Every day tips for living with a 599

[cake eater]

ShampooEfficient said:

Absolutely stunning machine and I love seeing it used as it should be. Pretty sceptical of the dealer saying that driving doesn't charge the battery like other cars, mind...

Have to say I think I was getting BS about the battery

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

Not strictly BS but you’d do well to upgrade the CTEK from the Ferrari issue one to a proper CTEK with better charging algos and current delivery. That way, you will be capable of getting a full charge overnight.

You should also get yourself a Sealy BT102 battery condition tester. It’s essential for knowing whether your battery is underperforming or whether there’s a problem with the car. I’ve used it to establish that a 2 year old battery was out of sorts and replacing it eliminated the startup errors I was experiencing with the FF.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-BT102-Digital-Batt...

Finally, install an AGM battery. Their cold cranking amps performance is far superior to that of non-AGM batteries when new and degrades less over time. As result, AGM batteries have less voltage drop on startup which is the reason the car throws error codes at you.

Thank you ANOpax, I'll do that. I already have a ctek MXS 8.
I'll get the battery tester you gave the link to.
Is there a particular model of AGM battery you can recommend?

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

ANOpax said:

Not strictly BS but you’d do well to upgrade the CTEK from the Ferrari issue one to a proper CTEK with better charging algos and current delivery. That way, you will be capable of getting a full charge overnight.

You should also get yourself a Sealy BT102 battery condition tester. It’s essential for knowing whether your battery is underperforming or whether there’s a problem with the car. I’ve used it to establish that a 2 year old battery was out of sorts and replacing it eliminated the startup errors I was experiencing with the FF.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-BT102-Digital-Batt...

Finally, install an AGM battery. Their cold cranking amps performance is far superior to that of non-AGM batteries when new and degrades less over time. As result, AGM batteries have less voltage drop on startup which is the reason the car throws error codes at you.

Thank you ANOpax, I'll do that. I already have a ctek MXS 8.
I'll get the battery tester you gave the link to.
Is there a particular model of AGM battery you can recommend?

Okay, learnt something today. Every day is a learning day.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/599-new-...

"AGM or Absorbent Glass Mat is an advanced lead-acid battery that provides superior power to support the higher electrical demands of today's vehicles and start-stop applications. AGM batteries are extremely resistant to vibration, are totally sealed, nonspillable and maintenance-free."
https://www.autobatteries.com › en-us

"While 34 group batteries feature positive terminal on the left, 34R group batteries feature positive terminal on the right, hence the 'R' letter after '34' "
https://www.batteryequivalents.com/group-34-batter...

Edited by cake eater on Saturday 26th March 15:05

Edited by cake eater on Saturday 26th March 15:18

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

You’re welcome. If you’ve already got the MXS8 then you’re set on that front and the battery should’ve charged properly overnight.

For the AGM battery, I’ve had good experiences with Varta Silver AGM in all my cars. Bosch are the same, I believe, but with different branding. Which one you need to buy will be dictated by the required ah capacity and the physical size of the battery.

What you’ll find is that the stated CCA capacity of the AGM battery is a bit higher than the non-AGM battery. What you’ll discover in practice once you have the Sealey tester is that the real world CCA capacity of the AGM battery is far in excess of the rated capacity whereas the real CCA of a non-AGM battery isn’t much higher than the stated capacity. As a result, there is a gulf in CCA performance between AGM and non-AGM batteries and that performance widens during the ageing process as non-AGM batteries seem to deteriorate faster than their AGM brethren. I found all this out when I experimented with a Varta Blue (non-AGM) in the FF. it lasted 3 weeks before I traded it in for a Silver AGM. Luckily the battery seller had a 30 day return policy.

Would you believe it, Varta blue E11 is what is currently installed.



