can be activated at any time and the
system limits the engine speed rate to
3000 rpm in all gears except for the
6th, unrequested gearshifts could take
place.
In any case, it is advisable to
deactivate
SPORT mode before
selecting ICE (low-grip) mode.
When sequential manual gearshifting
is active, regardless of the mode set
(NORMAL / SPORT / ICE), the
transmission will automatically upshift
or downshift when reaching the
minimum and maximum rpm. This is
to prevent engine overrevving or
underrevving.
(ESC Off) Mode
The ESC system is designed to
automatically activate every time the
engine is started and can be
deactivated by pressing
(ESC Off)
button on the central console for
about 2 seconds. The
(ESC Off)
amber warning light illuminates on
the instrument cluster as well as on
the display, where it is accompanied
by a specific message.
The ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
antiyawing system incorporates all of
the vehicle control systems: ABS, EBD,
ASR and MSR (see "Brake and Stability Control System" in this section for
further information).
The system is fitted with a unit that
predicts the vehicle behavior with
extreme accuracy. The system can
detect when the driver is about to lose
control of the vehicle. In this case, it
can activate the brake calipers
individually and engine control, in
order to create a torque sufficient to
resist the vehicle’s yawing moment.
Press
(ESC Off) button again to
reactivate the system.
The
(ESC On) amber warning light
on the instrument cluster flashes
during all the operating phases.
, the system is automatically disabled
and cannot be re-activated. While
driving, this condition is signaled by
the
(ESC On) amber warning light,
that illuminates both on the
instrument cluster as well as on the
multi-function display, where it is
accompanied by the message “ESC
unavailable go to dealer”.
When the engine is started, the system
malfunction is indicated by the
illumination of the
(ESC On) amber
warning light.
CAUTION!
• In the event of a fault, and with the ESC system disabled (
(ESC Off)
button pressed), the vehicle behaves
as if it were not equipped with this
system: however, we recommend
you contact the Authorized Maserati
Dealer as soon as possible to have
the system checked.
• If you have to tow the vehicle with 2 wheels raised, make sure the key in
the ignition switch is in the STOP
(OFF) position. Otherwise, with the
ESC system active (
(ESC Off)
button not pressed), the control unit
will store a malfunction with
consequent illumination of the
(ESC On) amber warning lights on
the instrument cluster and on the
display. Should this occur, contact
the Authorized Maserati Dealer to
have the system repaired.
• In low- and medium-grip conditions (e.g., rain, snow, ice, sand, etc.) it is
advisable not to activate SPORT
mode, even with the ESC system
active (
(ESC Off) button not
pressed).
Driving
5
171
Parking Brake
The vehicle is equipped with an
electric automatic parking brake, also
called EPB (Electric Parking Brake).
It can be automatically engaged when
the engine is turned off and it is
disengaged when, with the engine
running, the accelerator pedal is
depressed.
When the parking brake is applied
(with the key in the ignition switch in
STOP (OFF)position), the
indicator lights up on the rev.
counter display and the related
message is displayed on the instrument
cluster for 5 seconds (see “Instrument
Cluster” in section “Dashboard
Instruments and Controls”).
During engagement and
disengagement procedures, the
indicator flashes until the parking brake has reached its
maximum activation force and is
respectively fully released.
The parking brake is automatically
applied when the engine is turned off
and the vehicle is stationary.
It can only be disengaged when the
engine is restarted.
If the key has been removed from the
ignition switch or is turned in
STOP
(OFF) position, it cannot be
disengaged.
Manual Engagement/
Disengagement
The parking brake can also be
manually engaged or disengaged
when the engine is running and when
the vehicle is moving or the key in the
ignition switch is in MAR (ON)
position, by pressing the brake pedal
and raising the lever located next to
the transmission shift lever.
When the parking brake is applied, the
indicator lights up on the rev.
counter and the related message will
be displayed on the instrument cluster.
If the engine was turned off when the
automatic engagement device was
deactivated (see “Deactivating
Automatic Operation” in this chapter)
it is possible to shift the parking brake
simply by pulling the lever upward.
CAUTION!
The main function of the EPB is to
allow safe parking of the vehicle,
therefore it must only be applied
when the vehicle is already stationary.
If the EPB is used while the vehicle is
moving and decelerating until a speed
lower of 3 mph (5 km/h) and, in
particular, until complete stop
(typically in a sudden brake), it is
necessary to have the EPB system
checked by an Authorized Maserati
Dealer.
