Flashing red on tender, keys not working | FerrariChat
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Flashing red on tender, keys not working

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by c0bretti, Sep 15, 2025 at 8:10 PM.

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  1. c0bretti

    c0bretti Rookie

    Jul 10, 2024
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    John T Cobretti
    #1 c0bretti, Sep 15, 2025 at 8:10 PM
    Hi Chat,

    I have an F8 Spider, it has been parked in garage for 1 month. I had forgot to attach the tender.

    Went to attach it today and the tender keeps flashing red light. Usually it would be solid orange.

    Tried to unlock the car with remote but no dice.

    Im assuming the battery is dead but the little security light on the dash is still flashing. So it surely can’t be fully dead?

    Does a flashing red light on tender indicate dead battery or is there a chance it could still revive it? Either way I’ve left it on now so will see if any luck tomorrow.

    Any other advice here if it’s a dead battery?

    I’m a noob to this **** so any help and advice is appreciated.

    Thanks
     
  2. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
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    Jimmie
    #2 greyboxer, Sep 16, 2025 at 1:24 AM
    Read some of the many threads with advice about F8 dead battery and/or battery replacement since its a fair chance that's your solution
     
  3. Kent Adams

    Kent Adams F1 Rookie
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    #3 Kent Adams, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:45 AM
    The immobilizer has a backup battery. Its small and won't last long but that is why you are seeing the blinking red light for now, showing its still able to arm itself.

    The red light on the charger could be because the battery is unrecoverable but it could equally mean the charger has been compromised by something like a voltage spike and thus is no longer able to deliver a charge. The charger manual that came with the car should give you some idea.
     
    flash32 likes this.
  4. c0bretti

    c0bretti Rookie

    Jul 10, 2024
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    John T Cobretti
    #4 c0bretti, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
    Thanks. Left conditioner on overnight and still flashing red.

    I’ve been through a lot of the threads here and the AGM batteries being suggested are all in USA. I’m based in UK. Anyone got any suggestions for UK?

    I don’t want to go anti gravity lion because I want to use the existing port on the back of the car. Unless there is a solution for that now?

    I can’t find the tender manual. Anyone got it for f8? Does it say what the flashing red light is?

    Thanks
     
  5. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #5 flash32, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
  6. SVCalifornia

    SVCalifornia F1 Rookie
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    #6 SVCalifornia, Sep 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM
    Antigavity works with back port. It just requires a lithium charger rather than a regular charger…

    Easy to do and a far better solution.
     
  7. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

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    #7 greyboxer, Sep 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
    UK Battery source inc AGM = Tayna - ask them re replacement
     
  8. Kent Adams

    Kent Adams F1 Rookie
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    #8 Kent Adams, Sep 17, 2025 at 3:23 AM
  9. c0bretti

    c0bretti Rookie

    Jul 10, 2024
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    John T Cobretti
    #9 c0bretti, Sep 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
    Car is back online guys thanks for your help and advice.

    battery was at 4V. Recovery guys came, disconnected the negative. Gave the battery some charge from the recovery van got it 12V.

    Disconnected the van. Reconnected the negative and booted her up.

    Have put the tender back on now it’s on steady orange so it’s working.

    Will check back in a couple of days should hopefully have gone green.

    Tempted to get the Anti Gravity with that tender recommended here. Called them today but no answer so will try again tomorrow.

    In not so distant future I want to take the car overseas for a road trip. I’m just worried if it’s on a boat for a few weeks the battery is going to die again and will be a pain to get going again.
     
  10. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

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    #10 greyboxer, Sep 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
    That's some journey !! Don't the lines (or their agents) usually suggest disconnecting battery ?
     
  11. c0bretti

    c0bretti Rookie

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    #11 c0bretti, Sep 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
    Not sure, not done it before but could be the play. Assuming battery won’t discharge as much if not connected? Not sure how these guys even get in and out of a car in a container. Those things are pretty damn tight.
     
  12. Kent Adams

    Kent Adams F1 Rookie
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    #12 Kent Adams, Sep 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
    One thing you can do to decelerate battery voltage draw is not to lock your doors and activate the immobilizer. The immobilizer is a serious parasitic drain on your battery. This is true for all cars, not just Ferrari. These immobilizers were not built for long term storage. They were built for overnight idle. I rarely if ever use the immobilizer in my car except for very short stints when parking to go shopping, restaurant etc. When my car is parked at my house, I never activate the immobilizer. If the car is stolen, insurance will cover it so I see no need to activate the immobilizer while the car is parked at home whether overnight or for weeks at a time. I don't keep anything of value in my cars.
     

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