Roma Battery Dead with no Valet Key to Open

Seems like the issue would fall on the owner. I would contact him, tell him the situation and if he is not willing to cover the $1500 for a new key, you may have to have the car towed or moved or however you have to deal with it. I would imagine replacing a side window would even be more expensive than a key. Another thought would be to use a Slim Jim bar down the side of the window and see if locksmith can hook the latch if that is even possible with the Ferrari, or possibly spreading the window open a little bit with a wedge enough to get a hook wire inside and pull the opposite side door handle or something of that nature. Good luck

 

You oversee a collection but it’s your clients fault the battery died? What is your role in overseeing?

for the love of God don’t break the side window. Just get a key. Can’t a key be sent? Who keeps their keys and cars in separate countries?

 

Also what’s the point of breaking into the car if there’s no key in it anyway?

 

The car is under warranty, call Ferrari Roadside.

 

Curious, would you be willing to share the last 6 of the VIN?
Was the OEM Battery Maintainer attached to the Roma, when the battery died?
How long has the battery been dead, rough estimate ( days / weeks )
Where is the car located ( City is fine, don't need actual address )

S

 

Does the battery conditioner not plug into the trunk lid external conditioner port?

 

You would have to be crazy to break a side window on a Ferrari. That would be wicked expensive to replace. It is also impossible to not lock the doors on a Roma. When you walk away from the car with the key in your pocket, as soon as the key is about 5 or more feet from the car, it locks itself. The car can be trickle charged with a Ferrari or other trickle charger by placing the special Ferrari 2-pin connector into the external port on the outside of the trunk lid, but you do need a special connector.

 

I'm not sure this story is completely true if it were surely the obvious answer is to courier the spare key from wherever it is in the world for maybe a hundred bucks (or even airmail for ten)

 

i still don’t understand why you ever asked if breaking in through the window is a better plan. Putting a charge on the car after breaking in through the window seems pointless if you still don’t have a key.

 

I see. I didn’t realize the fob doesn’t have an integrated mechanical key like most other cars

 

Not sure what’s “cute” about it. If the car is under warranty Ferrari will get it to the closest dealer. I doubt it’s the first time a locked Ferrari had a completely dead battery that the fob wouldn’t open. But by all means, bust your client’s window.

 

What happens if you do nothing and wait for client to return and deal with it? If you have a good fob and battery is dead then Ferrari should have to rectify that issue as poor design with no way to get in in case of dead battery. Have you called a licensed locksmith ? It may be possible to pick the lock cylinder to open door then charge battery. Are you in communication with the owner? Id do what he advises with full knowledge of the situation.

 

It appears that the Roma has a keyless fob and a dead battery in a locked car with no mechanical key on the fob to open the electric doors. There is no way yo energize the system with a charging cable. Brilliant design. About the only way to get access to the battery is to get the car jacked up, move it on dollies to get in position to jack it up remove the underpanel to access the starter motor pos terminal and ground and jump them to energize the electrical system then open the door with fob. No damage that way but a big pia. If the doors only open electrically then it appears that this is only option. Get it flatbedded to dealer to do that and install an external charging cable .

 

And for the future, install a hidden plug to feed in power from the outside?

 

An external charging port is available on all modern Ferrari, including all Roma's. I'll take it from this reply that you were unaware and hence, the battery maintainer has never been used ( since you were not aware it existed ).

Unfortunately, it happens a few times a year, and more often than not, the valet key is in with the books, in the car.
A professional Ferrari experienced transporter will know how to transport the car safely.
I cannot think of a time that it's happened to the same owner twice, its a learning opportunity.

I'm confused when you say " poor design " ?

They installed a simple to use battery maintainer port - that was not used
They provided an easy to use compact emergency key - that was not kept with the car

Tell me again how its Ferrari's design that is causing this situation?

S

 

Kind of like this, nice and hidden to the left of the rear license plate maybe ? ;-)

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S

 

Well first of all, I do not own a Roma. I've only driven one. I was only basing my response to the OP's dilemma and that he A, has no mechanical key, and B, he has no access to an external charging port. If indeed that specific car is equipped that way, (which you state it is not), it is inherently a poor design In the event of a dead 12V battery. If the car is equipped as you state, with an external charging port, then I see no problem. I'm not sure that the Roma key fob has a built-in mechanical key, but from reading all of the posts, it sounds like it does not contain a built-in hidden mechanical door key to open the door in just such an emergency. If that is the case, another deficiency in the design. Obviously the car needs one or the other. If it has either one obviously then there no issue with the design.

But the way the original poster has posited, I was led to believe that this particular car in question was not equipped as such. However, if the charging cable is hidden, then he needs to charge it that way. If it does not have a charging cable, I think he is left with the option to flatbed it to the dealer and let them deal with it. I have no idea whether the Roma fob has a mechanical key or not, or there is a separate detached mechanical valet key that is unavailable, but if it doesn't have a mechanical key to enter the door, it sure complicates the issue, IMHO

 

Roma owner manual page 223:

"Battery conditioner

The vehicle is equipped with a battery conditioner to maintain and recharge the battery."

Other advice on battery conditioner is there as well.

 

Right! Any criminal can get that door open in 5 mins.