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Problems with my GranTurismo

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26K views 25 replies 12 participants last post by  conscom  
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#1 ·
Dear friends,

I just bought a UK-sourced 2008 GranTurismo (6-speed auto) with a mileage of 13000 miles which has the following problems :-

(1) Engine vibrations between 1000 and 1500 rpm
(2) Suspension squeaks when I drive over humps but usually for the first few humps only and the problem is less obvious when I engage the sports mode
(3) Road debris being caught in the wheel arches due to the frailings of the fibre linings

My Maserati mechanic claims that problem (1) arose due to failed engine mountings but I suspect otherwise since the car is of low mileage. Instead, I am more worried about why the engine vibrates so much at low revs in the first place. The engine mountings only masks the vibrations. He said problem (2) is normal for this kind of car. Is this true? Problem (3) is actually rather trivial compared to the other two but the car kind of look messy with the debris.

I am also not sure if my car has the Skyhook suspension but the ride feels more cushy when the sports mode is off.

Can someone please enlighten me on these issues? I am new to this brand and any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

Dr Chaw:thumbsup:
 
#3 ·
Some vibration from the engine can be expected, these engines aren't as smooth as sewing machines. Also, the engine mounts are somewhats tiff so some of that vibration will be transmitted to the chassis.

I would allow your tech to replace the motor mounts, he may very well be correct. As I said, these engine aren't that smooth at idle anyways.

How significant are the bumps you are drivign over? Are they large speed bumps?
 
#4 ·
My 04 Mercedes SL had to have the engine mounts replaced at around 25000 miles. I think there were 4, and two of them broke. My mechanic replaced all 4 with AMG mounts which were more sturdy, no problem since. The diagnosis was easy, open the hood, have somebody step on the gas and rev the engin up, see if the engine block moves up and down excessively... if it pops up quite a bit, the mount is probably broken... mine was so bad taht it was knocking my hood everytime you step on the gas!
 
G
#5 ·
i've got an '08 and i haven't experienced any of these issues. engine is smooth in the rpm range you specified. in sport mode the suspension "stiffens" so it will alter it's behavior. as far as squeaking being normal, i'd have to disagree. yes, stuff does tend to stick inside the wheel wells. kind of goofy how that was designed, if your mechanic has identified a problem with the engine mounts; why don't you believe him? i don't think that failure is always a function of mileage.
 
D
#6 ·
Problems with my 2008 GranTurismo

Dear friends,

Thanks for your replies. The squeaks were only present when I drove over speed humps, even slowly, but usually disappeared after a few humps each time I drove it. I only noticed that the squeaks disappeared earlier when I engaged the sports button. It is not that I do not trust my mechanic but Maseratis are relatively new and rare in Malaysia. Expertise on Ferraris and Porsches is much more common here. I have a 14-year-old Porsche Boxster which still drives smoothly, so the vibrations in my GranTurismo is worrying. Otherwise, it is a beautiful car that I can't stop admiring.
 
#7 ·
I would say that the squeaking while going over speed bumps will be somewhat normal. The time/money it would require to go through the suspension would be wasteful. This is a trait I see fairly often, the cure is not simple. It's part fo the car's design and engineering.

The noise goes away with use of the Sport button ebcause the shocks stiffen and the suspension does not articulate as much when going over the bumps.
 
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#8 ·
Thank you for the advice. My wife's Citreon Grand Picasso had a soft rattle in the dashboard for more than a year but the authorised Citreon mechanic refused to believe me. When he finally relented upon my insistence, he actually found a cracked steering rack. Therefore, I am worried when I hear weird noises or feel vibrations that are not supposed to be present in my GT of this age and mileage. The warranty on my car will expire soon and I just hope to get the problems fixed. I know that looking for the source of an abnormal noise is time consuming but it could be an indication of a problem that may be expensive to fix. If only I can get my Maserati mechanic to believe me...
 
R
#9 ·
I believe you. Intermittent problems are problems. We know our cars best because we drive everyday, but others cannot diagnose in the short time they give them. One thing I do know, and that is, do not ignore a noise, because mechanical things only get worse, never better on their own. (Second law of thermodynamics). -Robert.
 
