Quattroporte III catch-all thread

That is a door key. There should be two, one for each door/side. They actuate electric motors to operate the locks, failing that there is a fallback by turning the key further to engage a mechanical linkage to operate the lock.

Does anyone know which key opens the center console? The door keys seem to small, and the ignition key too big. My console needs repairing in any case, it would be nice to put it back the way it was originally so that it can be locked.

Apropos keys, it occurred to me the other day that I only have one set of keys. Where can one have copies/extras made? Are blanks readily available?

 

Interesting. It has CA plates and a US VIN, yet there's no smog gear visible in the engine bay. Perhaps removed by the PO if it's been stored in AZ for the last decade or so. The interior appears to in some places have been redone (center console), simply dyed black in others (seats, door panels), and they put a coat of what looks like high gloss polyurethane on all the interior wood trim.

The ticking sound they describe is probably the belt slap often heard when cold. One would hope...! Love the odometer - 666 and change ;-). How appropriate for a black on black car. I wonder what tires are on it. Michelins, it looks like.

Carpets are non-original to the car afaik, steering wheel shows the same cracked leather I've seen on almost every car up for sale (I have a restored one for sale, btw), buttons show a lot of wear. I'm not sure why they didn't vacuum the trunk prior to photographing it, nor do I recognize the 4 screws in a square pattern on the right side of the inner trunk wall that hides the gas tank.

I wonder what it will go for if it sells. I suppose we'll know soon enough.

 

I picked the car up yesterday after having the new water pump and thermostat installed.

Thanks to Mike, Tony and others who gave good advice. The new pump is technically incorrect for this car, but I don't really think it matters here. A length of cast pipe is replaced by a coolant hose, and apparently the impeller and bearing have been improved in the later version. The shop flushed out the channels and radiator while it was apart, and mounted the new thermostat the right way round ;-).
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Does anyone happen to know the size of the oil pan plug on a QP3? After a nice drive in the countryside, I put the car up on ramps today in order to change the oil and filter, only to be met by a somewhat unusual looking plug. I should have measured it or taken a picture, but it looks something like a socket for a huge torx bit.

 

Thanks Mark,

I'll pick up a 16mm allen key tomorrow and have another go at it.

 

No worries, I picked up one of these.

It holds 14l, has a wide opening with a screen to catch the plug, and seals up for transportation to dump the used oil.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

While driving home this evening after a nice long drive in the countryside (lot's of that here), I noticed a faint smell of gas coming in through the vents. It seemed to get stronger as I made it to town and ran a few errands, so I pulled over to have a look.

What I discovered appears to be turning into an annual thing, the fuel line adapter that screws into the carb inlet from the fuel rail seems to work itself loose over time, as does the filter control plug, both in brass with red fiber washers. I guess it's the temperature differences between cold and hot engine, as well as cooler winter temps vs warmer summer time. The two different metals with different rates of expansion might also play a role.

As it turns out, about the same time every year (Easter or thereabouts) I find them leaking fuel. Not enough to be dangerous (I hope), but enough to be noticeable. I suppose that's all part of life with a classic car.

On that note, I was curious to hear what common periodic checks and adjustments other owners perform, beyond the standard plugs, filters & oil.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

MIE is out of stock, does anyone know either a source, or better, a part number/cross reference for the QP3 brake pads?

Right now I need the parking/emergency brake pads, they have no grip left at all. The others are fine, but it's always nice to have a set of spares handy.

Thanks!

 

I was told by a guy that if a door is sagging slightly, one of the ways shops deal with this is by putting a floor jack and a piece of wood (and something to protect the paint) under the bottom edge of the door, and then jack it up a few inches.

Apparently that will bend the metal plate that the door is attached to and fix the problem. The QP3 is said (by this person) to sometimes suffer from sagging doors, due to the way they are attached, as well as their weight. He said there aren't any shims or other ways of adjusting the door, as on modern cars.

First, does this sound like a kosher way to fix a sagging door?

Second, wouldn't the door just sag back? If the plate it's mounted on is bent by using a jack to adjust it, wouldn't it simply bend back after a short time?