Car shifts to Neutral | FerrariChat

Car shifts to Neutral

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by bsamini, May 14, 2017.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. bsamini

    bsamini Rookie

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Messages:
    5
    I have a 2010 Cali with 8K miles. I purchased the car last year with 5K miles. From 2010 to 2016, the car was driven very little. On 2 occasions (within the last 3 months), the car has -- on its own -- shirted into to Neutral while i was stopped at a red light.

    I know i didn't engage neutral in either case because i only one had on the wheel in both cases.

    Has any experienced this?

    Thanks.

    -bobby.
     
    bsamini, May 14, 2017
    #1
  2. munir

    munir Rookie

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2015
    Messages:
    4
    After a few minutes it automatically shifts to neutral to protect the clutch. Nothing to worry about.
     
    munir, May 15, 2017
    #2
  3. MalibuGuy

    MalibuGuy F1 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2007
    Messages:
    6,156
    Also if you do not keep a certain amount of pressure on the brake, the car will interpreted that as a non braking input state and then begin the countdown to shifting to neutral.
     
    MalibuGuy, May 15, 2017
    #3
  4. Motob

    Motob Formula 3 Professional Ferrari Technician

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2003
    Messages:
    2,391
    Location:
    Frederick, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Brian Brown
    A California has a DCT transmission with no clutch to protect (like an F1 transmission). It is not normal for it to shift to neutral when stopped at a red light with your foot on the brake.
     
    Motob, May 16, 2017
    #4
  5. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2014
    Messages:
    26,056
    Location:
    DFW, Texas
    Full Name:
    Tom C
    tomc, May 16, 2017
    #5
  6. 4th_gear

    4th_gear F1 Rookie

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2013
    Messages:
    4,425
    Full Name:
    Michael
    I imagine leaving a DCT in gear for prolonged period while stopped may increase temperatures inside the mechanism. There is always some friction involved with meshed gears and with metals, higher temperatures increase wear. Temperature management is very important.

    Also not sure if the DCT benefits from air movement while the car is in motion to dissipate ambient hot air but maybe it does.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    4th_gear, May 17, 2017
    #6
  7. MalibuGuy

    MalibuGuy F1 Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2007
    Messages:
    6,156
    We here on FChat cant be bothered to read the manuals that come with our cars! (Joke)

    "Badges? Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!" from the Bandito in the film The Treasure of Sierra Madre
     
    MalibuGuy, May 17, 2017
    #7
  8. 4th_gear

    4th_gear F1 Rookie

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2013
    Messages:
    4,425
    Full Name:
    Michael
    LOL! :D
     
    4th_gear, May 17, 2017
    #8
  9. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2014
    Messages:
    26,056
    Location:
    DFW, Texas
    Full Name:
    Tom C

    I've read my manual numerous times, sometimes just for the heck of it, and there are many areas where the manual is shall we say lacking in clarity. In such cases, F-chat to the rescue! [emoji3]
    T
     
    tomc, May 17, 2017
    #9
  10. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2007
    Messages:
    2,843
    Location:
    Swanton Ohio
    Full Name:
    Rick Lederman
    It is simple, if you stop and take your foot off of the brake and leave it off of the brake (I think for a minute and can go out and start the Cali to check if needed) then it shifts to Neutral at the end of that time period. If you hold your foot on the brake, or hit the brake every 30 seconds then it does NOT go into Neutral. With 3 Cali's and probably 80,000 total Cali miles, this is how it works.
     
    RickLederman, May 17, 2017
    #10
  11. GRW

    GRW Rookie

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2016
    Messages:
    8
    Location:
    Arlington, TX
    Full Name:
    Gary Watkins
    When sitting at stop light for extended time in Auto it will shift to neutral. It doesn't shift when in manual mode.
     
    GRW, Jun 4, 2017
    #11
  12. fruivo97

    fruivo97 Rookie

    Joined:
    Wednesday
    Messages:
    1
    I have a 458 and it switches to neutral mid highway drive, i thought it was the f1 box oil took care of that did the maintnance recently and it did it again..
     
    fruivo97, Nov 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
    #12
  13. spaghetti_jet

    spaghetti_jet Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    960
    Location:
    Europa
    Full Name:
    Bob
    DCT literally stands for "Dual Clutch Transmission" It has two clutches one for even gears and the other for odd.
     
    spaghetti_jet, Nov 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
    #13

Share This Page