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#10 ·
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your advice. I read you just got your new car. Congratulations! I got mine as a used car from the UK because new cars in Malaysia are absurdly expensive. IMO, we should not be too worried about driving our cars more often. My old BMW and Porsche "cry" (leak oil) and "throw tantrums" (electrical glitches) when I neglect them. Having a trustworthy and experienced mechanic definitely helps.
 
S
#12 ·
the squeaking over the speed bumps is normal. I heard is on my '08 QP before this '09 GT as well.

DrChaw - you are going to drive yourself MAD if you obsess over every little thing that is bound to happen to these cars :) There are so many quirks and wirls and random rattles it will make you crazy.

Just step on the gas and enjoy!

Good luck with her
 
D
#13 ·
Thank you for the reassurance, not that I am happy your car squeaks too. The Italians call it "normale" for problems to exist in their cars. Fortunately, there so many other positive attributes of the car that make it all worthwhile. I guess it is the fear of the unknown that drives one crazy. I truly appreciate all the feedback that I got so far and I look forward to share more when I get to known the marque better.:thumbsup:
 
#14 ·
Engine vibrations

Alto Italian cars are known to be finicky, there's no excuse for rattles and engine vibrations.
I just bought a 2009 GTS with exactly the same vibration at idle or near idle. Smooths out once you above 2000 rpm. The dealer just informed me that the vibration was due to overfilling of the oil. What???? I'll post again after I've questioned them on this strange phenomenon. I would have thought it was caused by the motor mounts. It's still under warranty. BTW, my Porsche 997 is bullet proof and tracked over a dozen times/year.
 
#15 ·
I have an '09 GTS but the MC-Shift version so should be similar and I can't really report any harsh vibration at low revs. The car will flex slightly if I rev it in neutral but there is no reali vibration coming through the body. Does sound like it could be an engine mount and I would let your dealer try and fix it under your warranty.

I do not have the skyhook suspension so not directly comparable but I live in London and there are speed bumps EVERYWHERE! The point is that I do not have a squeek when I go over them, I would also press for that to be looked into as these cars are generally very solid and well screwed together, so something sounds like it is not quite right.

As for debris getting stuck into the wheelarch matting, yes sadly this is common and unavoidable. I agree it does make the car look slightly messy and the only real solution is to pick the debris out by hand. Hope you get these minor issues resolved and you start enjoying these wonderful cars.
 
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D
#18 ·
Dear friends,

I have had my engine mounts changed under warranty and the vibrations have diminished somewhat but not totally gone. I guess the engine, being a big capacity one, must have some vibrations. I learned that there are only 2 engines mounts for such a large engine. Perhaps that was why the engine mounts wore so quickly.

My suspension still squeaks off-and-on but less so when I drive the car daily and when I press the Sports button. One of those Italian quirks?

Overall, I enjoy my car very much and have no regrets paying the hefty price for one.

Cheers!

Dr Chaw
 
#20 ·
finally sold my 2009 GT-S. It was going to be a keeper as no particular issues during my ownership. What sat in the crotch of my brain is the fact that the Florida Dealer, World on Wheels, scammed me. Represented the car as a 9 and it arrived with many issues to list here. In retrospect, I should have either flew there personally or at least retained a representative to check the car over and get a PPI done.
The Skyhook suspension worked great as i drove it a couple of times at our club autocross events. No squeaks or suspension groans. Lots of torque. Finally decided to get back into a Ferrari!
 
#21 ·
- My engine also vibrates a bit when the car is standing still, but I think that's normal with a V8 in front if you. You can't expect your car to be as steady as a 2.0, 4 cilinder when you have more and bigger fuel explosions. The vibrations feel rather soft.You have the same when driving a truck.
- I think most of us have the squeaks. It goes away a bit when you drive in the rain and it comes back when it's dry. It doesn't do any damage. If you want to get rid of it you will have to lubricate it every time. I'd say, ignore it if you only hear it on bumps.
- I also hear road debris very good. I haven't figured out yet why.
 
#24 ·
Vibration source found! A factory trained mechanic and a once Ferrari F1 crew member employed where I take my Maserati for servicing shed light on this issue felt by many Maserati GT &QP owners. Apparently the driveshaft have rubber counter weights that become out of round and don't balance the shaft at lower rpm's. This vibration disappears above 2000 rpm's. It does not affect performance and is not a cause for concern.
Solution: replace the ds dampener.
 
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