Need some help figuring out a light in my 3500GT... | FerrariChat
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Need some help figuring out a light in my 3500GT...

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by keaton, Sep 16, 2008.

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  1. keaton

    keaton Rookie

    Sep 15, 2008
    5
    #1 keaton, Sep 16, 2008
    Hello All,

    I am the new owner of a '61 3500 GTi (converted to Webers). My grandfather bought this car new in 1961 and has recently handed it down to me. I am having a really difficult time figuring out what a particular light on my dash is telling me.

    Here is the story. I will go for a drive and occasionally this light will come on (lately more frequently), if I ignore it the car will begin to run very rough and eventually stall. This light is also a switch. When the light is on it pops out slightly, you can then push it in to turn off the light and the car will run fine.

    The light is located just to the left of the steering column, check out the pictures below. Anyway, if anyone could please help me diagnose this I would really appreciate it :) . The research I have done so far in my grandfathers old manuals says it might be a fan warning light. If this is true, what is it telling me?

    Thanks for the time all, It is appreciated :)

    -Keaton

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  2. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
    Consultant

    Mar 4, 2005
    8,988
    #2 wbaeumer, Sep 16, 2008
    Keaton,
    may I kindly request the VIN and Touring-no. of your car? Also its specification would be nice to know here. Many thanks.

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  3. andymont

    andymont Formula Junior

    May 16, 2007
    547
    Torino - ITALY
    Full Name:
    Andrea M.
    #3 andymont, Sep 16, 2008




    Hi Keaton,
    in GTI ( Lucas injection) cars , this red light / switch is a warning-safety switch .
    As from GTI owner manual , this light could be on in two cases :
    1) when the motor is stopped but the ignition key is on , the Lucas fuel pump runs . In this case the safety system stops the fuel pump , and red light/switch is on.
    2) when oil pressure is under 0.5 kg/cm² , the red light / is on (most frequent).
    In both cases the light must be swiched off resetting it.
    A typical cause is low pressure of oil .
    Check first if the motor oil is the right one ,good oils could be these multigrade oils : MOTUL Classic Oil 20W50 or SELENIA HPX SAE 20W-super50 or the unigrade MOTUL Classic Oil SAE 50 .
    Never use too fluid oils , especially during warm season. At that time Maserati reccomended a unigrade SAE 50 motor oil in summer season and SAE 40 in winter season
    Oil pressure can be setted also by a valve fitted on the oil filter body.
    I had a similar problem on my '62 GTI (with original Lucas injection) and I solved it using a right motor oil type .

    Ciao

    Andrea
     
  4. keaton

    keaton Rookie

    Sep 15, 2008
    5
    #4 keaton, Sep 16, 2008
    Andrea, thanks for the information it is VERY helpful :) I will go pick up some 20-50 today :). I have been using a heavier oil. Fingers Crossed!!!

    Walter, my VIN is 101.1896. I do not know where the touring number is so please guide me in the right direction :) Also what do you mean by Specification?

    Thanks :)

    Keaton
     
  5. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
    Consultant

    Mar 4, 2005
    8,988
    #5 wbaeumer, Sep 16, 2008
    Keaton,
    thanks.
    The Touring-no. is located on the upper firewall in the engine bay under the front screen.

    As of specifications:

    4- or 5-speed
    front-disc/r.-drum-, 4-disc-, or 4-drum-brakes?

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  6. andymont

    andymont Formula Junior

    May 16, 2007
    547
    Torino - ITALY
    Full Name:
    Andrea M.
    #6 andymont, Sep 16, 2008
    Hi Keaton,
    is it possible to show a picture of your AM101-1896 ?

    Ciao

    Andrea
     
  7. keaton

    keaton Rookie

    Sep 15, 2008
    5
    #7 keaton, Sep 16, 2008
    Hi Walter,

    The Touring number is 12187. My car has 4 wheel Disc brakes and a 5 speed transmission.

    I will post a picture of the car here in just a second. Just got to find it on my external hard drive :)

    Thanks Guys. :)
     
  8. keaton

    keaton Rookie

    Sep 15, 2008
    5
    #8 keaton, Sep 16, 2008
    Okay, here it is. Sadly, my grandfather kind of neglected it so it needs some minor TLC, but not bad over all :) The wire rims are in storage, havent found the time to put them on.

    Andrea, I changed the oil today. Put in some 20-50. Sadly the light is still coming on repeatedly. Is there anything else that can be causing this? The oil pressure does seem a bit low, maybe the oil pump is dying on me? Any ideas would be a huge help...it is so nice to have your guys knowledge as a resource :)

    Thats me and my Dad in the car :)
    [​IMG]
     
  9. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran
    Consultant

    Mar 4, 2005
    8,988
    #9 wbaeumer, Sep 17, 2008
    That link doesn`t work....!

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
  10. keaton

    keaton Rookie

    Sep 15, 2008
    5
    #10 keaton, Sep 17, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  11. johnei

    johnei Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 22, 2006
    1,298
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    John Wiley
    #11 johnei, Sep 17, 2008
    Looks great! It seems like you've got the right answer on the warning light this time.
     
  12. Got Wind

    Got Wind Rookie

    Sep 4, 2008
    14
    Yorkshire - UK
    Full Name:
    Andy
    #12 Got Wind, Sep 17, 2008
    Nice picture Keaton, I'm avin' that one......
     
  13. andymont

    andymont Formula Junior

    May 16, 2007
    547
    Torino - ITALY
    Full Name:
    Andrea M.
    #13 andymont, Sep 17, 2008

    What means "some" ? Do you know that the full oil change ( cartidge included ) means not less than 12 liters of oil ? What new type of oil have you used ?
    Does the red light come on also when the motor is cold, or only when is hot ? Which is the oil pressure when the motor is still cold ? Which is the oil pressure when the red light comes on ?
    Remeber that oil pressure can be adjusted also by a valve/register fitted on the oil filter body .
    When I had same kind of problem, the motor of my car runned normally well , either the light was on or off . So, it seems abnormal what happens : "the car will begin to run very rough and eventually stall".
    Last but not least , may be really that the oil pump is not so healthy ...
    Let me know

    Ciao

    Andrea
     

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