Crankshaft Recall car

I would not take possession of that car. Happened to me with a Porsche GT3 in 2004 and I refused the car. Porsche got me another that had not been dissected

 

You said "engineers from the factory" It sounds like Ferrari is taking good care of you. If it is only the dealer service people I would ask a few questions. Some dealers have dealer service people who have been certified by Ferrari. That is a high honor for them. I assume from your post it is a new car so relax and enjoy

Good luck

Lee

 

Note to Art: Porsche makes 60K cars a year. Another batch plops off the truck to the dealer every 2 weeks.

You can refuse the car... and wait over a year to get the next car after fighting with the dealer and FNA for another year (assuming you're in America -- you need to fill out your profile if you are serious about asking for help here).

It's warrantied. What's the big deal? Most don't keep these past the warranty anyway.

Take the car and let them worry about the engine.

 

The issue I would have is not the fact that is under warranty and you would not be paying for any subsequent work and problems etc, but the inconvenience. You do not want it to be in the workshop more than it is on the road. Hopefully they would not deliver a car till it is up to their standard hence they had the factory engineers there so they were genuinely concerned.

 

Difficult situation. Here are some things to consider...

1. I would think Ferrari sent their best guys. Only certain techs work on engines, so it's not like you got just anyone that was available.

2. If the recall came out after you've owned the car for six months, then what? Would you feel that you were stuck with a lemon just because it was pulled apart?

3. If this happened back in Italy, how much better do you feel the car would have been taken apart and reassembled? For all we know, those same two guys would be assigned to do the task and you wouldn't even know that they did any work on it.

4. What could those two tech say to make you feel any better? That they've done this for all the cars that were recalled, and not just yours? That they're the number one road techs at Ferrari?

Anyway...

Good luck with this. I hope it works out for you.

 

Agree, take the car. A: it's a car - enjoy it, don't lose sleep over it. B: if you have some kind of major problem after delivery they'll fix it, or you can trade it back at a high value.

 

So, you're saying that factory workers doing their job in an authorized dealership are not as good as factory workers in a factory in Italy?

That's a bit of a stretch.

They're replacing the crankshaft. As long as there's no machining involved (and I'm sure there isn't or they would just replace the entire unit), it's just taking parts out and putting them back to factory specs.

Is a torque wrench in Italy that much better?

 

^ Based on others' reasons above, I would take the car but see if I could negotiate a free or reduced price PowerCube 2 year warranty extension. You can then enjoy the car mostly without worry, and then have a bit of compensation for the re-sale worry when you sell it because you have an additional warranty to transfer to the buyer. And if you keep it through expiration of the PowerCube, and nothing happens, then you are no worse off than any other new Italia owner and boast how this was a non-issue.

 

All things being equal it would turn out fine.

BUT

To replace a crankshaft typically means total disassembly. The likelihood of a leak or a mistake in reassembly (being done in haste) is possible even for the guys that put it together the first time. Considering the lead time for a replacement car I might accept it, but I would ask a lot of questions and document everything carefully. An extended warranty (at no additional charge) would be something to go for.

 

No, not total dis-assembly. You don't touch the heads. You don't remove the values and seats (which for sure need to be done at the factory). You're not doing any machining. You have to remember this is a car with maybe 60-80 miles on it.

Dealers pull engines from the car all the time. Hell to do a major on a 348 and 355, it's required. If we question these guys doing a lousy job, we should question any job done at the dealer. These guys are under no time pressure. In fact, they are under LESS time pressure than the guy doing the job in the factory. They are using all the same tools, same parts, and same materials -- and the technicians have the same training and experience (if not actually more -- they don't send rookies on a road trip). If anything, this engine is actually better inspected that the one assembled in the factory. After all, the FACTORY put in a bad crank in the first place.

However, I have no problem in asking for an extended warranty on the engine. It may even be offered. That's a reasonable request.

Everyone has to make their own decision here. But, to me, if it's warrantied -- I'm taking the car instead of waiting another year or two for exactly the same thing I could have had tomorrow.

