Independent Ferrari shop drove my car for 55 miles!

A quick Google reveals this (From: http://www.tpmsdirect.com/Ferrari_TPMS_and_Setup_a/262.htm ):

433 Mhz (Euro): Beru Gen 1 RDE 001 Light Gray, Beru Gen 1.5 RDE 001 Orange
315 Mhz (US/Cdn): Beru Gen 1 RDE 004 Dark Gray, Beru Gen 1.5 RDE 004 Dark Brown

The Gen 1 sensors seem to last about 5 years on Ferraris and the Gen 1.5 about 8 years. So if replacing sensors, try and find Gen 1.5s.

Ferraris use 43 mm valve stems, the same size as most Mercedes cars.

TPMS sensors can be set up one of two ways:



1) a technician can set them up using an SD-2/3, which does not require the car to be driven



2) the tire pressure calibration button (or similar name) can be depressed in the "on" ignition position for five seconds before starting and the system will calibrate itself after a 20 minute or so drive. You will see a CAL or similar indication after depressing the button for five seconds. Note: your Ferrari technician can tell how much battery life remains on each TPMS sensor using the SD2/3. He can also set the TPMS ECU to a different tire type if you change to a tire that requires different tire pressures than those originally fitted.

If you are receiving a TPMS warning light and want to see if it is just TPMS sensors, try adding an additional 5 psi of tire pressure and do a calibration and see if the lights go out. If they do, all you need are TPMS sensors. If they do not, drive the car for 10-20 minutes to warm the tires and raise tire pressures further, stop and turn off the ignition and use your calibration switch one more time and see if the system will calibrate. If the lights go out with the higher tire pressures from heating, all you need are new TPMS sensors. You will lose this calibration once the car cools down, of course. The higher tire pressures make it easier for the TPMS sensors to read and transmit a pressure. If neither attempt results in a calibration, see your technician for further analysis.

Method No.2 mentions having to drive the car for 20 minutes or more, so I'd suspect that's why they've driven the car for 55 miles (It may have taken more than one drive to sort the issue)

Hope that's of some help!

 

As a mechanic, I drive almost every car I work on. Unless it's a simple oil change or other repair that doesn't require wheels to be removed or other more invasive work. But I also only drive them a distance that corresponds with the repair. TPMS may get a 4-5 mile road test to wake it up. Large jobs like major motor work or transmission rebuilds I will ask the customer if I may drive it home. That's about 50 miles round trip.
So while I understand them driving it to verify the repair, I would have expected a phone call before that extensive of a job.

 

55 seems like joy riding.

 

55 miles and you're upset.... really? ....

 

I put less than 50 miles on my car this year so far. I'd be pretty pissed.
Many years ago I got my car back after a detailing with an extra 35 miles on it.

 

So let me get this right...

You want them to fix your car. But you don't want them to drive it to do so? How do you expect them to find an issue that is minor?

Let me guess... Another Ferrari owner that expects the mechanic to just wave his hand over the engine and "just know". Or, let it idle and come to temp and "VIOLA!" there's the answer. They have to find/confirm the leak. How many miles is that? 10? If slight and the car needs to be warmed to see it, then my 360 is just getting warmed up at 10 miles. So 10 miles out and back.. 20 miles. At 45mph that's driving it for 15-30 minutes?
They have to then replace it and test it warm and cold. So another 5-10 miles each way.. so total of 30-40 miles. Then to ensure that the repair is functional afterwards and its not continuing to leak.. another 5-10 miles. 50 miles is 2-3 days of driving for me to work in my DD.

If the leak were so bad that you could see it after 30 seconds of idling... the car likely wouldn't shift to be driven. TPMS.. meh just replace the bad units and then let the owner complain about how much it was.

 

55 miles. Be glad they didn’t steal it. Lol

 

Maybe the battery was disconnected, it can take that many miles to get the computer values ready / validated for a smog check. I had to have mine drive over 60 miles to get the car to pass smog check in CA.

 

True, it is hard to find an honest shop. Took my car hauling trailer into a trailer repair shop to check the balance on the rear axis since I have lost 3 tires on that axis recently. (Turned out is was probably older tires). When checking it, the repair shop actually called to ask if they could test it under weight, and not blindly assume they could place an object in it.

