296 GTB. died

The dealer is the nightmare, not the car. 3 weeks without my 296 for replacing the LV battery on warrenty. This is the real joke. Things can happen and the 296 is no Lada ...

 

This is just the beginning, getting older without being unmanageable...

 

Kind of like Ferrari Gestione Sportiva; getting older and unmanageable with no soul...

 

Should be outsourced to AF Corse

 

I started getting errors messages a month or so ago on my 2023 296 GTB of Hybrid Failure and all EV modes were gone. The error would clear once the car was locked and unlocked, but it was in for service 2 weeks ago and I sent the dealer photos of the error messages on the dash. Dealer said it was perfectly fine, no issues at all, nothing in the logs, nothing in the diagnostics - not really sure how hard they looked to be honest and they were quick to send it back to me. Literally locked down once it was returned to me though. Errors ranged from Hybrid System Failure, to High Voltage Battery Fail, to Limited Performance of the engine - understatement, the car was totally bricked and no chance of starting. For a good while it was marooned in my garage, locked down.

It seemed the HV battery had failed and then took the LV battery with it, even though the car had been plugged in since return and blue light flashing normally on the charger. Yesterday I got over 40 errors to the App ranging from EBD failure to ESC failure to E-latch failure to indicator failure (plus the comedy of being told the engine was overheating, although it was totally dead) - in fact pretty much everything, which I guess was the result of the LV losing power. I managed to open the door with the emergency key to manually access the trunk and get the car into neutral with the long lever they give you, but there was no way of even closing the door again. Never seen such a catastrophic failure of a car before - literally stone cold dead to the world.

Heading back to the dealer today on a recovery lorry.
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Is the charger plugged directly into the wall or are you using an extension cord?

 

It’s plugged directly into the wall.

 

does that make a difference with the hybrids? I have used an extension cord all the time

 

I’ve heard directly first hand that with the SF90 it certainly made a difference. The system is quite sensitive. I haven’t heard directly about the 296.

 

The only concern with an extension cord is that it is grounded (i.e. 3-prong) and its gauge (thickness) and that it is sufficient for power flowing through, a thin gauge will overheat and could cause a fire/melt. Otherwise, zero concern, impossible for it to make any difference at all, consider what is behind the plug on the wall...more wire ! lots of it...

(of course, it might be easier to make your own extension cord that can handle 32A 125V than to find one to purchase...)

 

“only concern with an extension cord is that it is grounded (i.e. 3-prong) and its gauge (thickness) and that it is sufficient for power flowing through”

Considering not all extension cords fit that bill it can be a frequent problem.

 

From experience, I would suspect the LV battery is below voltage and giving fake messages as this is what I have experienced twice. The problem was diagnosed as a faulty charger and once replaced the problem was solved.

 

Use extension cords on new / old Ferrari's incl SF90 296

Receptacle - 20amp voltage surge suppressor - make sure sufficient and clean electric.
Check voltage / amperage clean uninterrupted power - if you don't know what that means call electrician.

Think of your 500k Ferrari hybrid like a 99.00 microwave - dedicated circuit 20 amp $15.00 receptacle Do not use 14 gauge 15amp - needs 12/3 20 amp, not one electronic issue with my hybrids.

Use a lot of tenders, all are not created equal.Ferrari hybrid cord and plug system is well built with a heavy cord - if your cord and or power is not as well built and designed - you will have problems which seems to be common.

 

Perhaps your experience different than who I know. The dealership told them don’t use extension chords after many issues and back and forth communication.

 

Quick update. It’s been at my local dealer for the past week and they have been going back and forward with the factory, but getting nowhere. They did seem to focus in on the clutch that engages the hybrid system. The dealer I originally bought the car from became involved and sent one of their top engineers to my local dealer today. He reckoned he’d seen the problem before and that it was a combination of old software on a controller and a sensor in the hybrid clutch not working properly (so can’t tell what state the clutch is in). He reckons he has it sorted, but my local dealer now has to do road tests before they will sign it back to me. An odd issue to have (literally killed the car) and fingers crossed that is the solution. Strange that if its old software, it doesn’t get updated during the service.

 

The clutch actuator is a known 296 issue, and it creates the exact problem you have described in that the car is unable to determine what gear it is in, and that leads to ALL sorts of random error messages. However, it would (generally) not lead to a dead HV/LV battery.

 

The car is back and seems to be working fine so far. They updated the modular clutch actuator firmware and bled the hydraulics where the sensor was. Apparently this had created the hybrid fault, as it didn’t know whether the electric motor was engaged or not, so then created a fault with the HV battery that put the HV battery into discharge. Once that had fully discharged, the LV battery is reliant on the HV (as no alternator), quickly discharged too. They said it’s a very rapid decline once the HV goes into discharge (and it was).

 

What you state is very good and correct... but keep in mind most people are using 14-16awg and long extensioin cord and do not realize that extension cords differ significantly in the wire gauage and length you buy. So in that case the normal Car owner is thinking he can buy the cheap extention cord and be fine, but the gauge is too thin. So you want to make sure you keep the extension cord as short as possible and use about 12awg or LOWER gauge if possible. The problem is the Ferrari Charger already has a long length so it operateing at close to it limit because they will cheap out on wire gauge. So with that longer extension cord you get resistance and the Charger will not operate as designed if the voltage and current are not meeting what it requires. We tested for this in the Chargers we make which are much lower current, and it effects performance.

Also you do have to have the properly grounded outlet or your charger will be blinking sort of like normal... but with I think ONE light blinking or something and you will think all is OK but its not charging the car. I did this personally when I first got the car and it wasn't charging and wasn't blinky oddly, and I wasn't familiar with this charger... then I just tried my main outlet and the Car then showed it was charging. So that charger is not very intuitive with the blinking light, but also probably very sensative to what it needs. Best to NOT use any extension cord, and make sure it a properly grounded outlet just to elimate any potential issues... they make a little plug you can buy at home depot to test for proper grounding for any who care.

 

I had this issue- a grounding problem that needed correction.

 

Gotta say the repeated stories about battery issues is putting me off ordering the 296 Speciale.
I know Ferrari are now offering hyper extended hybrid warranties (at huge cost?), but still not reassured.

 

458/488/Lusso etc all have their share of issues with tranny sensor, turbos and AWD units respectively and fixing those is not cheap either. The reality is that every car has some known quirk/issue. the issue of the day with 296 is battery. Battery replacements on LaF are even more expensive. The reality is that if you enjoy the car then don't let the battery issue keep you away from it. Every manufacturer Porsche too has issues. That's what warranty is for...piece of mind or roll the dice. I was talking to the GM at my local dealer and he said he saw the new generation batteries and they are a plug and play. over time the cost of the batteries will go down and just like the used 458/488 etc, some get warranties and others don't. Perhaps another way to think about it is iphone (@day355 may like this analogy . Just like the iphone battery goes to crap in 2 years, you can replace it for a USD100 or choose to buy a new phone.

I do believe the cost of replacing batteries will come down over time. all the best with your decision. I'm waiting for reviews and more info on the car. looks stunning to me.