Storing a 458

Sorry for the loss of your cousin.

I'm sure you will be offered a lot of advice and opinions.

Presuming you are also trying to preserve the ability to sell the car in the future, I would also do a few extra things

1) make sure you have in-hand all the service records, purchase records, books/tools/et al that are associated with the car. If the car is changing ownership due to the passing, and the registration/insurance is current, I would make sure that's processed appropriately (I'm unsure what the Canadian laws are, but you don't want to end up in confusion about title).

2) Most of your list is "good". Tender port is on passenger side under dash, route the cable under the closed door. (the manual has the specific directions).

3) If the annual service was done recently, fine. If not, I'd consider having the car fully serviced (fluids, et al). Partially since it's a good idea before storage, partially to keep the warranty/maintenance in force.

4) definitely have the car very clean, depending on the overall condition I might consider a full professional detail. keeping it clean is great, but also to eliminate any contamination inside/outside.

5) full fuel tank, fresh gas. Use only a bit of Stabilizer. Tires you can overfill (40psi), or consider buying tire cradles.

If it will be stored in a non-climate controlled garage, I'd consider adding a dehumidifier. Also, I'd try to make sure you start and drive the car frequently - in our case, we have harsh winters and can go weeks in between being able to drive the cars. when we can, we take the cars for a good drive - full warmup and drive, run the A/C, use the wipers, use the lift (if equipped) - make sure everything works and is used- then clean it up and put it away again.

If you have ANY potential for pests (mice, insects) think about how to protect the vehicle.

Good luck

 

I would not start the car. In Canada you won't be able to drive it on the road due to snow...

 

I put the oem red cover on a very clean car to prevent scratches and then cover that with a breathable cover to keep the dust off.

Dont think it makes any difference whether the tender is inside or outside. I keep mine inside for security reasons...dont want someone to cut it off and take it as a Ferrari momento. I have a private parking space at my ski club but other people can get in the garage. Nobody has bothered anything yet but do it as an abundance of caution.

I have a spider so I lower the back window two inches to mitigate chemicals fogging the windshield and windows. The garage is heated and I had them put in electric outlets for the Porsche and the Fcar.

 

I keep it uncovered so I can at least look at it during the long winter....

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Sorry about your cousin's passing - God Bless.
Ferrari Original battery tender is unreliable and will eventually overheat and kill the battery if stored long.
My dealer advised me to get rid of the original battery tender and installed a 100 dollar aftermarket battery tender with a pigtail - I recommend doing hat or you will end up with a dead battery (which I did)...

 

Agree....I have yet to try out the red cover...I can't find it in me to mask the beauty of this car.

 

I used my original battery tender every time I was not driving my spider and never had a problem. Used it for 3 years.

 

The supplied CTEK (ferrari branded) tender may not be the best one out there, but we've had good luck using them across 3 cars and 3+ years.

We also put an upgraded one (with pigtail) on our 99 355. The 2015 cars (FF and Cali T, at least) are supplied with the MagSafe connector and use an upgraded model of tender.

You probably had a bad unit; also, if need be, the tender is actually covered by warranty IF it fails

 

Might I suggest the Car Bubble? I have used it on my P-car for 2 seasons (soon to go on #3) with no issues whatsoever. I park the P-car in my unheated garage, and there it stays with a battery maintainer till 4/1. It protects against rodents, and because it recycles the air continuously, there is never an abrupt change in temperature to cause condensation. It is clear so I can admire the car as I walk buy (I don't use a car cover when the P-car is in the Bubble). IMHO, it is well worth the $350 cost, and it is reusable. You do need access to AC, and the Car Bubble will bulge out a bit beyond its footprint, so it will consume a little bit of room.

 

Just connect it to the charger, that's it. I just came back from a 6 months trip, and the car is not even dusty. There is no need to over inflate the tires as long as they are not under inflate. And I ran the charger's cable through the window, opened it a little bit. I didn't want to take the risk from under the door, which could damage the cable if not placed properly. As long as it's not outdoor, the interior is ok. And just fill up the gas, there is no need to add any stabilizer. I didn't even wash it when I left. Car's paint today is different with those old days Ferrari's.

 

Starting the car is bad in the winter...unless the car fully warms up under load, meaning driving, condensation will not burn off which is bad.

 

If you can get non ethanol high octane fuel, fill it with that. Ethanol in gasoline is unstable. My Abarth would not start after 2 months. Battery was fine. Gas was crap.

 

For the Cetek, a dealer can wire it up so they there is instead a small receptacle plug that peeps out of the footwell, rather than using the clamps each time.

I did this and much easier. The Cetek units are much better battery chargers than stock - even though I have the stock charger I upgraded it.

 

Correct! Plug in the AC after you attach the terminals.

SV

 

snowflake since its most likely an AGM type battery.

 

The OEM battrry in my 458 Speciale is an Optima 12V - 50 A/h RT R 4.2 (sealed lead acid battery) so I put my CTEK 3300 in "car mode" rather than "snowflake mode".

 

Condolences for your loss.

I would set batted mouse traps in corners of the garage. Any food, water is properly secured in garage. Rodents can be your worst enemy. I plug exhaust tips. Can place Arm and Hammer in a container inside my car for any condensation. Drier sheets can provide a fresher smell inside the car even with a breathable car cover. If not car cover, good quality cotton sheets can work well. Would not start it unless driving for more than 30 minutes.

 

Put fabric softener sheets that you put in the clothes dryer on you paper filter in the trunk. Rodents hate it and it makes you car smell good. Dont see why you couldnt put in tailpipes or any other place you want to repel rodents.