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458 "Current" battery thinking?

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by vjd3, Aug 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM.

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  1. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    Jun 3, 2005
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    #1 vjd3, Aug 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM
    Hit the start button today (2013 458 Spider) ... clicked and went dead for sec. Hit it again, fired up, "Electrical System Failure, Go to Dealer" warning. Shut it down. Started normally the third time and drove okay, was watching the voltage was 14 when I first started driving, then dipped down to 13.4 or so. Parked for 40 minutes, came out to start again, fired up, got the cascading AVH etc. errors. Tried again, got "system not programmed." Third time was the charm, no errors and made it back.

    I am assuming I need a new battery (hopefully). Just wondering what the general consensus is with the various types available. (I know the factory one is crap, I think it has an Interstate in it right now.) I always keep the car on the factory tender but I know it's not compatible with some of the new varieties, so will upgrade that, as well. And check codes in the AM. I have noticed on the tender that the green light is generally lit after a while, but sometimes it goes red for a little bit for no apparent reason.

    I see that the AntiGravity batteries are top of the heap, and expensive to boot, but what about other alternatives?
     
  2. Balsamina

    Balsamina Formula Junior

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    #2 Balsamina, Aug 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
    I am the original owner of a 2014 458 Spider with 23K+ miles and am religious about making sure the engine is running when operating the top, as well as plugging in my CTEK MXS 5.0 tender when I return home. My factory battery lasted 10 years. I could probably have waited a little longer, but as a preventative measure I replaced it last year with an Interstate MTZ-48/H6 AGM, which is what my dealer recommended. https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mtz-48/h6 So far its been starting strong.
     
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  3. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
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    #3 greyboxer, Aug 20, 2025 at 12:28 AM
    Several other 458 battery threads in the past year might carry other 'current' suggestions
     
  4. Jaguar36

    Jaguar36 Formula 3
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    #4 Jaguar36, Aug 20, 2025 at 5:27 AM
    I replaced mine about 4 months ago with an Interstate. Always on a CTEK MXS 5.0 tender Everything was great for two months, but then it started having a slow crank and a 'Electrical failure' message again. Same thing where I shut it down and then restart it and its fine. Not sure if its a dud battery or something else is going on. It seems odd to me that it would struggle to start the first time, but then have no problems restarting 10 seconds later. I would have thought that if it barely had enough juice to start the first time it would have no chance the second.

    I had thought about going with an Anti-gravity. Lots of guys seem to really like it, but then there seem to be some issues as well.
     
  5. mdrums

    mdrums F1 Rookie

    Jun 11, 2006
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    #5 mdrums, Aug 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
    If you are staying with a AGM battery then I highly suggest Interstate Battery. I replaced the OEM with Interstate in 2020 and mid 2024 car was still starting just fine. It was always on the Ferrari branded maintainer. My F8 has an Interstate too and always on a CTec battery maintainer.
     
  6. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #6 vjd3, Aug 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
    Going to try the AG and see what transpires, otherwise might be the NVO board?
     

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