battery issues | FerrariChat

battery issues

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by dry4re, Jan 5, 2013.

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  1. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    haven't driven my car in about a week and half and it won't start....all the lights come on, but no clicking....think it must be the battery...have not had it on a trickle charger which I always did with the 430, but would think a week and a half in a warm climate wouldn't cause this....anyone have any ideas? thanks
     
  2. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    105,345
    Vegas baby
    What year is it? Early 10's had a problem with the battery fuse that drained the battery quickly.

    I've left my 2012 coupe without charging for 3 weeks and it started with no problems. But, earlier cars reported this kind of problem in 10 days.
     
  3. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    2013 Spider...just got it at the end of November
     
  4. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    105,345
    Vegas baby
    I have a 13 spider and I've left it for a few weeks without a problem. I think you should ask the dealer. Maybe a bad battery.

    I had a bad battery in my coupe -- replaced under warranty.

    The 13's draw the least standby current of the bunch I am told. I've had zero problems with my spider.
     
  5. not4one

    not4one Formula Junior

    May 23, 2010
    887
    CT, FL
    Same here...no problems at all sitting 3+ weeks without charger.
     
  6. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    Do you think the iPod could be an issue?
     
  7. JazzyO

    JazzyO F1 World Champ

    Jan 14, 2007
    12,156
    The Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Onno
    Wouldn't it be unlikely that the iPod used that much power? Not sure.


    Onno
     
  8. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 11, 2008
    105,345
    Vegas baby

    If it were plugged in and draining the battery, it's possible. Have the dealer check out the battery draw or the condition of the battery. 10 days sounds too soon for a completely flat battery.

    I've done 3 weeks and it's not a problem, with the alarm on.
     
  9. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    Yes, it might be draining the battery when the car is off. Are you using the tickle charger?
     
  10. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    Nav and radio can still be a drain after car is shut off as well. Best to use the tickle charger if you're not driving it every 2 or 3 days IMHO.
     
  11. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    Yeah but that's taking a risk IMHO without a tickle charger.
     
  12. carcommander

    carcommander Formula 3

    Sep 28, 2006
    1,705
    Southeast
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Ferrari includes a charger for a reason. Unless I am using it the next day it stays plugged in. Easy to get distracted and time passes.
     
  13. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 11, 2008
    105,345
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    Unfortunately where I store the car (in a condo complex), I can't charge it. But, I've never had a problem unless I go over a month.
     
  14. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    Has been on the trickle charger for 6 hours and I still don't even get a click, yet all the lighting is bright and radio loud....think it may be an inoperative starter...it doesn't make sense that there would appear to be that much juice and no clicking....guess I'll call roadside assistance on Monday and get it flat bedded to the dealer. Too bad, was looking to take it for a nice run tomorrow.
     
  15. rickwjenn

    rickwjenn Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2012
    544
    Minneapolis
    Full Name:
    Rick
    After six hours, which indicator light is on the factory battery conditioner? Is at full charge indicator yet?
     
  16. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 11, 2008
    105,345
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    #16 TheMayor, Jan 5, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2013
    Does the dash TFT say anything? Are you in some strange mode? Can you see the voltage read out on the VDA screen?

    If the voltage is as low as 11.2 volts, the car may not start. It's enough to turn on lights but not run the ECU's of the car.

    The electronics work in a narrow band. Thats true for all modern FI cars today. Keep the charger on and overnight you may get it back. Remember the charger is a trickle charger. It's not really meant to charge a flat battery. It's meant to maintain a battery. So it's doing very little work over a long period of time. it's giving out very little current vs a real charger you would see in a gas station. Those can charge in an hour or two but the battery is under a lot of stress. It's not good to do it over and over. That's what the trickle is for.

    If the battery is fully charged, it could be a fuse or other shut down motor saving device.


    I still suspect the battery though. It's the most likely cause. Start simple and work from there.
     
  17. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    Good advice from all..will check it in the morning ....thanks to everyone.
     
  18. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    Remember to unplug the charger when you try to start.
     
  19. Entropy

    Entropy Formula 3
    Owner

    Jul 10, 2008
    2,149
    hope this is minor.

    Our 2012 couple arrived home fine, next day it was dead. Ultimately the culprit was that the battery had not been fully charged and dropped below the level the car could take.

    If it's a low battery, when you try and start you'll either get no lights (i.e. dead), or likely come combo of crazy lights, buzzers, clicking and beeping, and dash alarms due to under voltage.

    Tender can help but is a tender, not a charger. We keep ours on it all the time its in our garage. Also does help to consciously power down parasitic draw sources (vent fan off, light switch to off, satnav powered off, alarm off if you can).

    For starting, if it boots up strongly and still nothing, other common issues have been leaving the charger pluged in (you'd get an alarm), inadequate brake pressure held or somehow the car is not in Park. Do you have any doors or hatches unlatched? These cars are finicky, if everything isn't to their liking they won't turn over.
     
  20. dbk

    dbk Formula Junior

    Sep 21, 2005
    367
    SE Mich
    2012 Spyder did the same thing after about a week, but it was totally dead. Tried the factory charger for a couple days because it's hard to believe a battery could die that fast and it wouldn't come back to life. Put it on a more powerful charger for a day or two and that got the car back to life enough to start. Since then it's on the charger and fine.

    Dealer tech said if you ever don't plan on driving the car for more than 4-5 days, plug it in. Seems pretty hilarious to have to do that, but it appears there isn't much rhyme or reason to what makes one die after 3 days and another last fine 3 weeks, so charger it is.
     
  21. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    Mayor: thanks for your recommendation. VFT was 12 this morning and all gauges read normal. Clearly either a CPU issue or a connection issue to the starter button..checked doors, top, etc and all seem closed properly...roadside assistance tomorrow and will report back. Thanks for the suggestions!
     
  22. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    Silly question but are you trying to start it with the tickle charger still connected? I did that one morning and it would not start. It needs to be disconnected before starting.
     
  23. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    no, disconnected the trickle charger. push the starter button and nothing happens...cannot shift out of park...pull the paddles back and it does not go into neutral...no lights going on to identify a problem
     
  24. Cengiz

    Cengiz Rookie

    Mar 31, 2012
    20
    Toronto, Canada
    Full Name:
    Cengiz
    I think I know what your problem is. if you've repeatedly tried starting, you've taken hydrolic play in the pedal, not sure what this is technically called, but basically the pedal is probably stiff. You have to apply more pressure on the pedal to activate the safety switch that allows the car to start, like you normally would do, press brake pedal to start the car. there is a switch when pedal is pressed, when stiff it requires a lot more pressure. if it is not even turning, this is probably the concern.
    thanks,
    cengiz
     
  25. dry4re

    dry4re Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2005
    487
    AZ
    got up Monday morning called Ferrari, told them what happened and they said call Roadside to get it Flat bedded. Figured I would go to the garage once more to see what happens and try to start it again before calling. Got in the car, pushed the red button, and presto, it started - Good news! Took it for a 60 mile drive, drove flawlessly about to about 105 mph, and never a wrinkle. So what happened? No one has any ideas. Was probably something in the computer, but how can you disprove a negative? That's the bad. Hope it doesn't happen again.
     

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