HELP! Engine Control System Failure + The car shakes when i drive + Trunk problems | FerrariChat
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HELP! Engine Control System Failure + The car shakes when i drive + Trunk problems

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by Moustache, Dec 25, 2013.

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  1. Moustache

    Moustache Rookie

    Dec 3, 2013
    12
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #1 Moustache, Dec 25, 2013
    Dear folks, thanks for helping me out last time.. i couldn't think i will write here so fast again!

    Took the cali today for a peaceful drive outside (1,200km away from home for xmas holidays), we had another girl sitting with us so i've opened to roof to make her feel more comfortable at the back.. after one minute she felt too cold so i closed the roof, drove for 20 seconds then.. **Engine Control System Failure**

    I was shocked, as the car didn't make even 7,000 kilometers, i've pulled over immediately and turned off the engine. I've started the car approx. 10 minutes later and the failure light/alert was OFF! i was happy for a second.. but then when i kept on driving, we all realized the car shakes once it reaches more than 2.5k RPM. i drove back to the garage right away...

    Now when the car is stationary, on neutral.. the engine sounds like everything's in order. i somehow believe it must be the gearbox. i've read all threads regarding that same problem but none have complained about those strange shakes which started right after the alert showed up the first time.

    Once i got to the garage, i've tried to replicate what happened today.. (i know it's stupid) i've opened the roof (as it all happened few seconds after i completed the roof closing) and then i couldn't close it again as it shows the trunk was not closed...

    I've read few threads here, made sure to clear everything out of the trunk.. 'played' a bit with the springs.. but nothing works.. i can't close the roof now.

    I called Ferrari emergency service but they believe i won't be able to have the car repaired before friday.

    Can any of you guys shed some light on some of these issues? it seems that Engine Control System Failure is not a rare thing but never about these shakes that came after.. can it be that my gearbox is dead? any idea how to "close" the trunk too?

    Thank you very much and Merry Christmas and sorry for the panic.. i've got the cali for 3 weeks and been taking really good care for it.. can't say my feeling is too good with it now :S

    Cheers!!!
    Chris
     
  2. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #2 Noblesse Oblige, Dec 25, 2013
    Chris// It does not sound like a gearbox problem so I think you can relax about that. You described the problem as shaking above 2500 RPM (in any gear?) and that it is somehow connected with your roof operating system. It sounds like a software failure that will need to be addressed by the nearest dealer. I am sorry that this has upset your Christmas holiday, but it is very likely that the problem can be found and fixed fairly easily. It is those problems that come and go that are much harder to find and fix.
     
  3. Moustache

    Moustache Rookie

    Dec 3, 2013
    12
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #3 Moustache, Dec 25, 2013
    Thanks a lot mate, i took a short ride right after i read your message to try it out when the roof is open.. (all times before it was closed) but still the car shakes at 2.X+ RPM. i believe it only starts shaking from the 2nd gear ahead as the first one felt very smooth. as well, i reckon the shakes are coming from the center or back of the car.. certainly not the front. I've spoken with Ferrari breakdown service, and they took an educated guess saying it might be something with the fuel pump or a failure with the fuel injector (?!!) well, i thought about it and indeed i experienced some strange stuff with the fuel indicator, often showing it half full then almost empty then an hour after it got up to 1/2 again.. so not sure what's going on. for sure i did expect more for a Ferrari, and luckily it happened to me next to the house where we spend our holidays and not on the highway.

    I've tried to close the trunk as well three dozen times, it closes perfectly but the sensors are still showing as the trunk door is being opened. I think you must be right as it can't be that both problems started at the same time.. must be something in common here. Anyways, they're telling me now i might have to wait for the 30th (or perhaps 2nd of January) as they are not sure if the garage is open during them both holidays. (ARGHH). They couldn't even tell me if the car is under the warranty, but i imagine it is, as it's first registration was at Dec 11 (however manufactured @ Nov 10).

    Thanks again bro and happy holidays! I rather take it now as an initiation party for my first Ferrari car :)
     
  4. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2007
    2,837
    Swanton Ohio
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    Rick Lederman
    #4 RickLederman, Dec 25, 2013
    Chris,

    I'd also try it above 2,500 in neutral. Make sure the engine is fairly warm.

    I would assume your top and trunk problems are simple adjustments, for the dealer. Only top problem I ever had was a Hall Effect sensor going bad, in my 2nd Cali as I remember.

    Please let us all know what the dealer finds! And Merry Christmas! It reminds me that I haven't driven a Ferrari today, some snow but its about time I went for a short drive :)

    Rick
     
  5. Moustache

    Moustache Rookie

    Dec 3, 2013
    12
    Switzerland
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    Chris
    #5 Moustache, Dec 25, 2013
    Above 2,500 in neutral feels and sounds just as perfect as always.. as well in 1st gear no problem. Cheers!
     