 

I agree the wait is long.I would be more concerned if you took delivery,then they tell you after 3 months the work has to be done.I dont see any issues

 

From what I understand those affected by the crankshaft recall were automatically offered a 3 year warranty from the date the recall work was completed but you might to check on that.

 

Mittal - what year is your car and when was it built? I thought the crankshaft recall was a bit ago. I just took delivery of my 2013 and had no mention of this...

 

I would think that the traveling techs could rebuild an engine better than the average tech on the assembly line.

 

Mittal, I would also take the car. Two big reasons:
1. The odds are that the factory field techs are at least as competent and probably more so than the ones who assembled the engine at the factory.
2. The job of crank replacement is not as complex as you think.

No harm in asking for an extended warranty on the engine though if one is not offered.

 

Curious as to the OP's location, as it seemed that all the recall-affected cars were "flushed through" the system a while ago. Our July-delivered 458 was post-recall. I saw a couple affected V8's at our local dealer; I believe in the US they simply did an engine swap.

I have developed an interesting philosophy, perhaps as a result of racing and wrenching my daughter's karts. I have no fear of tearing an engine or gearbox down and rebuilding it...the mechanical aspects of these cars (assuming the right skill level) are easy for me to live with. In fact, on some sick level, I'm looking forward to my shop rebuilding my engine ($$ costs aside, of course).

Interior trim and paint/body I'm actually more leery of from a repair perspective. I would drive with full confidence, we seem to baby these cars more than they need. If you have concerns, ask them for an extended warranty, but if it's new and pre-delivery, you have 3 years to see if they did it right.

 

I was in Modena during the earthquake in June maybe that had something to do with it ?

 

I completely agree with the warranty extended excellent post

 

Here is some more info about the recall:
If I recall correctly, the warranty date is also reset to the date this recall work is performed.

2011-2012 Ferrari 458 Italia, California

The Problem: Ferrari has released more details surrounding its recent recall of 2011-2012 458 Italia and California models. As previously reported, a machining error may have affected the crankshafts used in these vehicles. The crank may not be able to withstand thermal and physical stresses, and could snap and seize the engine.

The Fix: Ultimately, Ferrari aims to replace the crank and bearings, but will offer owners their choice of three repair methods: Dealers can can replace the parts, remove the engine and have Ferrari North America technicians replace the parts, or exchange the engine with an all-new engine provided by Ferrari North America.

Owners can contact Ferrari North America at (201) 816-2600.
Number of vehicles potentially affected: Ferrari says 74 cars – two of which are in FNA’s “custody and control” — exhibit the defect.

 

Bob, I agree that done under warranty it is probably preferable to waiting for a different car but it is a big job. The crankshaft is one of the first parts to go in the block and a lot of stuff is put on after. Valves don't need to come out of the cylinder heads but many of the things pictured (as well as a lot of other things) will be taken apart to do it. It is no doubt quite a production for the dealer and well outside their normal work. I suspect the factory guys that do it are indeed competent and have a carefully developed plan to minimize the necessary work, but my own extensive experience has taught me that it's a challenge to do something "over" that is quite as good as the first time. Things are only "new" once.

Much attention is paid here to "engine out" services on Ferraris (notably the 348 and 355). With the proper equipment, the removal and replacement is but a slight inconvenience that is more than compensated for by the relative ease that things can be done with the improved access. Doing repairs "in the car" is often no picnic.
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Since this is a new car, the factory warranty will cover you for 3 years and 50K miles.

If you drive the car, you will discover if there are any engine problems and then get them fixed under warranty.

If you don't drive the car much, you won't discover the engine problems. There are a bunch of guys who drive 60 miles a month or less.

But if you don't want the car then walk away. Hey spend 270k your way!

If you don't want to have a car with any mechanical problems, then walk away from Ferrari.

 

Considering this is a brand new car, I'm surprised Ferrari isn't fitting a replacement engine. It's an easier job, does not require factory techs and it leaves the owner with a better feeling than having his brand new engine torn apart and rebuilt outside of factory conditions, even though the job can still be done correctly.

 

Does any body here know what cars were affected?

 

Does Ferrari have crated engines ready for shipment to the US?

If an engine is replaced does the car need to go back to Maranello for testing?