WARNING!
• Always hold the brake pedal pressed
during engagement or
disengagement of the parking brake.
Driving
5
174
If you attempt to disengage the
parking brake without having
depressed the service brake pedal, a
message will be displayed to warn
you to do so.
• The EPB command activation while
running, generates a deceleration of
the vehicle with strong deceleration
(Dynamic Braking). It is therefore
recommended to use of this feature
only in case of emergency. The
stability of the car is guaranteed by
the action of the activated ESC
system.
Deactivating Automatic
Operation
To deactivate automatic operation of
the parking brake, with the engine
on, press the "PARK OFF" button on
the central console. The words “PARK OFF” appear on the
display for 5 seconds, after which they
remain displayed but in smaller size.
To reactivate automatic operation,
press the "PARK OFF" button once
again, the words “PARK ON” appear
on the display for 5 seconds.
CAUTION!
• In certain conditions when the battery voltage is low, the electric
parking brake system may
temporarily be deactivated for safety
reasons. Therefore, typically upon
starting the engine, when the
battery voltage drops, the message
“PARK OFF” may temporarily be
displayed on the instrument cluster,
indicating that automatic operation
is temporarily disabled. • In the case of performance starting,
check that the parking brake is
disengaged.
Failure Indication
In the event of electric parking brake
system failure, the
warning light
on the display will light up.
Depending on the message displayed,
it signals the following failures of the
EPB system:
• “Parking brake failure: go to dealer” If the message warning you to go to
the nearest Authorized Maserati
Dealer is displayed, drive slowly and
remember that the electric parking
brake device is not functioning.
• “EPB is overheated” If the vehicle has been stationary
(key in the ignition switch to STOP
(OFF) position) for about 15 minutes
without using the parking brake,
and the warning light illuminates
again after restarting the engine,
slowly drive to the nearest
Authorized Maserati Dealer .
• “EPB failure only manual unlock allowed: see handbook”
In this case, follow the manual
emergency deactivation procedure
in order to release the parking brake
(see “Emergency Release of the
Driving
5
175
Parking Brake” in section “In an
Emergency”).
• “Parking Brake system revision: go to dealer”
The EPB system requires
maintenance, therefore contact an
Authorized Maserati Dealer to have
the system corrected.
WARNING!
In the event of an EPB failure, take
your vehicle to the nearest Authorized
Maserati Dealer as soon as possible.
Initialize the EPB System after a
Battery
Disconnecting
After the detachment and the
subsequent connection of the battery,
on the instrument cluster display the
warning light will light up.
To initialize the EPB system lift, release
and lift again the lever located next to
the transmission shift lever.
Emergency Disengagement
In case of brake lock with complete
electrical system failure, it is necessary
to act on the electric actuator using
the special tool provided in the tool kit
to release the pressure of the parking
brake shoes (see “Emergency Release of the Parking Brake” chapter in
section “In an Emergency”).
EPB Operation with
Overheated Brakes
Driving on mountain roads with steep
slopes or a sports use of the vehicle
could overheat the brake system
components. In these conditions,
parking brake must not be used since
the push of the power actuator might
not be sufficient to ensure vehicle
braking, especially on a slope.
Drive normally without braking to
allow the brakes to cool down a few
minutes before stopping. In this way,
the automatic or manual activation of
the parking brake will ensure vehicle
braking.
Parking
Straighten the wheels and turn off the
engine.
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure
that the parking brake is fully applied
in automatic or manual mode and
place the transmission lever in the P
(Park) position.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
WARNING!
• Always check that the vehicle is
locked before leaving it.
• Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
• Do not park the vehicle on paper,
grass, dry leaves or other flammable
materials. They could catch fire if
they come into contact with hot
parts of the exhaust system.
• Do not leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
CAUTION!
When you need to park the vehicle on
a steep slope, both with the engine on
and off, it is recommended not only to
Driving
5
176
• in the event of loss of grip on wetroads (aquaplaning).
The ASR system works in combination
with the electronic suspension control
system: in normal conditions (SPORT
mode off), stability in low and
medium grip conditions has priority,
while with SPORT mode active, the
system favors traction, thereby
optimizing vehicle performance on dry
asphalt.
The ASR system is automatically
activated every time the engine is
started and can be deactivated by
pressing
(ESC Off) button (see
"Drive Mode" in this section).
