18 hours into ownership - my first issue has reared its head

klangford · Nov 20, 2012

So I've searched and read almost every thread about radios - I didn't want to repost this issue if it has been addressed but my situation seems unique. Last night the radio was fine. Last night I was reading all of the manuals cover to cover (yes, I'm that much of a nerd) and kept going out to the garage to do things I had read about. For example I programmed the HomeLink for my garage door, then a few pages later I went out and set my FM presets to my own stations. Lastly I changed the display units from KM/H to MPH. Finally after petting the car one last time I went to bed.

This morning the radio is not cooperating and by that I mean that the volume is not working. I can turn it all they way up and get just a faint hint at the song that is playing. What I do hear though pretty well is a whirring noise as the car drives/revs. Its like there are no capacitors blocking out the electrical signals of the engine when running. I turned the car off/on but that didn't correct it (hopeful). The radio turns off/on fine, it switches to CD etc (CD's also play very, very faintly with engine electrical feedback). In my research on the forum I see people pull fuse F39 to 'reboot' their media system so I will try that but I'm not confident that will fix it either.

This just in: No luck with fuse F39. Same problem. Radio shows station, song name, etc - you have to turn it to max volume (25 or something) to hear faintly hear the song and then you hear whistling noise of electrical system whose frequency goes high (when revving) then back to a lower squeal when I don't rev it a bit. Am I already at the point of having to disconnect the battery and reboot the car like so many other people do to resolve inexplicable electrical issues?

2thfixr · Nov 20, 2012

Sounds like a remote turn on issue with an amplifier thats runs through a separate fuse from the main head unit. Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes might do the trick or you can find the fuse that powers the amp and pull that by itself to attempt a reset.

klangford · Nov 20, 2012

2thfixr said:
Sounds like a remote turn on issue with an amplifier thats runs through a separate fuse from the main head unit. Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes might do the trick or you can find the fuse that powers the amp and pull that by itself to attempt a reset.

I'll do that in 60 seconds if I can figure out which fuse that is

Looking at the diagram I see the following suspects:

Fuse position - F80 (25amp) Hi-Fi system (rear shelf base-box and woofer)
Fuse position - MF68 (30amp) - Hi Fi system (amplifier)
Fuse position - MF81 (50amp) - (roof, rear shelf base box and subwoofer, rear seat heating)

You think MF68 for starters? Is there a WRONG way to do this? I just know I'm going to break something

klangford · Nov 20, 2012

Problem solved! MF81 was the culprit. I first pulled F80, waited, reinserted it, started the car but radio still had no volume. Turned car off, pulled MF68, waited 60 seconds, reinserted it then checked and radio still not behaving. Lastly I pulled MF81, waited 60 seconds, put it back in, started car and radio works like a champ! Sometimes I guess you just need to say it out loud to find the solution. Phew!

amr · Nov 20, 2012

Otherwise, how is the car? Is it what you expected?

klangford · Nov 20, 2012

amr said:
Otherwise, how is the car? Is it what you expected?

It is more than I could've wished for. Seeing it in person, driving it - the SportGT badge on the pillar - what's not to like, ya know? It was also fun seeing someone in my rearview (while at a stoplight) hold up their iPhone over their steering wheel while they took a picture of the rear of the car. I hadn't had that kind of reaction since I had my NSX. The novelty of that will wear off I'm sure but for now why not soak it up

2thfixr · Nov 21, 2012

Glad to hear you found it. Modern electronics are wonderful...... when they work. :laugh:

ApriliaNut · Nov 21, 2012

klangford said:
Problem solved! MF81 was the culprit. I first pulled F80, waited, reinserted it, started the car but radio still had no volume. Turned car off, pulled MF68, waited 60 seconds, reinserted it then checked and radio still not behaving. Lastly I pulled MF81, waited 60 seconds, put it back in, started car and radio works like a champ! Sometimes I guess you just need to say it out loud to find the solution. Phew!

BRAVO! That's one for the archives/sticky!!

So I went to the Redline website; which SOLD Quattroporte did you purchase?!?

It is okay to post photos ya know!! J/K!! :cheers:

klangford · Nov 21, 2012

ApriliaNut said:
BRAVO! That's one for the archives/sticky!!

So I went to the Redline website; which SOLD Quattroporte did you purchase?!?

It is okay to post photos ya know!! J/K!! :cheers:

I bought this one:
Redline European | 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT Automatic

ApriliaNut · Nov 21, 2012

Oh man, that's the color combo I'm partial to also! Beautiful! Now if I can just find a Sport GT with the carbon interior in my $$ range that'd be the bomb!!
Congrats!

klangford · Nov 21, 2012

ApriliaNut said:
Oh man, that's the color combo I'm partial to also! Beautiful! Now if I can just find a Sport GT with the carbon interior in my $$ range that'd be the bomb!!
Congrats!

I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your quest. CF was also my preference but after 8 months I couldn't find CF trim in a silver car that didn't ALSO include DuoSelect (I wanted Automatica). I'm sure that beast is out there and I'll be jealous when you get it. In the end I settled on the piano black, the stained wood isn't my style but I understand its appeal to others.

