New Battery?

[CatmanV2]

Well that was interesting.

Started the car this afternoon, and the battery warning light is on. Stays there all the way home. Voltage gauge wandering as one would expect.

Got home with no issues, turned her off. Started up again and it's off.

I wonder if this may be the final death throes of my battery. I'll get the meter out at the weekend.

C

 

[Trev Latter]

I think I'd be carrying out a charge system check as well as the battery. How old is the battery? They can just give up suddenly without warning, but most do give some indication they're starting to fail. A Maserati is like an early warning system for battery failure. Slightest cough and they throw a wobbly.

 

[CatmanV2]

Indeed Trev, that's why the meter will be out

The battery is at least as old as my ownership) which is coming up to 2 years, and it's a POS no name thing that lasts about a week if I'm lucky, when I go away

Won't surprise me at all if this is it

C

 

[Trev Latter]

It does sound like it might be a little past it's best. Mine's good for several weeks without any issues, but it's rare to be left sky longer than two weeks without being driven. If you don't have access to a drop tester, you could leave the lights on for several minutes, measure voltage, switch off lights and check voltage again. A healthy battery will recover quite quickly. Fully charged healthy battery should be about 12.6v.

 

[CatmanV2]

It does sound like it might be a little past it's best. Mine's good for several weeks without any issues, but it's rare to be left sky longer than two weeks without being driven. If you don't have access to a drop tester, you could leave the lights on for several minutes, measure voltage, switch off lights and check voltage again. A healthy battery will recover quite quickly. Fully charged healthy battery should be about 12.6v.

Good tip, thanks

Pretty sure it's charging OK, but I'll have a check at the weekend. Weather permitting

C

 

[jluis]

I had the same problem in another car.
Battery light would come and go and then eventually stayed on.

It was the alternator dying. It's unlikely that a failing battery causes that although it can make maters worse as it drains more current from a bad alternator.

 

[voicey]

It's worth checking your alternator properly. These engines take a lot of cranking power to start and the car's systems are also very power hungry so a failing battery can really put a strain on the alternator. Also check the integrity of the power wire connections at the alternator - it is not uncommon for Ferrari ones to burn out and cause a fire.

 

[Contigo]

Just bought a CTEK rebranded charger for £13.99 from LIDL. Proper necessity with these cars imo.

 

[CatmanV2]

Just bought a CTEK rebranded charger for £13.99 from LIDL. Proper necessity with these cars imo.

Already got one without the re-branding. it shows that the battery is poor no matter how frequently it's used. Always leaves it green though. Never have any real issues with other obvious battery related gremlins. Some character perhaps, but always drivable.

C

 

[Contigo]

Sounds like yours is Terminal. I'll get my coat!

 

[CatmanV2]

Sounds like yours is Terminal. I'll get my coat!

Please allow me to help!

C

 

[midlifecrisis]

Just bought a CTEK rebranded charger for £13.99 from LIDL. Proper necessity with these cars imo.

The Maserati one is a rebranded CTEK too, but for a lot more than Aldi. However the Maserati one can only output 0.8Amps which is pitifully small for such a big battery. (Imagine filling a swimming by peeing into it!) Whoever spec'd this must now work for their Centenary Marketing Team.

 

[Contigo]

This one does a maximum of 3.8A

 

[safrane]

Just picked mine up from Lidl...given the car is locked away for weeks on end it was only time before I would hear the clack clack clack of the poorly powered starter.

 

[daverichardson]

Now the season has changed I am thinking of buying a maintenance charger for my QP
Is the Lidl one a maintenance charger?
d