Completely agree! Interesting how many of the I need it now crowd felt entitled to buying /flipping their cars after a year with no depreciation never thought of the old saying, neverbuy a new model car in year one.
You know with all the F-chatters here from Southern California, it would seem reasonable that someone would know or could at least find out who's 458 burned in San Diego. Then a quick contact and a couple of questions later, maybe we could find out if the owner just filled up, or was close to empty or if the car backfired, just before the fire or maybe something entirely different happened or maybe it was a real mystery because the owner was listening to Rush Limbaugh and Rush got so mad at Obama that the car exploded. Come on, anyone live in Southern Cal, or San Diego proper?
A few R8's (like the 458, a mid-engined high performance car) have gone up in smoke as well. The direct injection gas engine is a new, unproven technology-even on my VW it has been rather finicky. With the R8 and 458, the limits of a new technology are being found...sometimes, in the hands of customers. Image Unavailable, Please Login
this one is not on the list in the original post- Had less than 200 miles on the odometer. Owner had the car for 6 hours when he ran it into a ditch while trying to overtake another vehicle. Crash happened on August 11, 2010 - this is the 10th crash of a 458 Italia. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Okay, I'll accept that but I know the feed to the charcoal canister requires manifold vacuum that only works in certain circumstances (based on water temperature and throttle position0 thus until this vacuum is there the modern fuel tanks are no different to old ones ... or did we have out to the air vents freom tanks before? Anyway returning to the 458 is it possible that during refueling that these gases can somehow get caught under the engine cover somehow? Pete
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/41513/ Here are a couple quotes from the article: "Six Ferrari 458 Italias have been involved in accidents, three caught on fire, and one was destroyed in a fire while it was being stored innocently in a warehouse." "Faulty design has been ruled out as the cause of the string of accidents, and appears to be just a streak of bad luck, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported." "Ferrari said they are investigating the cause of the fires and are investigating each incident separately."
Vents fail and Vent. I assume because they're moving a fuel vent they feel there is an issue. It could also be a vent from a PSI relief valve that sometimes vents when something goes wrong. Just guessing here but IMO there's something not quite right...
Video of another burning up: http://www.worldcarfans.com/110082528063/video-another-ferrari-458-italia-catches-fire-ferrari
The campaign to which you are referring has nothing to do with fire issues. it is replacing a vent hatch in the left front wheel well. Do NOT take from this that Ferrari has found an issue related to engine fires. More important, do any of you with an ounce of sense truly believe that Ferrari would continue to allow us to drive these cars if they could catch fire for a defect?? Seriously do any of you truly believe this??
Mine is getting the breather kit installed today by the dealer. I'm having too much fun with this car and have no intention to get caught up with this craziness, which like someone else said earlier, is being hyped up by mostly the non-owners.
What about the fuel coming out the tail pip shooting blue flames ;p Sucks that such beautiful machine burns,a simple fix could have avoided this but good news is no news. Another lesson to avoid first year blues.
Saw an expose on the news last night (10pm news.) FOX chl 5. Seems others are finding out about the "458 TORCH" model.
I look at it exactly the opposite. I want to enjoy my 458 in 2010/2011 because it will have to make way for my 458 Spider at the end of 2011.
Dave, you are correct that these fumes are supposed to be in closed systems but what happens when that system is damaged or becomes unsealed? There is the issue, if part of the fuel vapour system was to somehow start leaking inside the engine compartment you have a situation that could result in fire. It's not designed to leak but if certin things are not fitted correctly then leaks can occur.
That would be a problem but since people were talking about "vents" or "vent replacements" I could not make sense of it since nothing flamable is supposed to vent anywhere to begin with. Based on the post above, the vent TSB has nothing to do with fires, fluids or fumes anyway. Dave
Apparently it has been speculated that fumes are getting trapped in the engine bay with no proper ventilation to expel them. Not so brilliant to use less and SMALLER vents and intakes for the engine compared to the 360 and 430, for aerodynamic reasons (possible oversight??)... Perhaps the combination of excessive heat and fumes in the bay is the culprit. Something that hadn't reared it ugly head during testing. This is all speculation but it may be due to the complexity of the internal systems of seals,valves etc. in which on most 458s work, but some others out there, they leak. To counter this possibility on ANY 458, Ferrari has decided to make these small modifications to ventilate the area more efficiently, just in case. It's VERY reasonable to imagine that... All due respect but, you sir are either delusional or in serious denial. ANY car manufacturer can have issues. Ferrari is no god of engineering that is immune to all potential unforeseen mechanical defects once out of the factory. Why would they be? Because you say so??? Oil and gas are two completely different substances. Even the introduction of FUMES of gasoline in a hot compartment can and will ignite into a fire. Anyone ever tell you not to store a gas can outside in direct sunlight??? Because it will catch on fire. Keep in mind, there is venting for the engine bay, just obviously not enough. BUT there's your oxygen supply. Fuel source, well...we already covered that one, possible gas fumes. Ignition source.......ahh could be firing spark plugs, high heat, ignition system, exhaust system, electrical systems...a litany of things that could light a fire if there are enough fumes trapped in a bay filling the ENTIRE area with a light oxygen source to allow the fire to ignite and breathe. Think about it like this. A gas main inside a house is broken and leaking, all day. The home is closed all day. the house is safe and only filled with fumes with a pilot light striking. Nothing happens, UNTIL...a door or window is opened and oxygen is introduced to the equation. BOOM! Everything ignites. You need a time out... Yep, after 50+ years they still haven't figured out to NOT run fuel lines under and around a heat producing source like the engine. Strange, very strange... Well...It hasn't been yet determined that it is in fact a true defect, yet, now has it? Looks like the venting modification is a step in the direction of them acknowledging that maybe a precaution should be taken to see if it alleviates a "POTENTIAL" mechanical defect that they didn't realize. Still under investigation. Once determine if it is a problem, you can for sure bet they won't let anyone drive those cars without first being "fixed"... Your question doesn't really make much sense. It hasn't been determined a defect...YET.