 

....or it could be that they took the car on a joy ride

 

i had the sensor on the up paddle on my 2007 F430 replaced. they drove it 40 miles. i was a bit upset but i did ask them to drive the car a bit to test it out. i guess i would rather have the miles on the car then have the error code pop back up and have to take it back in.

also, if you only put 50 miles on your car in a year you should sell it

 

Part of me thinks that they needed the test drive to confirm certain traits regarding the repairs, but I also know how many dishonest businesses there are, especially in the auto industry.

I've experienced too many times a shop trying to swindle or cheat me in some way or form that I guess it's made me a bit cynical. A dealership drove a Ferrari I used to own for 20 miles after I bought it (but before I've taken delivery). A Mercedes dealership told me my front tires on my AMG were "severely worn" and had to be replaced. The tires literally had a few hundred miles on them.

I'm currently trying to replace the front brake pads on my AMG, and I've dealt with two shops that are trying to force me to replace my rotors too (a $3200 job) before they even see the car. I know for a fact my rotors are fine. My guess is what they planned to do is put my car up on the lift, take all the wheels off, then say "oops, we can't put pads on without putting rotors on, but since we did all this labor you owe us money either way."

If they are really dishonest they would pull some BS like "we are legally required to replace the rotors before releasing the car back to you."

 

Can't car just be left idling in park to warm up?

 

How hard is it to talk to the guy and ask about the amount of mileage driven? If you like his answer then no problem. If you don’t like his answer then just don’t go back there for your next service.

It doesn’t sound from your post that you asked “walk me through the mileage driven please, so we’re both on the same page.”

Why do people not clear the air in person with those they do business, but come and ask strangers on a public forum?

 

Sounds like driving it 55 miles is within the realm of plausibility for the repairs being done. Get on with your life. Please.

 

I can only guess what a F1 Potentiometer is but it sounds like a variable resistor used for sensing. If it was confirmed this part was leaking before the service and its external to the drive system (easily seen) then its Ferris Bueller. If they were trying to identify a small or intermittent leak of unknown origin then who knows. Either way you should communicate to your shop (including dealer) if you have issues with test drives.

Most dealers see so many Ferraris that a 430, as beautiful as it is, probably won't initiate a Bueller. The independent local to me same story. Also, in the summer my F12 gets up to temp in oil and water with 2 to 3 mins idling and about 7 to 8 miles on the road at rev less than 3.5K. The VDO also says the engine and trans is good to go in that same period. I think the 55 miles here likely indicates the tech did not have success first shot.

 

I don't think 55 miles is that unreasonable to check the car for the particular repairs.
My Indie has (as you'd imagine) seen and driven more Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and Astons than I've had lunches. Whilst they tell me they like the cars owning one is a busman's holiday and driving one just part of the job. I therefore doubt it was joyriding.

 

Unless speeding that would be 1+ hr of driving under my normal circumstances. For the repairs done seems excessive.



I would mention it so they know they won’t get away with it. If u make a federal case about it you will be labeled an a$$whole. if happy with the shop, I’d be sure to leave a little sticky note on the dash with mileage on it next time. Or what I do at the casino- I let the valet move the car like 50 feet into a special spot in front. I snap a pic of the


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I agree with this. Well said.

 

Time is money, How many guys in the shop can be gone for an hour? I really like the idea of an indy but it is not a reality out here. Not just any independent though, one that your friends all use as well... that the cars guys trust. If you are just on your own with no support and no peers that just isn't the best place to operate from. IMO

Still you should level with the guy the next time you see him and solve your curiosity. If he doesn't have a simple answer or understand your concern he isn't the shop to go to and will soon be out of business anyway.

 

Download the engine computer & see how fast he was going, how many RPMs were achieved, etc.
Unlike an earlier poster who told you to get on with your life, I would delve into this at least a little deeper.

 

If you take your car to a reputable shop then you shouldn't have to worry about it. While it might be the most fabulous thing you've ever owned, people who deal exclusively in high-end and exotic cars have probably driven everything under the sun. I take the opposite attitude. I tell the shop to not only test drive my car but to drive it like they stole it because that's how I drive it and I want to make sure it's ready for me.