2015 California T - 28K miles - Transmission DEAD | FerrariChat
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2015 California T - 28K miles - Transmission DEAD

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by DiSomma6, Feb 4, 2025.

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  1. DiSomma6

    DiSomma6 Karting

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    #1 DiSomma6, Feb 4, 2025
    Looks like my "reliable" Ferrari is broken again and this one is serious. All the trans fluid is dumping from the weep hole and the dealer says it's a $30K+ repair. Meanwhile my 80K mile F1 360 Spider still does donuts and makes birds fly out of the trees at least once a day.

    Any advice would be appreciated on what steps to take on getting a second opinion on this or even a "local" rebuild/repair. I am located in east central Florida.
     
  2. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #2 vjd3, Feb 4, 2025
    I just went through this on my 2015 with 31k miles. Also received a $25-30k estimate from the dealer.

    Parts kit from Hollywood Mechanic is $7,500, plus 40 hours of labor at a qualified independent. Should run $16k or so. (Assuming no other damage to gears, clutches, etc.) The kit has improved seals and bearings which should make it good to go for a long time.

    Someone should be able to recommend a good independent near you. If not, you can send it to the Hollywood Mechanic himself in California. Look him up on Instagram, he is very responsive to messages on there, not so much to phone calls or regular emails.

    In the meantime do not drive the car or you risk further damage.
     
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  3. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 henryr, Feb 4, 2025
    this is the same tranny issue the mercedes GTs are having?
     
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  4. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #4 vjd3, Feb 4, 2025
    Yes, except Mercedes extended their warranty for eight years, and Ferrari, naturally, did not. Chances are any Ferrari with this DCT is going to face this issue sooner or later.
     
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  5. dera

    dera Formula Junior

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    #5 dera, Feb 4, 2025
    If you ever sell your car, having this done definitely increases the value/desirability of your car. Many people know the DCT is a ticking timebomb, unless it's been dealt with.
     
  6. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #6 vjd3, Feb 4, 2025
  7. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 henryr, Feb 4, 2025
    so the F8 and whatever else has this same tranny? same tranny in the GTR mercedes?
     
  8. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #8 GrigioGuy, Feb 4, 2025
    All the 7 speed DCT boxes, so 458 up to whenever the 8 speed rolled out. Ferrari did do some incremental updates along the way.
     
  9. Tfatur

    Tfatur Rookie

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    #9 Tfatur, Feb 4, 2025
    Does anyone know if this transmission issue is covered under the PW15 warranty? Thanks!
     
  10. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #10 GrigioGuy, Feb 4, 2025
    @SAFE4NOW
     
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  11. SAFE4NOW

    SAFE4NOW F1 Veteran
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    #11 SAFE4NOW, Feb 5, 2025
    An extremely small percentage ( single digit %, maybe ) of DCT have required repair in the past 12+ years that I have been with Ferrari.
    Does it happen, yes some have different versions of internal failures, but far from " ticking timebomb " level. But that's why there are repair kits and various options to address those failures both via dealership and independent shop routes.

    I would not let the perceived threat of DCT failure scare anyone away from Ferrari ownership. I would recommend Power Warranty for piece of mind...

    Internal DCT failures are listed as covered under PW15(16) agreements.
    ( abuse is not )

    Steve
     
  12. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 henryr, Feb 5, 2025
    is there a thread on this i can brush up on topic?
     
  13. DiSomma6

    DiSomma6 Karting

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    #13 DiSomma6, Feb 5, 2025
    According to the Hollywood Mechanic and the techs in Palm Beach, it's an increasingly common problem (he is working on 4 of them right now). It's age related, not mileage. These cars are getting near and passing the 10-year mark and the seals get eaten up by the fluids acidic characteristics. Time is the enemy. This is why all of the cars of that era of Getrag DCT are said (not by me) to experience future problems.

    What always scared be about the DCT is the lack of long term testing. Torque converter autos have been around for a century, manual transmissions have as well. Many years have gone into the development of the modern-day derivatives of those basic designs. The F1 is a little more complicated but all the components are modular and external and can be swapped in hours if needed. The DCT's design has everything internal and, like it or not, is new and it's development was rushed to accommodate the needs of the consumer. This isn't my opinion, this is simple math.

    And yes, the 488s are now starting to trickle in with the issue.

    Anyway, I would certainly consider this a deterrent from the car. Not Ferrari (I love the brand and drive my 360 every day), but any DCT equipped car that is outside of its warranty period. By the time the R&D at Getrag gets the reliability to a normal level, direct drive electric vehicles will be dominating the roads anyway.
     
  14. rubisco

    rubisco Rookie

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    #14 rubisco, Feb 5, 2025
    Glad to have the power15 warranty... one least thing to worry about and some peace of mind.
     
  15. SupercarGTM

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    #15 SupercarGTM, Feb 5, 2025
    Btw, you can find several sets of hundreds of pages supplied by Ferrari of the disassembly and service procedures at the NHTSA website.
     
  16. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 ryalex, Feb 5, 2025
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2025
    Yes, this is correct. There's a main seal/gasket around the drive shaft that's the typical failure point. Basically all of them face the same risk but California, 458 and F12 were known for it per what I've been told.

    My F12 went at 28k miles or so, was almost 7 years Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login old. They showed me the parts because the techs disassembled the old unit. Was covered by extended CPO warranty. Out of warranty my tech could handle for about $14-16k.
     
  17. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #17 vjd3, Feb 5, 2025
    That’s the seal that failed on my 2015 at 31k miles.
     
  18. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #18 fatbillybob, Feb 5, 2025
    Amazing a handful of seals is $20k?
     
  19. dera

    dera Formula Junior

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    #19 dera, Feb 6, 2025
    Well, both statements are true at the same time.
    Yes, it is a ticking timebomb. Many of them will fail eventually. The seals aren't fit for purpose.

    But that shouldn't scare anyway away from Ferrari ownership. It's about 15-17 Ferrari Units to repair. That's about the same cost as replacing front brake discs.
     
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  20. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
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    #20 Ricambi America, Feb 6, 2025
    Not really. The repair kits are a few thousand (they have stuff other than just seals); it's the labor that sucks the life out of a person's Ferrari enthusiasm...
     

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  21. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 fatbillybob, Feb 6, 2025
    I scanned those docs. Looks pretty easy to repair. Can anyone buy those parts kits? The part about keeping replaced parts for 3 months sounds like an internal FNA thing for their dealers or a way to control the parts supply chain and screen the little guy out?
     
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  22. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
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    #22 Ricambi America, Feb 6, 2025
    The kits are generally available.
     
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  23. SupercarGTM

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    #23 SupercarGTM, Feb 6, 2025
    Good pic of the numbers on that seal. All the bearings and seals will have ref numbers on them. Just a question on how hard they are to source outside of a kit.
     

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