Kojak · Nov 21, 2012

Hide the Wood

If you really hate the wood, you can go to a shop like RESTYLEIT.CA and they can hide it with Vinyl... I know it sounds like heresy, but they have Carbon Fiber Vinyl that looks great. I went to visit their shop and the work is amazing. Best of all it peels off if you want to go back to to the way it was. Just a thought.

klangford · Nov 24, 2012

I thought this gremlin was gone but that isn't the case. The day after I thought it was fixed it happened again (no audio) so I pulled the the same 4 fuses but it didn't resolve it. Finally I removed the battery cable (the one with the quick release) waited 20-30 seconds, reconnected it and got in the car. After entering the radio code the radio works great. I've now had to repeat that every morning. The radio works the rest of the day even if the car sits for 2-3 hours. Something definitely happens during the overnight period when the car rests for 8-9 hours. I'm beginning to suspect the battery itself. Until then I've gotten quite good at removing the battery cable, re-attaching, then getting in and entering the radio code, setting date/time and changing from KMH to MPH all in under 2 minutes.

2thfixr · Nov 24, 2012

Try using a battery tender to trickle charge your battery every night for a few days. Your car may have sat in the showroom for a while and the cold temps aren't helping. Your battery might be going bad. I have to trickle charge using battery tenders throughout the winter even with strong batteries if a car doesn't get driven at least once a week.

klangford · Nov 24, 2012

2thfixr said:
Try using a battery tender to trickle charge your battery every night for a few days. Your car may have sat in the showroom for a while and the cold temps aren't helping. Your battery might be going bad. I have to trickle charge using battery tenders throughout the winter even with strong batteries if a car doesn't get driven at least once a week.

I have one and will do just that - great idea. :thumbsup:

klangford · Nov 27, 2012

This problem isn't going away. I've had the battery on tender 3 nights now. After a day at the office I get home and connect it to the tender. In the evening the tender indicator is red (charging) and it is then green (charged) by the next morning. None of that seems to affect the radio having volume. I also have intermittent TPMS failure - go to dealer messages at the same time. As soon as I remove the battery terminal, wait a few seconds and re-connect I am able to put in the radio code, it plays correctly AND the TPMS message is gone. Yesterday I decided to just purchase a new battery but the battery store I went to (Batteries Plus) does not sell a battery with enough CCA to meet specifications. I'll keep looking for a new battery but until then - I'm out of ideas as to this pesky electrical issue. Interestingly the car can go 2 hours max between startups and the radio will work, if I go 3+hours then the radio stops working and the TPMS message may or may not occur until I disconnect/re-connect the battery.

The TPMS message is a new piece of this issue. The first 3 days of ownership it was just the radio, the last 5 days the TPMS message has become a companion to the radio issue. Again - both go away by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery.

I do not know how old the battery is - the date codes were not peeled away at time of installation. Also - I have doubt this is the correct battery as it EASILY slides back and forth about an inch or so. It is not secured or otherwise seated in the battery housing. Any photos of how a battery is supposed to be secured would be greatly appreciated. I can easily grab the back of the battery and make it lean out of the battery tray.

I'm only an hour and a half from Orlando - my plan at this point (and last hope) is to head down there Saturday and get a new battery.

Scotta98 · Nov 27, 2012

It's funny how these cars have a way kicking and screaming before they realize they have a nice new family.... I had a couple teething problems like that including a battery which solved most of the issues. You can't apply the same logic to a Mas that you would to other cars. They're just different and come with their own set of rules! ;-)

I think you just need to get it hooked up and checked out. I heard you say on another thread that you drive to Atlanta almost weekly. I can recommend an Indy here that could run the diagnostics for you.

klangford · Nov 27, 2012

Scotta98 said:
It's funny how these cars have a way kicking and screaming before they realize they have a nice new family.... I had a couple teething problems like that including a battery which solved most of the issues. You can't apply the same logic to a Mas that you would to other cars. They're just different and come with their own set of rules! ;-)

I think you just need to get it hooked up and checked out. I heard you say on another thread that you drive to Atlanta almost weekly. I can recommend an Indy here that could run the diagnostics for you.

Well put my friend - I have an appointment for 9:00am this Thursday with an Indy in my area. We'll see how this plays out.

elambo · Nov 27, 2012

Five-six years is a decent life for the TPMS batteries. They likely need to be replaced.

ApriliaNut · Nov 27, 2012

klangford said:
Well put my friend - I have an appointment for 9:00am this Thursday with an Indy in my area. We'll see how this plays out.

Definitely sounds like symptoms of a battery on it's way out, as in one weak cell; Alternator/trickle charger keeps her "okay" for awhile, then she starts wearing down again.

Is there a way for you to do a simple load test on the existing battery?

Good Luck!

18 hours into ownership - my first issue has reared its head

klangford

2thfixr

klangford

klangford

amr

klangford

2thfixr

ApriliaNut

klangford

ApriliaNut

klangford

Kojak

klangford

2thfixr

klangford

klangford

Scotta98

klangford

elambo

ApriliaNut

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