[lambertius]

Okay, so when I turn my headlight switch clockwise everything behaves as expected - but the face of the switch has the parking light symbol to the left of centre. If I try to turn the knob counter-clockwise, it doesn't latch, and so far as I can tell it turns on no lights and does nothing.

What am I missing?

 

[Masera]

You’re suppose to be able to push in and turn it counter clockwise, then put blinker left or right to illuminate left or right park lamps. It is a euro thing. Just don’t force it if it isn’t turning, the knob internal has a tendency to break.

 

[lambertius]

So if I push it and turn it counter-clockwise it is supposed to stay in place?

I knew parking lights were a euro thing but I just couldn't work out this mystery!

 

[Masera]

That is correct, remember, if it’s not going, don’t force it.

 

[lambertius]

So I've gotten home from work and back to the car, and though I don't need to force it, it just doesn't behave the way you describe! It always springs back!

I don't suppose you could make a quick video of it?

And I don't suppose anyone knows what cars share this headlight switch - sounds like I'll be needing a new one!

 

[MAS430]

After seeing the comment about pushing in the switch and turning anti-clockwise to set the parkers. I gave it a go, it definitely dose nothing in my car, maybe only a feature in the euro cars.
Cheers Chris.

 

[lambertius]

Isn't your car in Australia like mine - that means it was a UK ordered car (even if it was imported through a dealership), so it is pretty strange... I really want to see what it is supposed to do!

 

[Masera]

It actually took me removing the switch and fiddling with it to get it to work. Once apart, one can see how it works. I had to apply some grease to get it to operate better. I'll see if I can take a video when I get home tonight.

 

[MAS430]

My car is definitely Australian delivered by maserati, not a private import, I'll go through the owners manual and see how the switch is supposed to work. Cheers Chris

 

[lambertius]

It actually took me removing the switch and fiddling with it to get it to work. Once apart, one can see how it works. I had to apply some grease to get it to operate better. I'll see if I can take a video when I get home tonight.

Much obliged!

My car is definitely Australian delivered by maserati, not a private import, I'll go through the owners manual and see how the switch is supposed to work. Cheers Chris

So all dealership cars before the GranTurismo were imported as UK ordered-Australian delivered. In Sydney there is a luxury car dealer called Scuderia Graziani, the owner is Tony Graziani and he was the official Maserati dealership for Australia through the 90s and I think stopped being their exclusive importer some time in the early 2000s. Anyway, he is an ultra nice chap who I met and I wouldn't know this otherwise, but all the Australian cars are definitely UK ordered. Under the hood there will be a yellow import compliance plate which will signify that a dealer brought the car over, red was a private import. I think (not 100% sure) that yellow is for a 'new' import and red is for a used import. That plate should have the compliance number, where you can track down the RAWS shop who did the compliance, and by law they're required to keep a record of all the compliance certificates so you could chase it down if you were so inclined. If you don't have that plate then it has been removed illegally. Two of the items that will be on the modifications list will be alteration of the instrument cluster and installation of the baby seat anchors otherwise the car couldn't be complied. The better shops complied the car doing a cluster swap and winding to the correct odometer reading, the crappier ones modified to cluster to record in kms and used a replacement face (usually black instead of the OEM blue). So far as I am aware, it was only 2005 cars that were brought in through the dealerships, and they were only base models (technical cloth, no skyhook, no xenons, no full leather, no Auditorium 200, no cruise control, no auto-dimming, no carbon pack, no quarter badges etc). Anyway, my point is that all the cars in Australia came from the UK, the Australian delivered cars were just never registered in the UK.

 

[MAS430]

Thats really good info I'll have to look now cheers. All the delivery paper work was done in Sydney. Cheers Chris

 

[MAS430]

 

[lambertius]

I'll go try that shortly - but, what is the point of doing that if the car isn't even on?

 

[Masera]

Here you go. The point is if you park somewhere and you are sticking out more than you are comfortable with, you can turn on either side so your car is more visible. I use it when I park so I can get more attention!

 

[lambertius]

Thank you kind sir!

You definitely described it accurately but it just doesn't latch on my car - I might pull the switch apart and work out what is going on... along with the rest of the car...

I thought the exhaust was for getting more attention?

Also, I like the Maserati projectors under the door! Where did you find those?

 

[Masera]

You are welcome.

Take the switch apart, it may need some grease, you will know what I am talking about when you get there.

I also do have a sweet exhaust, thanks to a member here that gets just the right attention.

As for the projectors, it was a cheap eBay find that required slight modification

 

[lambertius]

Before I go pulling things apart - does this pop out with a trim tool around the edge, or do I need to get behind it? I'd rather not go breaking anything!

 

[Masera]

As far as I remember, yes.

 

[lambertius]

Thanks - I'll have to do a little write up on this, I got the thing apart after gingerly prying it out. I then dismantled it and saw the mechanism you're talking about, you're right you'll know it when you see it.

I played around with it for a little bit, but upon closer inspection it is definitely defective by design. There is an injection mould failure on the parking light notch which means it fails to rotate into position no matter what. If I place the cam into the parking light notch it rotates out fine. I'll have to hi it with a fine die grinder to clear off the excess to allow it to rotate.

I assembled it in the parking light position and it worked fine, so both the car and the switch work but the internal selection cam is defective.

Honestly, it is the most useless feature imaginable but anything less that perfect working order makes my soul sad.

 

[lambertius]

Removing the switch is easy requires a bit of force, but you need to be careful not to tear the leather. The switch is held in with three spring clips, as you free them they expand and will catch the leather, so don't pull it out in a rush. Use plastic spudgers to protect the leather. If you use screwdrivers you'll damage the switch as well as it is relatively thin plastic.

Removing the selector knob just requires a firm tug. you then need to separate the rear section by removing the two rear screws.

Once the screws are out, you'll need to release two latches to separate the two halves. You can see the latch below, there is one on each side.

To release it you'll need a thin flat head screwdriver. This will be fiddly and require patience as you can only release one side at a time. Being rough will break the latch and junk your part.

Once you've separated the rear you can remove the selector cam and have all four parts laid out.

The issue that prevents selecting the parking light is caused by an injection moulding line inside the switch that makes the edge too steep for the cam to climb. It is very subtle, so I've highlighted the projected edge below.

You'll need to file off the excess with a die grinder till the movement is the same on both sides. You will be able to place the cam back into the housing and rotate it to test it before fully assembling the unit.

So if your parking light isn't working - that is how you fix it.