458 2011 458 rarely starts, yes battery is good!

Description of start button/manettino weirdness matches NVO board going bad, which is the board in the "steering wheel control module".

Order one from Alibaba or My Supercar Expert for ~350, It's a dead simple fix, just did it last weekend: disconnect battery, remove 2 torx screws, remove airbag, pull out control module, replace board, reverse.

 

did you try a new key fob battery?

 

really, a key fob thing...who knew.....those kind of problems stink.

 

I'm confused, the question is about a 458. How can it be a key fob problem? It uses a physical key:

 

I agree this sounds like the NVO board. Mine took 2-3 weeks to arrive from alibaba. Pretty easy to fix.

If that’s not fast enough for the charity event you can probably just risk it. Mine got pretty flaky in the end but it always eventually started.

Are you doing the cancer patient ride in Birmingham?

 

I only commented that someone else had said that. I don't think it is the case although the key itself does have a great deal of technology in it. If you recall when Cadillac first came out with high tech keys back in the early 90's that there were situations where a car wouldn't start because the key wouldn't relay the info to the car that it was OK to start. So who knows? If the original poster still has the other original key he might just try using the other one? Simple things first.......

 

Going back to what I said about the Cadillac's not starting was because the key sensed that the alarm was engaged or something. Maybe yours is thinking the same thing, that is, if you even use your alarm. I doubt the starter button, those are pretty tough. GL with it.

 

The NVO board has the starter button on it. It is a micro switch, which is depressed when you push on the red start button on the steering wheel. The board is directly behind the buttons. My starter button was acting up along with my turn signal buttons, and everything got fixed when I replaced the NVO board.

 

My board also took 2ish weeks from MySupercarExpert. It was originally held at customs by original carrier SF post or something, but MSE recalled it and shipped it super quick (and i'm sure expensive) with fedex.

FWIW if it were an key/immobilizer issue, my first hand experience with a recently cut but not yet paired key is that the start button would still crank but it will not successfully start. If it's not even cranking, it's almost certainly the NVO board.

If it won't arrive in time, and you're comfortable working with electronics (e.g. building/adding parts to a PC) it might be worth taking the board out and checking the microswitch is aligned with the button pressing it. Might buy you slightly more reliable starts until the replacement arrives.

 

Starter ground wire. Connection on aluminum oxidation is weak. Find ground, disconnect, clean area, reconnect.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

The fact that it did start 2 of 30 times or whatever, tells me it’s a ground issue.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Are the brake lights coming on when you press the brakes to start the car?


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

You sure have tried your hardest to correct the problem. Lousy gremlins. At this point that dealer 4 hours away from you might be the way to go? Your problem reminds me of one we used to get with our hot rods back in the day. Then, starters weren't very reliable pieces, especially once you had to go to a rebuilt one because those just were not very good. What would happen is that when the starter's tooth would not mesh with the flywheel just right the car wouldn't start. It was just a luck of the draw if the starter would land on an area where it would mesh and the car would start just fine. I know that's not your problem here but in the same breath, there could be something in the starter itself like that wire you said that wasn't getting power and what is that wire for. I am sure you contacted Ferrari already and checked that out with them? . Seems that the NVO board is the culprit? I do not like throwing parts at problems but in this instance if you can perform the task that wouldn't be a very bad idea either. I am still curious, if you did by chance try your other physical key? I know its just a key but then again, who knows? Ruling out the easiest problem never hurts to try.

 

Starter ground?

 

You have yet to answer the simple question of...., Have you tried your other key? Also, have you verified that the starter solenoid is not the culprit which I am guessing you have? GL of course. If I was ever to encounter the kind of problem you have I would be just one phone call away to get it to my Ferrari dealer. I know yours is far away......nasty gremlin