How to place car in Neutral?

The mechanic who will be working on your car should know what to do, if he's competent with current Fcars. So you should engage the help of such a person before handling the car if it is not operable. Personally-speaking I don't think it's normally possible to engage neutral without the engine running. Here are my reasons:

- neutral requires the DCT to disengage its gears internally
- the DCT gearbox is only controlled by the paddles
- the paddles are electronic so the engine must be running, current flowing to controls

As you know, neutral is engaged by simultaneously pulling back on both gear shift paddles.

If you cannot start the car for some reason and do not have the help of a competent Ferrari mechanic, they need to somehow lift all the wheels off the ground and place them on a wheeled platform for transporting. They'll need the key to disable the alarm before doing so.

The only other possibility is if there are external manual controls located on the DCT that your mechanic can operate to disengage the gears inside the DCT. Unfortunately, the transport company is not suitable for performing that sort of procedure. Again, you should not work on this car unless you can access help from a competent Ferrari mechanic. Good luck!

 

There is a tool that can be used to mechanically release the parking brake if the engine cannot be started. I'd recommend starting it then putting it into neutral (pull both paddles at the same instant) and load the car. If you cannot start the car then use the procedure below. The key they are talking about is a thin z shaped tool in the tool kit. With over 100,000 modern Ferrari miles I have never had to use it.

As a side note about Neutral, many that are new to the new DTC style transmission complain about the 'dragging' between the engine and transmission when for example you give a little gas at a traffic light, the clutch starts to engage, then you decide to stop and the clutches are still pulling ... I immediately pull both handles, putting it into neutral, then immediately pull the right paddle to put it back in 1st, taking control of my car.

From the California owner's manual to answer the original question:
If the electric parking brake cannot be deactivated because the battery is flat or there is a failure in the electrical system that controls it and the vehicle needs to be moved, the emergency procedure described below must be performed.
• Open the luggage compartment lid.
• Remove the tool kit cover.
• Take key A out of the tool kit to release the electric parking brake.
• Using the special rectangular groove B in the right of the tool kit (marked by a plate), place the release key in the hole (in the left part of the groove) and turn it clockwise. This movement loosens the parking brake cables.
Important note
To release the brake completely, the key needs to be turned 50 times whereas it starts to be released after approximately 20 turns.
Once the electric parking brake has been manually released, the EPB node records a failure at the next key-on and a warning light and the following message “Parking Brake system revision. Go to dealer” is displayed on the TFT display.
Warning
The parking brake resumes normal operating but it is important to go to the nearest workshop to have it calibrated and delete any errors in the error memory.
Go to a Ferrari Service Centre. Calibration is necessary for safety reasons.
However, this should be avoided unless absolutely necessary:
- to tow the vehicle
- if there is a Park Lock failure (the following message is
displayed on the TFT display: “Only manual unlock gearbox
allowed: See handbook&#8221.
Warning
When the Park Lock safety device is deactivated manually, the
vehicle may move unexpectedly. The vehicle is only kept stationary by the parking brake, if
applied.
Warning
If the vehicle is not on a level surface, the Park Lock must be released by the device in the passenger compartment. After releasing the Park lock, the following message may appear on the TFT display “Only manual unlock gearbox allowed: See handbook” Procedure for releasing the Park Lock from the passenger compartment
Warning
This procedure must only be performed when the vehicle is on a level surface.
The Park Lock manual release device is in the pocket-change compartment on the centre console.
• Take key B out of the tool kit.
• Open the pocket-change compartment on the centre console.
• Remove the rubber cap A.
Place key B in the device housing in the pocket-change
compartment.
• Turn the key clockwise.
if the electrical system allows it, check that the letter “N” appears on the Dot Matrix display by turning the ignition key to position “II”. The following message “Gearbox not in Parking position” appears on the TFT display.
Important note
Once the vehicle has been moved to a safe place, the Park Lock must be reset.
• Place key B in the device housing in the pocket-change
compartment.
• Turn the key counterclockwise.
If the electrical system allows it, check that the letter “P” appears on
the Dot Matrix display by turning the ignition key to position “II”.
• Close the device hole with the rubber cap A.
The Park Lock manual release device is in the luggage
compartment.
• Take key B out of the tool kit.
• Open the luggage compartment.
• Remove the felt cover E.
• Remove the rubber cap F that protects the device.
• Place key B in the device and turn it clockwise.
if the electrical system allows it, check that the letter “N” appears on the Dot Matrix display by turning the ignition key to position “II”. The following message “Gearbox not in Parking position” appears on the TFT display.

 

Rick, thank you for your input on the emergency parking brake release.

The OP had asked about placing the DCT in neutral and not how to release the parking brake so I answered his question directly as he didn't say if the car was in gear or if it was in park.

I actually hadn't come across the the emergency release procedure for the parking brake which goes to show that it's good to read through the entire owner's manual, a PDF copy of which you can download from HERE.

I believe the relevant section with illustrations, starts on page 227. It's also interesting to note the owner's manual recommends that it be only carried out by specialized persons.

Good luck James.
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Yep, that's another issue about these cars, the batteries going dead. The battery will drain if the car is left undriven for a "long time" without its battery tender hooked up. Depending on the state of the battery before the car was left idle, "a long time" can even mean just within a couple of weeks.

The regular battery tender that came with the car will also not be able to fully restore a dead battery; it was only designed to keep a healthy battery topped up, not to recharge dead batteries. However, in the event that the car's owner is not able to resuscitate the battery even after hooking up the tender/charger for a couple of days (it can take that long sometimes), you may still be able to jump start the car. Your mechanic will know.

 

hi friends do some body no the proceder to put a 458 in nuetral with engine not running since some times i am having issues that engine wont crank at all do some body no how ,maserati ghibli have a simpile lever on the floor passiger side you just pull up an lock and its neutral but 458 ???? thank you evrey one

 

Hi guys, my brother and I bought an inop California that have tons of issues, after finally getting the engine started , I noticed the that dot matrices read N. As per the post I did the turn the key counter clockwise but it does not put the park lock back on and the display still reads N. My questions are are as follows:

1. Can you drive the ferrari in the park lock released mod? If yes how. I tried but its not shifting. Also my hood was open all the time and I cant close it.
2. Do you think there is something broken internal to the transmission as I cant put it back to Park Lock mode to display the P on dot matrix display? I am not sure if I am doing anything wrong like not closing the door or something.

Thanks in advance!