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Engine Control System Failure

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by Arnie, Mar 29, 2015.

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  1. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #1 Arnie, Mar 29, 2015
    I have a 13 spider which I stored since January on the Ferrari Charger, with a a full tank of gas and with fuel stabilizer. When I went to start the car today I got the dreaded Engine control system failure light. I did a search of the issue on the forum threads and I did everything possible to fix it.

    I had a full tank of gas, was on the battery charger, (disconnected it prior to starting) . turn the key and immediately push the start button and after 5 minutes got the warning light, Restarted the car immediately same light, waited 10 minutes still got the light and finally waited several hours before starting again. I even change the amount time between turning the key and pushing the start button.

    No luck light stayed on. So has anybody had the same trial and error and solved it? Calling my dealer tomorrow morning. Just want some insight. Thanks
     
  2. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    #2 PhilNotHill, Mar 29, 2015
    When is your service due? Cel comes on if you go past so you will take it to the dealer.

    If the Cel is flashing it could be serious.

    Best
     
  3. groutguy

    groutguy Formula Junior

    Mar 9, 2014
    271
    #3 groutguy, Mar 29, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2015
    I had the engine control system failure come on in my Speciale when I pressed the start button immediately after turning the ignition key.
    It's necessary to wait a few seconds after turning the key, for the computer to perform all of its checks. Never had the problem arise afterward.
    I'm not sure if this is the same problem as yours, but thought it might help.
     
  4. 458trofeo

    458trofeo F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2013
    4,426
    City of Angels
    Full Name:
    101 aki
    #4 458trofeo, Mar 30, 2015
    No problem, I have it all the time :D
     
  5. Randyslovis

    Randyslovis Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2011
    897
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Randall J Slovis
    #5 Randyslovis, Mar 31, 2015
    Arnie,
    My car is driven more often than yours. But, sadly it frequently sits for a few weeks. I get failure or other lights including "catalytic converter too hot" to operate even though car just started! If car drives OK, drive it a few miles to get everything warmed up before doing the restart. My tech at FOA in Atlanta said that on start-up you frequently get small misfires which the computer picks up as a "failure". Only by warming up motor so that on restart everything is operating normally will computers be "right."
    If the car doesn't drive properly, then obviously, don't drive it.
    Let me know what happens.
    Randy
     
  6. 707

    707 Karting

    May 29, 2014
    175
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #6 707, Mar 31, 2015
    +1 to starting and driving. drive for half an hour and turn it off than back on.
     
  7. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #7 Arnie, Mar 31, 2015
    Had the annual maintenance in January went right to storage. Cel was not flashing.
     
  8. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #8 Arnie, Mar 31, 2015
    I always wait 5 seconds or until the notice that you have to approve comes on.
     
  9. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #9 Arnie, Mar 31, 2015
    Hi Randy,

    My dealer told me the same thing. I took it for a long drive turned the car off waited 5 minutes and restarted engine control failure light cam e on again no luck. My car is getting picked up on Thursday to take it in for service.
     
  10. Randyslovis

    Randyslovis Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2011
    897
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Randall J Slovis
    #10 Randyslovis, Apr 1, 2015
    SOB
    Arnie, I am so sorry. Was sure it was nothing.
    Please let me know what they find.
    I am sure it is just some stupid sensor, but who knows?
    Randy
     
  11. 458trofeo

    458trofeo F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2013
    4,426
    City of Angels
    Full Name:
    101 aki
    #11 458trofeo, Apr 1, 2015
    Hmm might possibly be the fuel stabilizer, or just a glitch in one of the sensors,
    let us know what happens
     
  12. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    #12 PhilNotHill, Apr 1, 2015
    When 458 spider was first delivered the cel came on. Not flashing. Could not get to the dealer even though display said: take to dealer. 3.5 hours away. Too much snow.

    I had to drive a few times. After several small trips the cel went off and has never returned. Dealer said no codes showed up. Have 20k miles and no problems. Less than 1k when the cel came on.

