Posting pictures is a bit awkward at first. First step is to do a reply and then click on MANAGE ATTACHMENTS on the ATTACH FILES dialogue box on the form - you may have to scroll down for this. This will open another box and you click on choose file and then search for your pictures. It helps if you know where on your computer your pictures are first. You then click on at most 3 pictures and upload. It appears nothing is happening but there is a small bold writing stating Uploading Pictures - they should have a moving upload screen but they do not. If you get a strange error message you have to start over with less photos as it is a bit sensitive. Once you have done it a few times it is easier. So only 2 or 3 pictures per reply message.
This is the classic failing solenoid problem. The battery, starter and alternator are fine. The ignition switch closes the relay in the passenger footwell which allows power to go from the battery to the starter solenoid, which should move (electromagnetic plunger) and take the starter gear with it into position on the ring gear of the transmission. Either A) the solenoid is moving correctly, but the contacts are corroded and not allowing free flow of current through the solenoid and into the starter (the solenoid acts also as a switch and passes all those amps directly from the battery right through it and to the starter, bad contacts will prevent that from happening) or B) the solenoid is not moving at all. When it doesn't move, it doesn't close the contacts either, preventing electricity from reaching the starter motor itself. That's why your starter works fine when you connect it directly to the battery. At least from what I've read and understood so far. I'm sure the more experienced people here can correct any mistakes I've made.
I don't know if it's the same for all cars, but mine has a metal plate riveted to the inside driver side door frame with the production date stamped on it.
Thanks for the reply, A) Solenoid was rebuilt/replaced (looks new) as part of the starter rebuild. All connections are clean and tight. That's always the first thing I do. B) I'm not connecting the Starter to the battery. When I connect the small wire that goes to the solenoid directly to the battery the car starts (solenoid engages gear and makes contact for the starter motor) EVERY TIME. I just had a thought. The small foot well relay also makes a connection to the center of the two ballast resistors to halve the resistance going to the coil during cranking. Maybe that resistor is drawing most of the current provided by the relay and not enough is making it to the solenoid. Path of least resistance. Tony
I have made some pictures. It seems, that the car hasn´t seen a spanner up to now. The paint is poor due to problems with the filler; all over spots of leaving paint. Powerwindows and revcounter don´t work, the rest is o.k. The Michelins are hard as wood; driving comfort more like the flintmobile. I intend to keep it that way as it´s original only once and I will drive it only on dry and sunny occasions (= means close to zero as I live in Germany). Sry for the license number. PB - QP 3 wasn´t free / PB - XP 3 = experimental car. Hans Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It seems, that the car hasn´t seen a spanner up to now. The paint is poor due to problems with the filler; all over spots of leaving paint. Powerwindows and revcounter don´t work, the rest is o.k. The Michelins are hard as wood; driving comfort more like the flintmobile. I intend to keep it that way as it´s original only once and I will drive it only on dry and sunny occasions (= means close to zero as I live in Germany). Sry for the license number. PB - QP 3 wasn´t free / PB - XP 3 = experimental car. Hans[/QUOTE] Hans Nice early number. I wonder when in the run this one came out? Anyway, a few comments to check on. First I have never seen the red Cavis - electrical leads - so I would suggest an original set would be worth while since they are available. The trumpets for the air cleaner are still available too. I bought some new XWX Michelins but they are pricey but if yours have gone rocky it may be a safety item. Battery looks converted from front terminals so may need a fresh correct one. I bought a Numex one online that is the right fit but you can still get the original one from Bill Magrath in the UK but they do not deliver and I could not bother to go and get it! Rev counter and windows probably an easy electrical fix. Actually looks really good from what I can see. Great buy I hope. By your comment on experimental car do you mean this is an preproduction car or something else? Ciao
Looks good! Not sure why it has red spark plug wires though, and you're missing the ends to the trumpets on the air filter box. It's nice to see one of these with a manual transmission, there weren't many made like that. All in all it doesn't look to bad. How does she drive (tires aside)...? Congratulations on the car!
