Ferrari California Battery Charging

Yes, you should charge the battery until the battery is completely charged.

 

If you are using the factory Ferrari battery tender, it could take up to 24 hours. It is not designed to charge a fully discharged battery, it is designed to "maintain" or top up a slightly discharged battery.
It would be better to use a 10 amp or 15 amp battery charger, as those can charge a fully discharged battery in 12 to 15 hours...at least sufficient to start the car. I will warn you that once you discharge a battery this much, it is unlikely to fully recover. Meaning it will forever have less reserve power than before.

 

When you get your battery properly charged and everything is working, get a small solar panel to keep your battery charged. They come with long wires, that can be lengthened even more, and alligator clips. You should be able to figure a way to snake the wires to the roof of the garage?


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On my 458 Italia, I used and OBD II scanner to reset any pending CEL codes related to a dead battery. The pending Codes had kept my windows from working.

Concerning charging in your Apt. garage, you can buy a portable battery tender used by car shops/dealerships ...it should last a week or more. Then recharge the tender for a few hours in your Apt during the Weekend. Just google online for one. A good, shop-quality one will be a few hundred USD.

F355spider is correct:. Once your battery has completly discharged and sat dead for a while, it won't ever recover to a full charge. I can only get mine to one bar below Max of 7 on my tender. Whereas before it was always at 7.

I was careless once , didn't connect the tender, went on a trip, came back a week later and the battery was dead. Anyway, after recharging, it works; and it doesn't bother me that charge is not 100%.

 

Try this, it's wheel mounted, so you can wheel it around to charge it up.

https://www.harborfreight.com/21040200A-612v-Automatic-Battery-Charger-with-Engine-Jump-Start-63423.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiMzk0MjM3NDYiLCJza3UiOiI2MzQyMyIsImlzIjoiMTE0Ljk5IiwicHJvZHVjdF9p%0D%0AZCI6IjEyNDExIn0%3D%0D%0A&cid=paid_google|||63423&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAjw1v_0BRAkEiwALFkj5mcdgFl6MSZMoWEVVFRjrRV1Jro8Q59hzkNfXafHQNMBDbATYfhVBxoCOhMQAvD_BwE

 

Simple solution: Make an effort to drive the car no less than every two weeks, every week is even better. You can avoid having to figure out a way to charge the battery.


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Good idea...sadly it can be hit and miss. On my F430, the battery won't last a week even if new. The 458 lasts two/three weeks; and then the DTC begins to act up and not shift properly due to a low battery. Not worth the uncertainty.

 

This doesn't really solve the OPs problem. He has no electrical outlet in his garage space. This charger still requires it be plugged in to work.

 

Uh no. There are some that Do Not require to be connected to an outlet at all times. They have their own internal, high capacity , low-drain, batteries. That is why they weigh like 60+ lbs. Dealers use these to wheel them over to cars on the lot with flat batteries.

Perhaps I chose the wrong link, but the intent was to show those that don't need a constant connection to a wall plug. Apologies.

 

I think its possible that the battery is not yet fully charged, or charged enough to run these electronics. I'd replace the battery, I think that is the only way to make sure.

Also, if you are going to leave the car sitting for a long period of time and you have no way to run a battery tender, you should be able to disconnect the battery with the battery shut off knob. I am pretty sure the Cali has one.

 

I'm familiar with those, they cost a LOT more...like starting around $600, and go up to $1500 or more. They have a large lead acid gel cell inside, along with charging capability. But those are not really designed to charge a battery with their internal battery. The internal battery is used for jump starting the car. Which is not recommended with Ferraris.

 

True to your point.

Though batteries are just stored energy. Not a big feat to rig such a setup to deliver a trickle charge absent an electrical outlet or a solar powered tender.

There are lot of solutions out there for enterprising individuals....particularly for something this basic.