Every day tips for living with a 599
Discussion
F355GTS said:
Sounds like the zircon may not be working, perhaps get somebody to listen to see if the compressor kicks in or not. The 599 has a pretty big windscreen and I always found the air con/ climate pretty poor on hot days
I was reading a thread on clubscuderia.co.uk and this was mentioned by another 599 owner. Apparently they don't make the original part but a newer model is available which just bolts straight in, is more efficient and capable of dealing with the heat generated by the glass area.So to tie off the trip I took the 599 to Maranello Service, obviously where I had picked it up from at the start. Round trip of 2,200 miles. Total fuel cost of a little over £1000.
I was expecting it to be high but almost 50p a mile
Though it did manage around 15mpg, I guess as a lot of the trip was motorway.
Again Maranello Service were excellent at fitting me in. I had had a few electrical faults related to the Manetino and I had noted that I saw more when the car was hot and being pushed.
The diagnostic showed 3 faults
1. Low voltage
2. Start up checks ended before completion
3. Air temperature sensor failure
Maranello Service told that they get a lot of calls from customers when they're in the mountains, particularly Pyrenees. Along with the air temp sensor failure this was probably the cause of the Manetino failure warning lights.
Secondly they said that I need to give the car more time to complete the start up checks. The low voltage probably related to the car the car being shuffled around the workshop.
Once home I plugged the car into the cteck and a diagnostic showed showed the battery at 'half'. Whatever that means. And I can definitely recommend the Ferrari adapter because I did attempt to drive off once with the charger still plugged in! Luckily the car would not start and gave me a warning light.
Today will be a day of cleaning and washing the 599. There's an annoying vent that pools with water and the only way I have worked out to empty it is to suck it out!
I was expecting it to be high but almost 50p a mile
Though it did manage around 15mpg, I guess as a lot of the trip was motorway.Again Maranello Service were excellent at fitting me in. I had had a few electrical faults related to the Manetino and I had noted that I saw more when the car was hot and being pushed.
The diagnostic showed 3 faults
1. Low voltage
2. Start up checks ended before completion
3. Air temperature sensor failure
Maranello Service told that they get a lot of calls from customers when they're in the mountains, particularly Pyrenees. Along with the air temp sensor failure this was probably the cause of the Manetino failure warning lights.
Secondly they said that I need to give the car more time to complete the start up checks. The low voltage probably related to the car the car being shuffled around the workshop.
Once home I plugged the car into the cteck and a diagnostic showed showed the battery at 'half'. Whatever that means. And I can definitely recommend the Ferrari adapter because I did attempt to drive off once with the charger still plugged in! Luckily the car would not start and gave me a warning light.
Today will be a day of cleaning and washing the 599. There's an annoying vent that pools with water and the only way I have worked out to empty it is to suck it out!
Edited by cake eater on Friday 4th March 13:00
So she's all clean.
I need to find a good leather cleaner and restorer that an amateur can use easily.
There are a couple of frustrating things.
First is that when you go to raise the driver's windscreen wiper it touches the bonnet so cleaning the blade is difficult. Don't know how I'm going to change it when the time comes
The drain hole is plugged on the drivers side rear wheel arch air intake. I managed to clear the passenger side with the pressure washer but the drivers side is properly plugged. I need something like a wire coat hanger but I'm afraid of damaging the grill.
I need to find a good leather cleaner and restorer that an amateur can use easily.
There are a couple of frustrating things.
First is that when you go to raise the driver's windscreen wiper it touches the bonnet so cleaning the blade is difficult. Don't know how I'm going to change it when the time comes
The drain hole is plugged on the drivers side rear wheel arch air intake. I managed to clear the passenger side with the pressure washer but the drivers side is properly plugged. I need something like a wire coat hanger but I'm afraid of damaging the grill.
xcentric said:
what about using a plastic zip tie to poke the drain hole clear? shouldn't damage anything..... Good road trip story, thanks.
So after a Homer "D'oh!" moment I got the zip tie out.
And after much poking around this is what was removed from the drain!
Can't believe how much gravel was in there or the size of some of the stones, I'm sure bigger that grill!
So today I passed 4000 miles since taking ownership of my 599. I've had to go to the insurance company and ask to increase the milage limit.
What an awesome car! I love spending time in it doing mundane things. I took my tools from Peterborough to Havant. Went to visit my Aunt's family and let her son drive. On the way home played follow the leader with an RS3 and Cayman. This car switches from relaxed cruiser to monstrous as the mood takes you.
I really wanted an F12 but couldn't get the man maths to work. I have to say I don't regret buying the 599 one bit. I went to see a friend who's just bought an F12. The 599 next to it looks older but it's also a lot more subtle. If you squint unkindly it could be a previous gen Toyota Supra! As a result it doesn't really attract too much attention and when it does, it's so far always been positive. I didn't come away from the visit wishing I was in an F12, I came away appreciating it more.
