458 starting issue & electrical warning fault

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Hi Guys,

Have got a 2011 458.

Often when starting the car, it struggles to start (almost like there is not enough charge) and the electrical warning light comes up. If I leave it running for a minute, turn it off and back on, it starts fine and no warning light comes on.

I had the garage check this out. Initially they thought it might be an 'earthing resistance' issue, but having changed the wiring and battery it still seems to be happening.

Wierd thing is, this doesn't happen everytime and doesn't seem to be an issue with the car sitting idle. I keep it outside most of the time not plugged in. But I have experienced the issue even when I've had it garaged and the tender plugged in. Sometimes it can happen the day after I've been driving it, but then sometimes after not driving it for a few days it starts without any issues. There doesn't seem to be a pattern that I can attribute it to anything particular.

Anyone experienced a similar issue at all?

[oharedm]

I also have a 2011458 Italia and have experienced the same problem.

For me it only happens very occasionally and only when I start the car after a long layup. I have fitted a new AGM Bosch battery and it is on a tender all the time. I have just put it down to a voltage drop when cranking a very cold/dry engine. I can go 1-2 months between starts, you can feel it really take a lot of current too start. I have never experienced other that this type of start. The winning light goes away on a 2nd start.

[AndyGarton]

I would replace the battery if it's still on the original regardless - at the very least it will eliminate that as the problem, but six years is pushing it for a car not used regularly anyway.

[garystoybox]

I had the exact same issue with my 2011 458 when I had it. Dealership worked incredibly hard with me to rectify, including new battery, earths all cleaned, new relays in ignition system, starter motor sent off for testing and reconditioned, new battery condition, tracker checked and rechecked and we never got to the bottom of the problem (including a visit from a Tech from FNE). Now have a newer car.....Using conditioner or not seemed to have no impact on this issue. Hopefully a new battery will sort for yourself as seem to be the cause of most issues on 2010/11 cars. Fingers crossed.

[Mike Brown]

New battery required, should sort and if not at least that's one area cleared for problems

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Thanks for replies guys,

Battery has been replaced, but still happening so don't think that is the issue. It's certainly a strange one. I don't understand how sometimes it can start fine after being left standing for a few days, but can struggle even if it has been used the day before, as this seems to imply it's very random in nature.

[Durzel]

It's part of the Italian charm.

I had a "Engine Control System Failure. Go To Dealer." message come up on mine shortly after setting off within about a month of owning it. Pulled over and phoned the dealer who basically just said "yeah that can happen sometimes, just restart it and it should go away". It did, and didn't come back once I started using the tender religiously (previously I had left it disconnected for days too).

The take away was basically that so long as these messages aren't staying on there and go away on a restart then it's nothing to worry unduly about. Easier said than done though for sure.

[Durzel]

VitzzViperzz said:

You have a nice website! Did you use a CMS or a template?

Errr... you mean the website linked on my profile? Neither.. it's just me mucking about. It's not really a website to speak of.

[JeremyPy]

Hi . Did you ever get it solved permanently? My 458 showing the same defect every now and then. Tha battery is fully charged. A mystery also for the dealer. Driving me up the wall. !

[Durzel]

Are you leaving it off the conditioner for several days? Mine stopped doing it completely once I started religiously plugging it in every time I left it for any period of time.

[Cerberaherts]

They are VERY voltage sensitive. I've also come across quite a few with badly fitted trackers causing parasitic draw on the battery. Worth getting it checked out, should have more than a 60 milliamp drain....

[JeremyPy]

Its always on the conditioner. Use the car only on weekends. I have tried waiting 5 seconds after turning the key before pushing the start button. So far so good. Hope it continues!

[willy wombat]

When I bought my 458 (brand new) I was told by the dealer to give it a few seconds after turning the key before pushing the starter button "to let the car sort itself out". I always wait until the fuel level gauge has filled in and I have never had any problems.

[JeremyPy]

For now Willy's strategy is working.. Hopefully my last message on this one.. Thank you

[Dinoman]

Hi I am a Ferrari Mechanic, and bought my 2010 458 Italia 7 years ago and I have always had this same starting problem ??,always on trickle charger, in the first year and service time I checked all the wiring and grounds etc removed the Starter motor and completely dismantled and cleaned and tested on bench and all was working great ?? fitted back on car and thought it was sorted but within a couple of week it came back, and I lived with it, 2 years ago I fitted a new Battery but still no good, so please please when someone finds what this problem is can you tell me Thanks, Regards DM

[reisskhan]

Bump the thread back up

Has anyone got to the bottom off this managed to
Sort fix it?

I noticed when it does this on an Autel Diagnostic it would bring up

P16A1 MISSED STARTER REQUEST MECHANICAL BLOCKED (MIN)

Whatever that means or if anyone knows lol?

Thanks

[BarryP]

Not sure if you guys have sorted this but I have had this issue on my 458. I bought a new battery and also tried a different maintenance charger and the problem continued. I found that if you turn the key and then give the brake pedal a couple of hard pushes then count slowly to about 25 secs with your foot still on the brake it would start fine with no christmas tree lights. I posted this on a 458 whatsapp group and one of the members replied that this is a problem with the brake switch, replace the switch and all will be sorted.
New brake switch ordered from Eurospare, £22, will get it swapped over when the weather improves but for now the count to 25 seems to work fine.

[NRG1976]

There are various electrical gubbins which draw power when starting the car which can cause a very short-lived voltage drop. Waiting until the fuel gauge is filled in before starting the engine seems to be the fix, as by then the voltage has stabilised.

[craig511]

I often squirm when I see people in any car just whack the key in and start it instantly.

I insert key, turn ign on and wait for the car to do what it has to do, and then start it. Be it my MK4 golf or my ML or my 458.

Maybe I’m just a saddo.

[Orange224]

NRG1976 said:

There are various electrical gubbins which draw power when starting the car which can cause a very short-lived voltage drop. Waiting until the fuel gauge is filled in before starting the engine seems to be the fix, as by then the voltage has stabilised.

I do this