Hi All, So, the battery on my 2017 488 Spider failed today on the way to a car show in Lincoln, UK. Everything was fine first thing and then I drove over one hour when I had to stop for a break (man of a certain age….). Car wouldn’t then restart and the battery was showing just over 10volts. A very nice AA man arrived and started it via a jump starter and then I drove it back home without any issues. I’m assuming that I now have some choices to make: 1) Main Dealer 2) Specialist Independent 3) Normal Garage 4) DIY replacement Suggestions and advice welcome. Many thanks. Andrew M.
1. Definately not 2. Yes but only if local to you as not worth travelling 3. Possibly if you trust them 4. Yes if you are reasonably confident with a spanner.
Many thanks. I’m okay with a spanner but will it need coding and/or resetting at the dealership or will it be okay to disconnect and just replace the battery and hey presto everything works okay?
A quick update…… I drove the car home, exactly the same time/distance as first thing this morning. Parked it in the garage without the charger connected and then had some lunch. Went back in some 30 minutes later (much longer than when it failed earlier on) and it started without issues, the warning light had gone out, it was reading 14.3 volts with the engine running and 12.4 volts without. I’m thinking that this is all perfectly normal now. Connected the Ferrari charger and within a few minutes it was indicating Green, which I assume means the battery had reached full charge? It is still Green some hours later. Slightly confused now as I was sure that it wouldn’t have started when I returned home. Was this mornings incidence something else or just “bad luck” or is the battery failing and needs replacing for peace of mind, even though it appears to be okay now? Thanks, Andrew M.
Mine is on a 430, so yours may be different. Have a look at G S F cars parts, dont remember its old name but branches everywhere. Yuash dealers as others as well.
Hi Trev, Yes, I always attach it to the conditioner and to be honest, I had no issues at all when I started and drove it first thing this morning. It only presented problems after I stopped for a quick ( 5 minutes) comfort break having driven for an hour and 60 odd miles. Thanks.
Don’t run the risk. Replace it. It’s a DIY job if you are reasonably handy. A few threads exist already to take you through the procedure. There’s also info in the manual. No recoding necessary.
Andrew it’s an AGM UK “096” Size 760A battery You can get your old one tested from a garage or from the likes of Halfords etc If you do need to purchase one Tayna Batteries are normally the cheapest going and you can check ebay as there’s usually good coupon codes on there Bit fiddly to fit but can do yourself and should be plug and play https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/096-agm/
Thank you. I agree, it’s not worth the risk as I do not want it failing when I am away with the car at Le Mans over the summer, so I will change it out.
It looks like the original battery, so it’s at least 7 to 8 years old, which I am guessing is beyond its normal life expectancy, especially considering other threads on this and other forums.
The information in the manual that you need is the reset procedure. Once battery has been replaced you have to lock and unlock doors and frunk in a certain order. some pics and more words here https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/488-gtb-battery-replacement-questions.704104/#post-150040370
Another day another flat battery issue. Buy a starter and have it with you all the time. The question is not if but when I will be left stranded. I don't know why anyone that buys a Ferrari isn't told this ?
Very good advice and one that I will follow in the future. Frustratingly, I have a jump starter for other (older) cars but I didn’t think to put it in the 488 before setting off….
Many thanks. It’s a shame that Ferrari made the battery position so inaccessible but it does seem to be a DIY job, if a little awkward……
Driving it for that long and still having a charge issue is pretty strange and I agree you should just replace it.
I agree and there was no issue before or after with the alternator charging, so a bit of a mystery….. but replacing it is the way to go.
Battery is certainly not as accessible as an e type jag, but way way better than a Mclaren and a bunch of Astons..
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