  6. 4th_gear

    4th_gear F1 Rookie

    Jan 18, 2013
    4,425
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    Michael
    #6 4th_gear, Dec 25, 2013
    I wonder if there is some sort of defect in the electrical system that caused problems in several places. This looks like an electrical issue so common in modern cars. Sometimes it starts with a bad battery. Otherwise, it's weird that the trunk or trunk sensor should be malfunctioning at the same time as the engine control system. Multiple unrelated mechanical problems are pretty rare - they usually point to an electrical problem.

    I would stop driving it - just park the car and have it picked up by the dealer's flat-bed trailer. There's no point in your trying to troubleshoot it yourself as you cannot do anything about any problems you find. The dealer must check everything and not just the issues you have noticed. Good luck and try to enjoy your holidays.

    Cheers!
     
  7. Moustache

    Moustache Rookie

    Dec 3, 2013
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    Chris
    #7 Moustache, Dec 25, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2013
    Yep, 100% agreed. that's exactly what i'm thinking now. so i'll hold my (ferrari) horses for few days and wait for them to get back from their holidays. Thanks buddy and merry xmas!
     
  8. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
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    #8 RickLederman, Dec 26, 2013
    Yep, and I would guess possibly a clutch problem? Was it OK in the odd gears but not in even gears? I wouldn't drive it at all any more for sure. No sense damaging it further.

    Rick
     
  9. Moustache

    Moustache Rookie

    Dec 3, 2013
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    Switzerland
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    Chris
    #9 Moustache, Jan 2, 2014
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2014
    yo yo! a little update:

    i've towed the car to a dealer (300km's away). they inspected the car and it seems like those were totally two different problems which came at the same time (i'm a lucky man :))

    it appears that the left and right side of the engine got different fuel pressures and the fuel pump must be replaced (the car lost half of it's power) unfortunately they can't contact the supplier until next week so they told me it's safe to drive back - but the problem is that i can't press the pedal more than just softly, i'd say like 30% of it's full capacity (made me realize how much power the california got) and of course to drive it only with the paddleshifts (which i did anyway, couldn't stand the auto mode in first place).

    as for the trunk problem - they ran an emergency sequence to close the room, so it's finally covered. the locking and the sensors must be replaced, they will order these also next week but not being optimistic about it as they said they got same problem before with another cali and it took 3 weeks to get that part from italy.

    so yeah i've got the car back, can't enjoy it much but was a good reason to extend my holidays for one more week :) at least it's nothing about the engine or the gearbox.

    thank you so much guys for your help and support, funny is that i came to love that car more and more over the last days. been discussing about the california a lot with the mechanics and got more attached to it...

    hope to drive it more in the near future and get more experience so i can help other members as well. Cheers!!!
     
  10. jumpinjohn

    jumpinjohn F1 Veteran
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    #10 jumpinjohn, Jan 2, 2014
    Glad to hear it is resolved! (or at least on its way)
     
  11. 4th_gear

    4th_gear F1 Rookie

    Jan 18, 2013
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    #11 4th_gear, Jan 2, 2014
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2014
    Holy Toledo! I thought Switzerland is a small country but I guess you are probably in France at the moment. I suppose you meant it was transported by trailer, not towed.

    So the engine problem turned out to be a defective fuel pump and the trunk problem traced to the lock-lock sensor mechanism. Well, I'm glad the problems were fairly minor but it doesn't say much for the reliability of these parts when you get simultaneous unrelated failures.

    At any rate, by the looks of things you really love to drive and are enjoying the car in a way that it should be. So even though it's just your 3rd (now 4th) week with the car, you have racked up serious mileage with those 7,000 kms!

    It's a good thing you can still drive the car while you wait… be interesting to learn how many kms you will add in 2014. :) Good luck with the repairs and gute "Fahrt"!
     
  12. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #12 Noblesse Oblige, Jan 2, 2014
    Chris, I am glad to hear that the problems were so easily diagnosed. I am curious about the fuel pump. In the old days, the fuel pump simply pumped fuel, and distribution of the fuel was handled by the fuel pressure regulator, of which there could be more than one to handle the fuel going to different cylinders. Your California fuel pump seems to be more complex or an integrated unit of some kind, since the failure to supply fuel to one bank of cylinders suggests that it handles fuel distribution as well as simple pumping.
     
  13. Moustache

    Moustache Rookie

    Dec 3, 2013
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    Chris
    #13 Moustache, Jan 3, 2014
    Yep sorry i meant it was transported with a closed truck (as the roof was opened). you got it right, i did 30,000-35,000 kilometers a year with my gallardo and R8 before as i'm always on the road (got an online business and no physical office so making sure to travel as much as possible) that's the reason why the california was so much appealing for me, as it was often impossible to bring much luggage before. (however it was a thing that proved itself well to curb my lady's shopping fetish.. "but baby you know we don't have any space to buy that much" :))

    the moment i realized the cali was the right choice was the moment where i could easily fit in the XXL (i believe 84cm) Samsonite Cosmolite in the trunk plus some jackets on top of it.

    Thanks a lot mate, have a nice weekend! will write here again as soon as the car is finally repaired (with some photos?). Cheers!!!
     

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