458 458 Start Up Issue (VIDEO)

Extended cranking recently came up on the Corvette forum. The 458 is direct injected like the C7 and later Corvettes. Direct Injection takes much more pressure and can have extended crank times with cold weather. Since you car is cranking fine, I would surmise that the pressure is bleeding down since you state this happens after sitting for a long time and then does not happen on subsequent starts. I would not chase this problem until it something fails.

https://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/knowledgebase/article/2014-2015-corvette-gm-techlink-article-extended-cold-crank-with-direct-injected-engines-8.html

 

I don't think that is the battery because it turns over. My first bet is bad gas. So much garbage gas out there today. I like to put fuel stabilizer in my car if I go more than a week without driving it. I don't have extensive history with my 458, but this is what I did with my F430 and never had an issue and my car is parked in a climate controlled garage.

Fuel stabilizer is difficult to put in the 458 because of the anti-roll valve they put on the car so I have to use a long tube with a funnel to pour it in. I use a full bottle of it on every fill up when I get home.

However, Mike could be onto something because the F430 didn't have direct fuel injection like the 458 does.

 

The battery appears to be OK based on the gauge. I couldn’t see the temperature reading.
The idle sounds uneven. I’ll bet there are some codes which may help to diagnose the problem.

 

I don’t get that, but I do get the slow crank and I do have a good battery.

 

Thanks for the clarification about temperature. I still think its the fuel pressure bleeding down over time. There may a be a check valve getting weak, given its age.

 

Strange one that....

 

But we see a yellow engine sign for problem ! What does the OBDII read ?

 

Something is drawing down / leaking over time. Do you maintain according to schedule and / or have proof that previous owners have? These cars are all about meticulous maintenance, like any other fine tuned machine....

 

The yellow check engine stays on for 20-30 seconds on all 458 at startup then goes away, its normal...his also went away at the end. So he DOES NOT have a check engine light.

 

Do you have the power warranty or considering? Issue might be if you don't have it, you will fail the initial test w/ this problem....

 

I'm with your mechanic on this one. Definitely not a battery issue and more likely a gas problem.

Here's why:

When you begin the start sequence....the fuel pump energizes for 5 seconds or so to build pressure for the injectors. When you engage the starter....that fuel pressure is used to provide fuel to the injectors. Within a fraction of a second, the ECU determines if the engine has started and re-engages the fuel pump to provide fuel.

In your case, which is not unusual, it stalls and needs to be restarted. Basically the ECU is not seeing a running condition which could be caused by a host of issues. As a result the engine effectively runs out of pressurized fuel and stops. Restarting it begins the process over again and at least in this case the ECU sees a running condition.

My money is on the gas quality......but I also agree with your mechanic that (depending on how long they have been installed) new plugs would also help. I would also have him check the fuel pressure at startup just to make sure the pressure is correct and holding.

 

When were the sparksplugs renewed ?

 

OP said he follows the maintenance intervals to the letter, so I'd assume it was tuned up accordingly. I'd go w/ the fuel on this, if it's happened only since a recent fillup.

 

Hello,

I’ve own my 458 Spider for 6 years and I have not experienced the starting cycle shown on the video you posted. That constant ticking noise I have never heard, I only hear the beeping noice.

Once I press the start button, my 458 Spider immediately fires up. The check engine light is supposed to stay on for a few seconds then goes off.

Your battery sounds strong and the motor turns quickly. However, your starting cycle is not the way it’s supposed to be.

Best take it to a Ferrari dealer and have diagnostic checks performed.

All the best
Ray

 

There is nothing wrong with your car. Turning over 14:1 CR NA 9k rpm ICE is hard work. Letting the car sit makes it only harder. Drive it more.

 

458s really do not like to sit. I drove it for the first time in 2.5 weeks yesterday. My battery is 6 months old and I have a top of the line CTEK 7002 always connected. Upon the first press of the red button, I got a very sluggish start with the "Electrical Failure - Go To Dealer" error. After slowly shutting down and removing the key, I did it again. This time it fired up angry with no errors - quickly and with an extra loud bark...as if to let me know it wanted out of its cage ASAP.

 

I don't know if you read this post from another member, not sure if its on this thread or not but what he said was that you go through the sequence, let things set up etc., and when you are ready to hit the start button was to specifically, push down harder on the brake peddle before you hit the start button. So maybe try playing with that, I can't vouch for it but it did interest me, I have not needed to try it but think I might eventually. Where I live, my 458SA will sit for months at a time because of the weather and I have yet to have any issues. Of course it is always plugged in.

 

I did. I always wait for the beeps to stop and I specifically pressed the brake harder yesterday to see if this affected starting.

 

definitely wait for the beeps to stop before pressing the GO button

 

I gather it didn't do anything?