Known issues with CS??

Other than the known front suspension creak/click problem, are there other known CS issues; mechanically or otherwise? Also, how many CS owners opted for the Power Cube warranty and did you actually need/use the extended warranty?

 

SPEEDING TICKETS!!

 

I did the extended warranty for one year and never used and never renewed after that. I had no regrets or issues.

 

The creaking front suspension was a source of annoyance for many owners. Installing 430 teflon bolts was the cure in my case. The noise never re-occured. But for a car so tightly sprung it is pretty normal to have various noises coming from within the cabin and without. Hell all the rocks and debris hitting the underside would pretty much drown out all the "other" noises.

I too opted for the one year Power Cube after the warranty expired...............never used it once.

 

The ECUs needed a firmware re-flash to ensure proper synchronization between cylinder banks at start-up. To my knowledge, they all had the bug and dealers needed to pull/ship the ECUs to Ferrari (FNA) for re-flash.

There were two DOT recalls:

Make: FERRARI Model: 360 CHALLENGE STRADALE
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INC Mfr's Report Date: JUN 21, 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V294000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 487

Make: FERRARI Model: 360 CHALLENGE STRADALE
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INC Mfr's Report Date: APR 12, 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V184000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 27

 

Dash will fade if you leave the car parked in the sun, it will be grey rather than black. I did 21K in mine before I sold it and had the creaking suspension fixed 3 or 4 times but never paid since it was always warranty, also had the ECU reflash etc. The only other problem is the wheels will bend if you hit a big pot hole, I bent 4 (all right fronts for some reason), and 2 were repaired for circa 250$, but 2 were replaced at 1700$.

 

Mine's been problem free except for the need to install the 430 teflon bolts a couple of years ago that solved the squeaking problem (cost about $400 installed). Oxygen sensors activated engine on light after hyperflow cats were installed, but an easy relocation of the sensors did the trick. Did the 3 yr/30K belt/tensioner servicing at 7K miles which I don't think was necessary at all: all parts were like new. Power cube warranty seems only something fearful worry worts would need, so declined that with no regrets, no need.

 

rear lexan window develops spider cracks over time, engine compartment cf fades. Other than that no probs 21k miles. Forget the warranty

 

I'm not sure I'd forget the warranty. I had a chain break on a seized water pump and the engine quickly overheated and was destroyed. Ferrari says this is extremely rare and the first they've seen that happen in a CS. The new engine was over $50K and covered under warranty. Personally, I think the extended warranty is great insurance, especially if you drive the car hard or track it.

 

GULP!

 

Double GULP!

 

That is of course what sells any form of insurance

In general the 360 and 430 motors are pretty much bullet proof, they run 70+ hours in full race condition before rebuilds compared to a GT3 motor which needs to be rebuilt at 40 hrs. I personally felt that the 5 or 6K cost per year of the warranty didn't reflect the risk. If its true that its the only CS motor that grenaded, then its a 1 in 1200 occurrence.

 

Thanks all for chiming in! Excellent info. Was the 2nd recall (below) completely separate from the front suspension issues/430 teflon bolt remedy?

Make: FERRARI Model: 360 CHALLENGE STRADALE
Model Year: 2004
Manufacturer: FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INC Mfr's Report Date: APR 12, 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V184000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 27

 

While reviewing service records of CS's for sale, I noticed the following issues:

Issue; resolution; cost including parts & labor

- Driver's door air leak; new door gasket; $1587

- Passenger window not operational due to pinched wire; repaired wiring harness; covered under warranty

- Wind noise from dash due to recirculation flap inside dash partially stuck open; removed dash and repaired flap; $1571

- Battery continues to die from excessive ripple of faulty alternator; new alternator and battery; $1503

- Exhaust pipe rattling from broken bracket; replaced bracket; $1243

Any other CS owners encounter similar issues??

 

Yes, there were a few sets of defective wheel bolts.
View attachment CS Wheel Bolt Recall.pdf
View attachment CS Wheel Bolt Recall Cust. Let..pdf

 

My CS cracked a driver-side muffler mounting bracket....but the fix was MUCH less than $1243!!

 

Thanks RSK!!

 

i had ball joints and wishbones replaced, same prob on exhaust bracket, replaced front headlamp , rear sway bar is known to wear and produce clonking noise too

 

Replacement of all four CC-brake disks after 15'000 miles - 20'000 $...

 

They should last longer ? How much did you track it ? I´ve seen around 20k hard tracked examples with no problems.

 

Unless you track the car they will last 50,000 to 75,000 miles.

The CS is and has been an incredibly reliable car. I've owned four over the past four years. Other than the stated issue with the creaks up front there was only one other issue that every popped up. Had a dash start to go - random lights, tach jumping all over, etc. Some kind of short. They sent it to FAI in Costa Mesa and he fixed the problem for $800 otherwise it would have been a $6k dash replacement! Yikes!!

 

I believe its the same as the Enzo? 4 heat cycles iirc, and its nearly impossible to heat cycle the rotors on the street, definately requires some high speed braking on the track. not mileage related like steel rotors. I have replaced mine btw and it was a lot more than 20k

 

+1

same here

 

The cars internal computer registers the amount of strong brake and acceleration actions - and after a certain amount there is a wear alarm re the brake disks - measured in % (mine was 110% wear - after about 2'000 miles of track use of overall 15'000 miles). It was (until now) not common to read out that % during regular services - now they started to do this and to communicate the result regularly to the customers - to prevent them of shocks I did have....

 

Thats not true. 360's and 430's "shouldn't" need major engine work - but **** happens and they occasionally have failures. When they do - it is huge money.. The GT3 NEVER needs anything more than a yearly oil change. No belt maintenance ($5K) no breakage of any kind. GT3 CUP cars on the other hand do need rebuild based on hours - just like Challenge cars. You need to compare apples to apples. FWIW, I have both (2 CS's and multiple, multiple GT3's, GT3RS's, and Cup) so I can speak from experience.

I bought a Power warrantee last year for my CS - and just had an A/C compressor fail. Warantee cost me $3K, and the compressor just cost $4K. I will always have an extended warantee on a Ferrari as long as they sell one.