Battery problem F430

[Loz8]

Just wondered if anyone could offer some advice please. Have been travelling (2.5 weeks) and for the first time the 430 was dead when I went to use her today. Connected up the charger for the first time since I have had the car and 3 lights came on red solid and green/yellow flashing. According to the manual this indicates a connection issue or that the battery presumably is very very low in charge. I have called ferrari assistance who said it should be left over night to see before they arrange to collect the car yet the manual suggests 3-4 hours should be enough unless I have read it wrong. It has now been 3 hours and the lights on the charger are still doing the same and the car has no battery life whatsoever.

I appreciate any help

Cheers

[Clearcoat]

Sometimes Lead acid batteries need a good kick charge, what amp rating is your charger? I suspect it was not that good a charge when you left it.

[Loz8]

thanks, not actually sure of the amp rating of the charger. My guess is that the battery is so low that it cant be boosted from the ferrari charger.

[andy355]

trickle charger probably wont do it. you could phone the aa/rac to jump start it (though i would be a bit nervous of that). If you get it going then a good drive followed by the battery conditioner overnight should sort it. I have the same on my maser if left for 2 weeks - seems to be from the tracker - left on the charger alone over night (a Ctek battery conditioner) was no where near enough charged to get the engine started.

Edited by andy355 on Sunday 12th October 19:30

[GingerBaws]

as above, a trickle charger or conditioner won't help - the battery needs a good start and the best thing for this is a car - not necessarily the 430 though - I have an old banger I did this with once, took the battery out my "good" car, stuck it in the banger, jump started it and drove it for 5 minutes, came back and the trickle charger was then able to do its job

[Loz8]

Had the RAC out courtesy of ferrari and he put enough charge in the battery to then make the ferrari trickle charger work! To be honest ferrari diagnosed the problem poorly, i told them that both lights flashing meant there wasn't sufficient charge in the battery to use it and they told me to leave it and see what happened over night! Will be complaining tomorrow.
Cheers for the replies guys

[neil-f]

Other problem you now have is that Gel batteries once they have gone totally flat never fully recover so the battery will now be weak best to replace to save you future grief.

[Loz8]

Thanks Neil, already thinking I need to change it...do you think it should be left on trickle in the meantime during non use?

[Don1]

I leave both of my gel battery cars on trickle charge when I'm not using them. Accumates are very good for this...

[neil-f]

Loz8 said:

Thanks Neil, already thinking I need to change it...do you think it should be left on trickle in the meantime during non use?

Loz
Yip leave it on trickle charge it should ensure a start over the short term (unless the weather gets really cold and your garage is not heated).
I tend to put my CS, bikes and lawn tractor on charge (Accumates) every time I put them in the garage unless it is deffo going out the next day. I have a motorbike battery that has lasted 9 years being kept this way. Is your charger the factory fitted option?
Neil

[Loz8]

Yep its the factory one, nice looking piece of kit isnt it - bit of an issue getting it plugged in last night actually! When i left work 100% was flashing yellow so im gonna try it later and hope...If its ok then I plan to leave it plugged in as I am barely getting her out at the moment. Thanks

[Schermerhorn]

Hook it up to another car if you have one with jump leads, start the car and give the car a 10 minute run. The alternator should reinstate some charge back into the battery. However, replace the battery ASAP.

[Ferritboy]

My dad had exactly the same problem with his F430 spider! Where you useing the roof alot because it totally drains the battery! When ever my dad puts the roof up or down he revs the balls of it to stop the battery F*****g up.

[Loz8]

Cheers for that, I wish I had been using the roof alot!