Ferrari 3 pin connector for reference



I will look for a Varta or Bosch AGM battery

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

As luck would have it, my BMW uses the same battery as the FF. the OEM battery in the BMW lives in the boot and lasted 5 years before it needed to be replaced. The BMW now gets the FF’s hand me downs!

Hahaha

[cake eater]

Thank you.

I'll look for a " Silver Dynamic AGM " Varta in the correct size

[cake eater]

xcentric said:

Just a nod to Tayna batteries as a supplier - I've no connection to them - but they provide excellent advice, great pricing, and good shipping.

Thank you, I've just been on their website and will call on Monday

[cake eater]

Thanks to all who advised and gave their experience regarding the 599 battery.

I wasn't able to get the Sealy tester that was recommended as for some reason they would not deliver to my address.
This one, topdon ab101 was recommended elsewhere.


Tested the Varta blue in place and it tested 'good' but had already made the decision to replace.


The new Varta silver dynamic arrived this morning from Tayna. Very fast delivery. Tested it in the box.


Removed the blue and installed the silver.
I hate working with electricity! Scares me, something you can't see that wants to hurt you!
Anyway, found a nut missed on one of the red leads going to the battery that I will have to size and replace.

Silver dynamic in place


Turned the ignition on. No warning lights.

Pushed the big red button. Nothing. It turns over but won't catch?

Phone rings, it is Vodafone automotive. They've detected a battery disconnect / low voltage and attempt to start the vehicle so have immobilised the car.

Thank God! I didn't something up!

Confirm its me playing with the car. Car starts first time. Quick drive and all is okay, no warning lights.

Hopefully the AGM battery will help in the long term.

[cake eater]

xcentric said:

No Ferrari experience but lots of battery experience - AGM seem to last longer, have better cold weather performance, and generally higher power than rated, so think you'll be pleased with it. It's also safer in an accident, though that'd be low down on your list of worries. And this thread has cost me a better condition tester - mind you, it's also getting me interested in a 599 so that may be the least of my worries

I think that the 599 is a real sweet spot for price for a big GT. At the price range you have lots of great options, Aston in particular but for me the 599 is just a bit more special. I think the looks are a bit more marmite and there are prettier cars but I really get a smile every time I look at it and when you open it up and find that crazy side, it really is wonderfully crazy.

I never thought about an accident and how the battery might be affected. It does sit well inside the boot in the rear 3/4 panel so hopefully good crash protection. But to tell you the truth, I never ever want to find out.

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

Wow, Cake. That was fast.


I was joking when I said that you're quick on the draw but maybe I shouldn't have. You clearly don't hang around!

It'll be interesting to see how your new AGM tests once it's been on the CTEK for 24hrs. I find a significant improvement in test results once a battery has been charged vs 'out of the box' results as I believe that the battery is delivered with a 'storage' rather than full charge. My AGM which tested at 1213CCA after a full charge (in the earlier picture) was 'only' 1045CCA out of the box.

Tayna batteries were really good with delivery. The quick draw was taken in good humour This was an easy choice as I had never been very happy with the battery choice the dealer installed and with the PH wisdom I am happier with what is in the car now.

I have had a couple of electrical system faults come up yesterday on the ignition checks but as other people have mentioned I don't think the battery came fully charged. I will test again after a few days after it has had a few nights on the ctek.

[cake eater]

Oilchange said:

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Just a small point. If you do have to leave the car on a trickle charger for months at a time, make sure you blow the tyres up (50 psi seems to be most peoples’ recommendation for storage).

Thank you. I wouldn't have thought about that

I wouldn't but up to you. They will look normal but if you forget to deflate them to the correct pressure when you start to use it again you'll have some super hard tyres that will let go unexpectedly, especially in the wet. And you will forget.

it is a good point about forgetting so will have to put a sign in the car, which I will no doubt forget to do

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

cake eater said:

Oilchange said:

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Just a small point. If you do have to leave the car on a trickle charger for months at a time, make sure you blow the tyres up (50 psi seems to be most peoples’ recommendation for storage).