Hi all, thanks for the nice comments and advises. The joblist seems to not too big. The sparkplugwires are no problem; the battery was only to start the car. When I go to Padua (Auto d´epoca) in October my wishlist will grow a bit. William: XP=experimental meant only my own personal experiment with this car. How does it drive? I have driven last week ca. 200mls. I could not compare it with a QP3 with automatic as I haven´t driven one, but my Ghibli SS with 4.9ltr. engine and manual gearbox is much faster. Even my Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0 with automatic has much more power; o.k. it has 350kg less weight. IMO the 255 italian horses are more "cavallinos" compared to german 240. But the car has an advantage, which is not to beat. You can take up to four friends in style to an italian restaurant and the food tasted better then. Try this with Ghibli! Hans
Hans I agree. I have a daughter and so how to match a passions for Italian cars with enjoyment for family. QPIII does all that and still attracts a lot of attention on the road especially at an Italian restaurant. The only place it is not welcome is at any Maserati dealership. If you drive up in the car it is a laugh but they all run in case you may be thinking of a trade-in! Ha Ha. I think the enthusiasts that kept the brand alive need some respect! Anyway, the other thing is really just the passage of time. The car keeps up well in modern traffic but almost any VW or Kia is similar - my wife's diesel X5 M Sport is much faster. It needs to be put in its context with cars from 1979 which were not that great. Still, I think it is a good ride, has some growl and performance and in good condition is still and eye turner. So find an Italian restaurant you can park out front of and enjoy.
I have digged a bit deeper ref. sparkplugwires and trumpets. In the official 1979 presentation map is a picture of the engine compartment. Red wires and no trumpets. As supposed, my car seems to be totally original. Hans
Got my speedo kind of working, we bypassed the angle and connected the generator directly to the output of the speedo gear in the tranny, and saw it work. It does't show the right speed though, seems to be between 30-50% under the real speed. Since the angle doesn't seem to have any reduction/increase in the gearing, but rather a 1:1 relationship that simply changes direction, I suspect something might be wrong with the impulse generator. I plan on replacing it in any case, and hopefully that will fix the problem. Does anyone know if the small red plastic courtesy lights in the door edges are a common/off the shelf part easily found, or Maserati-specific? I managed to break one while trying to clean out the insides of the doors and getting the windows cleaned and lubed, and figured I'd replace them all while I'm at it. Cleaning the window rails and channels and greasing the metal lift mechanism didn't help nearly as much as I had hoped. Do the window motors wear out? If not I'll try replacing all the weather sealing and felt window guides first, then pull the lift mechanism itself and go over it if the former doesn't help.
Door lights are available at MIE an are not that expensive http://www.maseratinet.com//pc-11654-622-door-jamb-light.aspx $28 or so. Window motors go real slow due to the lubrication turning to glue. Also the guides and felts slow it all down. Suggest you replace all the guides and regrease the window motor. http://www.maseratinet.com//pc-17413-624-12v-lift-motor.aspx Lift motor replacement over $200. There was a discussion on the plastic gears that wear out on this site some time back and all the replacement numbers were there.
Thanks William, much appreciated. I'll give those suggestions a try with the window, pull the motors, clean and re-grease them along with replacing the rubber and felt guides. While I do that I can order the lights so they're ready to install when I put everything back in. The window trim (guides/felt) look pretty standard, nothing especially weird or exotic. Right? Any UK/EU sources for this that come recommended?
Excellent advice. Can you scan or post those pictures as it adds to the knowledge base of the early cars.
Here are a few sites. Some are quite pricey. I would contact Al at ALSA and ask him. He can also paint the car in due course but may send you some material he uses. MIE has some and others list it but I have not tried. Here are a few sites to check that I have saved. Can only reference MIE and ALSA directly http://www.cicognaniguarnizioni.it http://www.alsaautomotive.co.uk http://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/shopping.asp?intDepartmentId=4 http://www.italiancarparts.com/parts/maseratiparts.html http://www.metrommp.com http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Everything-Alfa/Quattroporte-/_i.html?_fsub=1196802014&_sid=292213494&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
The presentation map just came in. It´s from 1979 and was from the official german importer Auto-König in Munich. I attached some pictures of it. Interesting as well are the wheels; different to the production ones. Hans Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hans Yes I have the same brochure in my collection. Never noticed this detail on the brochure and great to see the same detail in your car. My original set was black and looked to be original for the car (not sure) so they must have changed over at some point. On the preceding page there are the rotary dial A/C units which I have in my 81 and also the wood on the top of the dash which my 81 has (seen in picture). Note in the picture that the centre arm rest has the opening knob on the top in the middle of the panel of leather. I will check but also some additional switches seem to be around the gearshift lever whereas mine in in two blocks of three (in picture). Also I think that the leather gaiter around the knob is smaller also in the brochure photo probably due to the different switches. I wonder if any cars made it to the market with the alternative centre arm rest. Ciao Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200391795784?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1224wt_1144
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Everything-Alfa/_i.html?_fsub=15152660 Yes it may be for the QP 1. This is their "rubber" list so may be a useful source. Dont know their supplier in Italy. Ciao
