Maserati QUATTROPORTE Owner's Manual page 258

Maintenance and Care
CAUTION!
• Prolonged driving with the
could cause further damage to the
emissions control system. It could
also affect fuel economy and
driveability. The vehicle must be
serviced before any emissions tests
can be performed.
• If the is flashing while the
engine is running, severe catalytic
converter damage and power loss
will soon occur. Immediate service at
an Authorized Maserati Dealer is
required.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an inspection of
your vehicle's emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle
7
registration. For states that require an
Inspection and Maintenance (I/M), this
check verifies the
Indicator Light (MIL)" is functioning
and is not on when the engine is
running, and that the OBD II system is
ready for testing.
Normally, the OBD II system will be
ready. The OBD II system may not be
256
ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, recently had a dead battery
or a battery replacement. If the OBD II
system should be determined not
on
ready for the I/M test, your vehicle may
fail the test.
To check if your vehicle's OBD II system
is ready, you must do the following:
1. Press the ignition device to the
RUN position, but do not crank or
start the engine.
2. As soon as you press the ignition
device to turn the engine On, you
will see the MIL remain
illuminated for 15 seconds, this is a
normal bulb check.
3. Approximately 15 seconds later,
one of two things will happen:
• The MIL will remain illuminated
and a message error will appear
on your instrument cluster. This
means that your vehicle's OBD II
system is not ready and you
should not proceed to the I/M
station.
• The MIL will turn Off. This
"Malfunction
means that your vehicle's OBD II
system is ready and you can
proceed to the I/M station.
If your OBD II system is not ready, you
should see an Authorized Maserati
Dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle
was recently serviced or had a battery
failure or replacement, you may need
to do nothing more than drive your
vehicle as you normally would in order
for your OBD II system to update. A
recheck with the above test routine
may then indicate that the system is
now ready.
Regardless of whether your vehicle's
OBD II system is ready or not, if the
MIL is illuminated during normal
vehicle operation you should have
your vehicle serviced before going to
the I/M station. The I/M station can fail
your vehicle because the MIL is on with
the engine running.
Spare Parts
Use of genuine parts for normal/
scheduled maintenance and repairs is
highly recommended to ensure
excellent performance.
Damage or failures caused by
non-genuine spare parts used for
maintenance and repairs will not be
covered by the manufacturer's
warranty.