    Best
     
  13. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #13 Arnie, Apr 1, 2015
    Thanks Phil hopefully that it what it is Funny thing previously when I had the Ferrari charger hooked up the charge light would go on and off e very 30 min. Now the green charge light stays on all the time no flexing back and forth.
     
  14. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #14 Arnie, Apr 6, 2015
    My Service Manager called me and told me they could not figure out why the "electrical system failure light" does not go out. They had to do several system reboots before they could get rid of the failure warning. When I pick up my car I will question him further as to what caused the light to come on.
     
  15. 458trofeo

    458trofeo F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2013
    4,426
    City of Angels
    Full Name:
    101 aki
    #15 458trofeo, Apr 6, 2015
    Interesting..
    Fwiw I would not add anymore fuel stabilizer as the emission sensors are very sensitive
    and may have picked up and adulterating agent in the fuel.
    Also you just mentioned 'electrical system failure light' in this post: I reckon you mean 'engine control system failure'..
    When you pick it up from the dealer make sure that they turn off the car and restart it
    a few times and the light does not come back on a restart. They might just have canceled
    the code with the reboot so it might come back on a restart if the car is turned off.
    If the light does come on again and the car drives fine I would not worry about it, just buy
    a portable obd2 reader and cancel the code on startups which is what I do (i have 200 cel cats and run 100 octane so my car is CEL happy :) )
    Keep us posted! very best
     
  16. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #16 Arnie, Apr 7, 2015
    Picked up my car did several full system reboots did not just clear the code. No problem now. Fuel stabilizer is not the issue with electrical system failure. Could not determine the cause.
     
  17. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    #17 PhilNotHill, Apr 7, 2015
    Glad to see the issue is resolved. Thanks for keeping us informed.
     
  18. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #18 Arnie, Apr 8, 2015
    Got more details on the failure. It appears to be a secondary air injection system failure. The failure was caused by the computer not recognizing the secondary air injection sensor which caused the electrical system failure warning. Several reboots caused the computer to now recognize the sensor. Problem solved

    Nothing to do with storing the car, using a fuel stabilizer, or bad gas
     
  19. Randyslovis

    Randyslovis Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2011
    897
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Randall J Slovis
    #19 Randyslovis, Apr 9, 2015
    Hi Arnie.
    Just got back from dealer. Car had the craziest creak in steering column. Turns out leather had shrunk pulling part of wheel cowling into a point of resistance.
    Dare I digress.
    Anyway, while there they did software update that just came up. When car serviced in January this update was not out yet.
    Apparently there is a "miscommunication" between two computers/sensors that sends erroneous error messages when there is in reality none. I wonder if this was the issue with yours. I would recommend that you confirm update done on your car as it (A) needs to be done and (B) so if this was your cause it doesn't occur again.
    They assured me it had NO adverse effects on performance or exhaust performance - like the update they did on '10s and '11s that ruined the farts and burbles in exhaust.
    Glad car fine.
    Best,
    Randy
     
  20. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 25, 2008
    14,243
    Amersfoort, The Netherlands, Europe.
    Full Name:
    Mel
    #20 Melvok, Apr 9, 2015
    Which is now the latest softwareupdate (number) on the 458 ? Anybody knows that here please ?
     
  21. Arnie

    Arnie Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2011
    465
    New Jersey
    #21 Arnie, Apr 9, 2015
    I will check and see if there are any service bulletins that need to be installed. Lack of communication could be similar to my problem.
     
  22. Baitschev

    Baitschev Formula Junior

    Jan 8, 2017
    262
    Vienna
    #22 Baitschev, Mar 5, 2020
    Had the same fault Message today After 3 month Garagequeen.
    Battery Full before Start
    I noticed that the starter did. Not turn in normal Speed.(Slow)
    I think their is no Oil in the 8 Zylinder and the starter Need much More amperes to Turn the 8 Pistons,Till Oil comes in .
    Second Start allways Start Fine without Message.because Oil is in the Zylinders and the starter Turnes Fine normal Speed.
     

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