol but it looks as though 5% will be the default minimum soon.
These batteries are really a scare with the materials used, their origin and disposal. On the positive side a lot of young adults are not getting driving licences so it may be that when us petrol heads finally stop driving the problem may go away!

Keith – 1972 Indy and 1990 Biturbo 222E

[Author]

Posts