It's not perfect. The radio doesn't work if it's cold and you are using the rear demist. I can't find a place to mount my phone to use Google maps easily. There's no cup holders. Etc etc. But there's a work around for everything except the massive fuel cost! My eyes water everytime I fill the tank.
My problem is I now don't want to drive anything else. I feel genuinely privileged to have the 599 in my garage.
What an awesome car! I love spending time in it doing mundane things. I took my tools from Peterborough to Havant. Went to visit my Aunt's family and let her son drive. On the way home played follow the leader with an RS3 and Cayman. This car switches from relaxed cruiser to monstrous as the mood takes you.
I really wanted an F12 but couldn't get the man maths to work. I have to say I don't regret buying the 599 one bit. I went to see a friend who's just bought an F12. The 599 next to it looks older but it's also a lot more subtle. If you squint unkindly it could be a previous gen Toyota Supra! As a result it doesn't really attract too much attention and when it does, it's so far always been positive. I didn't come away from the visit wishing I was in an F12, I came away appreciating it more.
It's not perfect. The radio doesn't work if it's cold and you are using the rear demist. I can't find a place to mount my phone to use Google maps easily. There's no cup holders. Etc etc. But there's a work around for everything except the massive fuel cost! My eyes water everytime I fill the tank.
My problem is I now don't want to drive anything else. I feel genuinely privileged to have the 599 in my garage.
DeejRC said:
Awesome cake.
I’m exactly the same in the F12. I cry at the pumps though and that was before Vlad went mad!
Yeah, Vald is making some poor choices unlike our donkeys which were definitely good choices I’m exactly the same in the F12. I cry at the pumps though and that was before Vlad went mad!
So funny thing happened a couple days ago. I hadn't told my Mum that I'd bought a 599, only that I was making an investment. I came home late and messed up the alarm, my phone was on silent so missed the security call. The security company called my 'second' and asked them to verify the photos of the "intruder". She confirmed it was me.
Que call from my Mum asking me to explain why I had a Ferrari?! Expensive donkey comments were not appreciated. Luckily Mum thinks Dad would have liked it
So today was disappointing. Went to Bedford Autodrome on the GT circuit with MSV. Unfortunately the donkey proved to be very expensive as it would not pass noise testing.
Just off idle it gave 104 dB and over 4.5k gave 108 dB!
Seriously, it's not that noisy,
at least on the inside. It really does quiet GT so well.
I want to do at least one trackday in it. But I'm wary of an un-silenced day and being on circuit with full on aero race cars.
Spa is not too far and it's 108 dB
Next was scary. On the way home the car pulled power and threw up a catalytic converter fault. Usual off/on fixed it but it's worrying.
Just off idle it gave 104 dB and over 4.5k gave 108 dB!
Seriously, it's not that noisy,
at least on the inside. It really does quiet GT so well.I want to do at least one trackday in it. But I'm wary of an un-silenced day and being on circuit with full on aero race cars.
Spa is not too far and it's 108 dB
Next was scary. On the way home the car pulled power and threw up a catalytic converter fault. Usual off/on fixed it but it's worrying.
DeejRC said:
Is this your first Italian car cake?
Yes, I've not even had an Alfa. Mostly Scoobys before running a Caterham as my only car for two years. Kept the Caterham and got a CLA 45 shootingbrake for a while which I loved and now a GT86.Though, when I was just starting I did have an Opel Monnza and a Renault Laguna, both of which cost less that 500 quid.
So today has turned into a bad one. Beautiful day, early morning drive, empty roads, so switched to race on the Manetino, making some progress when am engine warning light comes on.
No worries, pull over, and carry out off/on giving lots of time between ignition on and engine on. Fault won't clear. Okay, let the car cool, tried again, no success. Called Maranello Service and they said call Ferrari assistance.
Unfortunately Ferrari assistance will not take the car to my preferred dealer so it is going to Nottingham. Hopefully the service is as good there.
No worries, pull over, and carry out off/on giving lots of time between ignition on and engine on. Fault won't clear. Okay, let the car cool, tried again, no success. Called Maranello Service and they said call Ferrari assistance.
Unfortunately Ferrari assistance will not take the car to my preferred dealer so it is going to Nottingham. Hopefully the service is as good there.
Alas Cake, now you know why Italian car ownership is a “thing”.
Basically…this is normal. Sorry. If you are lucky, the experiences add up to eventually provide you the cure, otherwise known as Porsche. If you are unlucky you never learn and decide that perhaps other Italian cars are better and before you know it you are exploring Alfas, Lancias…
Basically…this is normal. Sorry. If you are lucky, the experiences add up to eventually provide you the cure, otherwise known as Porsche. If you are unlucky you never learn and decide that perhaps other Italian cars are better and before you know it you are exploring Alfas, Lancias…
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