ASR System Failure
In the event of a fault, the system is
automatically disabled and cannot be
re-activated. While driving, this
condition is signaled by the
amber
warning light on the instrument
cluster display, which illuminates
together with the message “ASR
unavailable go to dealer”. Also the
(ESC On) amber warning light
illuminates inside the tachometer with
the message indicating that the ESC
system is unavailable. In this case drive
with the greatest care and have the
system immediately checked by the
nearest Authorized Maserati Dealer .MSR Function
The ASR system also controls the
engine braking torque when the
accelerator pedal is released under
low grip conditions (e.g., snow, ice,
etc.): in these conditions, the high
braking torque provided by the
engine may cause instability of the
vehicle.
The system, using the same sensors as
the ABS, detects skidding of one or
both driving wheels when the
accelerator is released and opens the
motor-driven throttle of the engine
fuel system thereby reducing the
braking torque and re-establishing the
maximum grip conditions for the
driving wheels.
WARNING!
The maximum deceleration that can
be obtained with the engine brake
always depends on the tire grip on
the road surface. Snow or ice
obviously reduce grip values.
WARNING!
California Proposition 65
Operating, servicing and maintaining
a passenger vehicle or off-road vehicle can expose you to chemicals including
such as, engine exhaust, carbon
monoxide, phthalates and lead, that
which are know to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. To
minimize exposure, avoid breathing
exhaust, do not idle the engine except
as necessary, service your vehicle in a
well-ventilated area and wear gloves
or wash your hands frequently when
servicing your vehicle. For more
information go to:
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/passenger-
vehicle
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
and Electronic Brake-force
Distribution (EBD)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
provides increased vehicle stability and
brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system
automatically “pumps” the brakes
during severe braking to prevent
wheel lock-up.
The Electronic Brake-force Distribution
(EBD) prevents the rear wheels from
over-braking and provides greater
control of available braking forces
applied to the rear axle.
Driving
5
179
WARNING!
The ABS helps prevent the wheels
from locking, but it does not increase
the physical grip limits between the
tires and the road. Therefore, always
keep a safe distance from the vehicle
in front of yours and reduce your
speed when entering a curve.
NOTE:
• When
the vehicle's speed is higher
than 7 mph (11 km/h), you may also
hear a slight clicking sound as well as
other motor noises. The system is
performing a self-check cycle to
ensure that the ABS is working
properly.
• This self-check occurs each time the
vehicle is started and accelerated
past 7 mph (11 km/h).
ABS is activated during braking under
certain road or stopping conditions.
ABS-inducing conditions can include
ice, snow, gravel, bumps, railroad
tracks, loose debris.
You may also experience the following
when the brake system goes into Anti-
Lock: • The ABS motor running (it may
continue to run for a short time after
the vehicle stops).
• The clicking sound of solenoid valves.
• Brake pedal pulsations.
• A slight drop or fall away of the brake pedal at the end of the stop.
These are all normal characteristics of
ABS functioning.WARNING!
• The ABS contains sophisticated
electronic equipment that may be
susceptible to interference caused by
improperly-installed or high-output
radio transmitting equipment. This
interference can cause possible loss
of anti-lock braking capability.
Installation of such equipment
should be performed by qualified
Maserati personnel.
• Pumping the Anti-Lock Brakes will
diminish their effectiveness and may
lead to a collision. Pumping brakes
makes the stopping distance longer.
Just press firmly and continuously on
your brake pedal when you need to
slow down or stop ABS and EBD System Failure
In
the event of a failure the ABS
system will be deactivated, but this will
not affect the efficiency of the
standard braking system.
The failure will be indicated by the
illumination of the
amber warning
light on the instrument cluster.
An EBD system failure is indicated by
the illumination of the
red
warning light on the instrument
cluster.
In this case we recommend that you
contact the nearest Authorized
Maserati Dealer in order to identify
the fault as soon as possible, by means
of the system self-diagnostic function.
WARNING!
• The
failure warning light usually
illuminates with the engine running
to indicate a malfunction in the ABS
system only. In this case, the braking
system will remain fully functioning,
but will not use the ABS. In these
conditions, also the EBD system
efficiency may be affected. Drive
with the greatest care in order to
avoid sudden braking and have the
system immediately checked by the
Driving
5
180
nearest Centre of the Authorized
Maserati Dealer.