Thank you. I wouldn't have thought about that

I wouldn't but up to you. They will look normal but if you forget to deflate them to the correct pressure when you start to use it again you'll have some super hard tyres that will let go unexpectedly, especially in the wet. And you will forget.

it is a good point about forgetting so will have to put a sign in the car, which I will no doubt forget to do

There's a very simple solution to this problem...

Don't leave the car on trickle charge for months at a time!

Drive the damned thing (even if only in and out of your garage in winter should you decline to buy a set of winter wheels for it or are squeamish about road salt)

I do worry about the salt but as long as it is washed after. . . . .
Unfortunately it is work that takes me away and not the weather that prevents me from driving for months at a time. Otherwise, I will need a volunteer to come and drive my car.
My next door neighbour did offer but after sitting next to him in his tesla I am a little concerned he has forgotten how to drive.

[cake eater]

Oilchange said:

I am at your service, where are you?

Please form an orderly queue!

[cake eater]

So the dreaded ABS failure/CST failure/Manettino failure warning lights came up on the dash again.


Called GreyPaul Nottingham and the service department were very good at squeezing me in to get the ECU read.

This time it's a wheel sensor failure. They cleared the fault and the car seems fine. Put it in race mode, manual, WOT as that seems to be settings that give the most faults and nothing flashed up.

We'll see how it goes for a few days but I think it will be another preventative change as I don't want to get stranded in limp mode.

Edited by cake eater on Tuesday 29th March 22:36

[cake eater]

I've booked a Ferrari Owners Club Pista day at Silverstone. The hospitality was fully booked but got a place in the 'sport' group.

They sent the online briefing and I'm very concerned about the recommendation to increase tyre pressures at 1:37
https://youtu.be/Ib_BrsLCEig

This is very much against all my experience and previous advice which has been to set the cold pressure. Do a session and set the hot pressures. Continue checking tyre pressures after each session, bleeding back to hot pressure.

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

Well, at least you were able to rule out the battery and the code was a genuine one. It's wise of you to make the preventative change. I ignored an intermittent code on the FF (it would disappear after a restart or a hard reset) which eventually left me stranded on holiday in Italy with a blown 50 amp fuse and a fried fuel pump ECU. The locals were mortified that a Ferrari could have broken down The recovery driver was sympathetic and in an effort to cheer us up, showed us his 'scrap-book of doom' as my wife called it. It was photos of all the exotica that he'd been recovering that summer. His previous day's haul included a brand new Macca which had suffered complete electrical failure.

Scrap book of doom, I think I'm in there
Cars booked in for next week.

[cake eater]

willy wombat said:

Interesting. I used to do a lot of FOC track days but I haven’t done one for about 3 years. The advice used to be to ensure that your tyre pressures were at the correct road setting (when cold) and just leave them alone after that. It worked well enough for me (430/599/458) but I am sure the track day warriors on PH might have some views.

I'll be be bleeding back to 36F/33R at the end of each session. I'd be concerned that under the increased loads of track driving you'd have too high a pressure as the tyre got hot. Obviously between sessions the tyre will cool and you'll need 2-3 laps to bring the tyre back to the correct temp/pressure.

Obviously, given environmental conditions at the time

Edited by cake eater on Wednesday 30th March 16:29

Edited by cake eater on Wednesday 30th March 16:31

[cake eater]

Stedman said:

Increase..?

Yeah, I question that too.

[cake eater]

f1ten said:

Good thread and stick with it. All 10 year old supercars need money spending on them including 911gt3s. My f430 has had a few niggles over the last 6 years and electrical glitches but then when everything is working and the engine is screaming, you remember that no 911 I've driven gave that feeling.

Thanks! When everything is going well, it's really amazing.

[cake eater]

Random milage pic



Also tested the battery again

Battery is now showing 850 CCA, up from previous 795 CCA and the 760 it is rated at