488 - does it need to be plugged in? | FerrariChat

488 - does it need to be plugged in?

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by bberg009, Oct 1, 2017.

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  1. bberg009

    bberg009 Karting

    Jan 23, 2016
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    I had a 458 spider who was a 'power hog' and sort of demanded to be plugged in unless I drove it every week. If I didn't, it gave me warnings and told me to see dealer (even changed batteries to no avail). I just bough a new 2017 488 spider, should I expect the same? I am nervous, since the car didn't come with a battery charger setup..
     
  2. Hoagers

    Hoagers Karting

    Dec 4, 2016
    166
    Yes you should expect the same. Driving it for short drives doesn't help get the battery back up to full charge nor does letting just idle. A good maintainer, not charger, will keep your battery topped off same said for many of the upper level cars that have power hungry computers
     
  3. SoCal to az

    SoCal to az F1 World Champ
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    Nov 25, 2012
    14,209
    Arizona
    If you bought from a dealer- it should come with a car cover and tender. I always just hook up my tender.
     
  4. stretchgeneral

    stretchgeneral Formula 3
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    Aug 9, 2014
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    Odd it "didn't come with a battery charger setup", I have seen the trickle charger attached to 488's at the dealerships. My 458 came with one.
     
  5. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
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    Nov 11, 2003
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    Brian Brown
    If you bought the car new, there should be a battery maintainer in the car cover bag. It has a really nice/convenient magnetic connector that attaches to a socket at the rear of the car to the right of the license plate. I highly recommend the use the maintainer if you don't want to have battery problems.
     
    Syd Boysky and of2worlds like this.
  6. bberg009

    bberg009 Karting

    Jan 23, 2016
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    I bought the car from a Ferrari dealership and it had brochures for a charger, but not actual charger.. so, I guess I will have to contact them and look for the hookup. Does anyone know, why Ferraris have such a need to be on a charger? I own 9 other cars that have no such power demands (from fords, mercedeses and Maseratis)....
     
  7. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
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    Nov 11, 2003
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    Because they don't get driven enough.
     
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  8. LVP488

    LVP488 F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2017
    4,839
    France
    Yes the charger should come with the car and yes it needs to be connected; unfortunately the recent Ferrari do not have a switch to cut the battery circuit (which was very convenient but was probably discontinued because of the sensitivity of the electronics; the 599 was probably one of the last to have it).
    Also make sure it is properly connected (checking the lights on the charger) because it is sensitive and some dirt or a slight movement may prevent it to work (putting the cover when it is installed is an interesting exercice to practice one's cautiousness...)
     
    Syd Boysky likes this.
  9. Rossocorsa1

    Rossocorsa1 F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2017
    6,200
    Repeating what was said already, you should have received a battery tender in the car cover bag located in the trunk. I always keep mine connected when the car isn't driven. The tender doesn't just charge the battery, rather it efficiently maintains it at maximum charge so as to keep it healthy. Your dealer should get you one if it wasn't included. It easily connects discreetly on the outside of the rear via a magnetic connection.
     
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  10. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    Jul 25, 2008
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    New car MUST come with a CTEK tender.

    Dig it out ... :D or notify dealer ...
     
    of2worlds likes this.
  11. Ski Bum

    Ski Bum Formula 3

    Jun 19, 2012
    1,088
    Look in the car cover bag. The bag containing the battery condition should be clipped into the inside of the car cover bag.
     
  12. cpiguy

    cpiguy Formula 3
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    Oct 3, 2007
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    +1
     
  13. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    And tell us where ist came from .... :D
     
  14. RossoCorsa716

    RossoCorsa716 Karting

    May 15, 2017
    116
    Los Angeles, CA
    Just curious where you got this info. Thanks.
     
  15. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    Experience I think .... and I agree with that too :D
     
  16. RossoCorsa716

    RossoCorsa716 Karting

    May 15, 2017
    116
    Los Angeles, CA
    Well, it's not a plug in hybrid so doesn't make sense for battery charger to have anything to do with distance driven. Alternator driven by engine, so stands to reason that time you have engine running and RPM's will dictate how fast battery charges.

    I've had my 488 for just over 2 months and I have 660 miles on it, never plugged it in. Drive it to coffee ~ 3 times a week (2 miles round trip) and then do some longer drives on weekends. So far no issues. ‍♂️
     
  17. Hoagers

    Hoagers Karting

    Dec 4, 2016
    166
    Driving short distances (15 miles or less) doesn't replenish the battery charge that was used to turn over the starter, letting it sit for only a little while at idle doesn't generate enough amperage to bring it up either it needs to be driven at "road speeds" for over 15-30 miles in order to provide enough power to make up for all that amperage used just starting it. That advice below is general information so the advice offered is even more important for cars like a newer Ferrari as their computers draw a LOT of power even some when the car is turned off (My Jag is the same way, many on that forum complain of constant dead batteries and electrical gremlins all caused by not using a maintainter).
    Quora advice
    Cars Direct advice

    This same "is a maintainer necessary" is prevalent on many boards, the simple answer is "it is not until it is". For some they don't run into issues at all, some store their cars for a month or so with no ill effects, others (the majority) will run into many electrical gremlins disguised as arbitrary codes popping up, battery died won't start the car anymore, many different things all caused by a weak battery. Lastly once the battery has been brought down enough where it won't start the car it will never be the same as it was meaning there is irreversible damage done. A maintainer is NOT a charger, two totally different items and missions. The alternator provides a constant power but it still is NOT the same as a proper "maintainer" where it will bring voltage up to it's peak and keep it there usually balancing the cells, a power charger and your alternator does not do that so even a car driven often can benefit from occasional maintaining.
     
  18. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
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    May 23, 2013
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    Maybe a stupid question but my other car I simply disconnected the battery. It was easy to do. Is this an option ? Too hard ?
     
  19. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 3, 2006
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    The maintainer extends the battery life.

    By being plugged in the car will not lose its memory and settings.

    So l leave mine plugged in.

    Best
     
    Jonkheer likes this.
  20. LVP488

    LVP488 F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2017
    4,839
    France
    Not very convenient, the battery is hidden in the passenger footwell - as mentioned above, I really miss the switch that was available on older Ferrari.
     
  21. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    Two knobs and a pull-handle on the zero-pole ...

    It's a one minute (or maybe two) job imo. :D

    But inded the cut-off switch was easy. Why did they remove it ?

    Because the factory wants you not to cut the power ....
     
  22. RossoCorsa716

    RossoCorsa716 Karting

    May 15, 2017
    116
    Los Angeles, CA
    Just want to compare with others, I started my car and after cold start cycle when RPM came down to 1,000 with headlights turned off my voltmeter on the display read 13.9V

    What reading are you guys getting?
     
  23. superfluous

    superfluous Karting

    Oct 4, 2020
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    Dallas, TX
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    Gabe
    Since it's magnetic, I assumed it was designed to pop-off when you drive off if you forget to remove it. Well I learned the hard way that it doesn't. Any ideas on how to rig it so it does pop off?
     
  24. Solid State

    Solid State F1 Veteran
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    Feb 4, 2014
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    Maximus Decimus Meridius
    Does the magnetic version allow you to start the car with it attached? The prior version had a jumper in the connector making it impossible to start with it plugged in.
     
  25. superfluous

    superfluous Karting

    Oct 4, 2020
    90
    Dallas, TX
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    Gabe
    I would say yes, but I guess there's a chance that it wasn't properly connected and didn't register.
     

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