• The
warning light illuminates
when the engine is running to
indicate an EBD system malfunction.
In this case, sharp braking may
cause an early locking of the rear
wheels, and the vehicle may skid.
Drive with the greatest care and
have the system immediately
checked by the nearest Centre of the
Authorized Maserati Dealer.
Hydraulic Brake Assistance
(HBA)
HBA completes the ABS system by
optimizing the vehicle braking
capacity during emergency braking.
In the event of a critical situation,
where the vehicle must stop in the
shortest possible distance, the driver
usually depresses the brake pedal
quickly, but often not strongly
enough: this increases the braking
distance. HBA has been designed to
solve this problem and acts by
applying the maximum braking force
during emergency braking, in order to
stop the vehicle in the shortest
possible distance.
HBA recognizes the emergency
condition by analyzing some parameters, such as the pressure on
the brake servo, the wheel speed and
activation of the third stop. The ABS
control unit cross-checks this data and
substitutes the driver by activating the
braking system’s full power and so
ensures optimal braking performance
in the shortest possible distance.
Brake Override System (BOS)
To complete the range of systems that
assist braking, the vehicle is equipped
with
BOS, which is designed to stop
the vehicle even when it is being
accelerated. If the brake pedal is
depressed together with the
accelerator, the engine power should
be automatically reduced and, if the
driver continues to depress the
accelerator, the system may even cause
the vehicle to come to a complete
stop.
Additionally, if the brake pedal is
released when the accelerator is still
depressed, the corresponding engine
torque can be reached gradually.
Using the Brakes
CAUTION!
To obtain a good performance of
brake pads and discs, avoid sudden
braking during the first 190 mi
(300 km).
The pad wear limit is indicated by the
illumination
of the
warning light,
on the instrument cluster display.
In this event, please contact an
Authorized Maserati Dealer.
WARNING!
• Riding the brakes can lead to brake
failure and possibly an accident.
Driving with your foot resting or
riding on the brake pedal can result
in abnormally high brake
temperatures, excessive lining wear,
and possible brake damage. In an
emergency full braking capacity may
be impaired.
• If the
red warning light
illuminates when the engine is
running with the message that
indicates an insufficient brake fluid
level, stop the vehicle and check the
(Continued)
Driving
5
181
Use of the Engine
Breaking-In
Today's most modern production
methods are designed to provide
extremely precise construction and
assembly of components. However,
moving parts do undergo a settling
process, basically in the first hours of
vehicle operation.
Do not drive keeping at a constant
high speed rate for a prolonged time.
While cruising, brief full-throttle
acceleration within the limits of local
traffic laws contributes to a good
break-in. Wide-open throttle
acceleration in low gear can be
detrimental and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine
at the factory is a high-quality energy
conserving type lubricant. Oil changes
should be consistent with anticipated
climate conditions under which vehicle
operations will occur. For the
recommended viscosity and quality
grades, see “Refillings” in section
“Features and Specifications”.
A new engine may consume some oil
during its first few thousand
kilometers of operation. This should
be considered as a normal part of thebreak-in and not interpreted as an
indication of malfunction.
Avoid exceeding 5000 rpm for the first
620 trip mi (1000 km).
After starting the vehicle, do not
exceed 4000 rpm until the engine has
warmed up sufficiently (coolant
temperature: 149-158°F/65-70°C).
While Driving
Never travel with the tachometer
indicator approaching the peak rpm,
not even downhill. When the
tachometer indicator is approaching
the peak rpm (red colored zone), take
precautions to avoid exceeding that
limit.
Ensure proper operation of different
devices checking their respective
control telltales.
CAUTION!
• Under normal conditions, all red warning lights on the instrument
cluster display should be off. When
they come on, they indicate a
malfunction. Refer to “Instrument
Cluster” in section “Dashboard
Instruments and Controls”.
• Continuing to drive when a red warning light is on could cause
serious damage to the vehicle and
affect its performance.
WARNING!
Do not travel downhill with the
engine off, as the servo brake will no
longer function due to the vacuum
decrease and thus after a few braking
attempts, the system becomes totally
inefficient. The power steering will
also lose its efficiency under these
conditions.
Onboard Diagnostic System
Your vehicle is equipped with a
sophisticated onboard diagnostic
system. This system monitors the
performance of the emissions, engine,
Driving
5
183