MajorCommonEngine

Ferrari 458: Exhaust manifold cracking on early cars — the cold-start tick

Exhaust manifold cracking on early cars — the cold-start tick is a common engine fault on the Ferrari 458 on the 2010–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $8,000 to $15,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the Ferrari 458.

Vehicle: Ferrari 458
Years: 2010–2013
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Ferrari 458 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ferrari 458 faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Exhaust manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The original exhaust manifolds on early 458 Italias and Spiders crack from thermal cycling, the same thin-wall stainless story as the 360 and F430 before it. The sign is a ticking or hissing from the back of the car for the first minute after a cold start that fades as the metal expands, then a slight loss of low-down torque and eventually a check-engine light because the oxygen sensors downstream see a mismatch. Specialists treat one cracked manifold as a sign the other side is on its way, so both are usually done together, and on a mid-engined car with this much bodywork around the exhaust the labour is a large part of the bill.

What you would notice

Ticking or hissing from the engine bay for the first minute after a cold start
Check-engine light for an oxygen sensor or catalyst code
Slight loss of pull at low revs
Exhaust smell in the engine bay

How to check it

Where to look. Exhaust manifolds either side of the engine, under the rear engine cover

See it started from cold and stand at the back with the engine cover raised, listening to the first minute for a tick or hiss that fades away as the engine warms — if the car has been warmed up before you arrive, ask to come back another morning.
Look with a torch at what you can see of both manifolds for soot streaks or blued metal.
Watch for a check-engine light during and after the drive.
Ask whether either manifold has been replaced and whether the replacements are Ferrari or aftermarket, and look for it in the service file.

Parts involved: Exhaust manifold.

What it costs to put right

$8,000 to $15,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the exhaust manifolds ever been replaced, on one side or both?”
“Has a check-engine light ever come on, and what was the cause?”

Now check the Ferrari 458 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Foreign Automotive — 'Ferrari 458 Italia Common Problems: A Specialist's Field Guide'
Collecting Cars — The Ultimate Buyer's Guide to the Ferrari 458
Car Examer — 'Ferrari 458 Problems: What To Know Before Buying'

Ferrari 458 buyer questions

Is exhaust manifold cracking on early cars — the cold-start tick serious on a Ferrari 458?

We rate it major and common on the Ferrari 458. The original exhaust manifolds on early 458 Italias and Spiders crack from thermal cycling, the same thin-wall stainless story as the 360 and F430 before it. The sign is a ticking or hissing from the back of the car for the first minute after a cold start that fades as the metal expands, then a slight loss of low-down torque and eventually a check-engine light because the oxygen sensors downstream see a mismatch. Specialists treat one cracked manifold as a sign the other side is on its way, so both are usually done together, and on a mid-engined car with this much bodywork around the exhaust the labour is a large part of the bill.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari 458?

$8,000 to $15,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ferrari 458 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2013 Ferrari 458. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

See it started from cold and stand at the back with the engine cover raised, listening to the first minute for a tick or hiss that fades away as the engine warms — if the car has been warmed up before you arrive, ask to come back another morning. Look with a torch at what you can see of both manifolds for soot streaks or blued metal. Watch for a check-engine light during and after the drive. Ask whether either manifold has been replaced and whether the replacements are Ferrari or aftermarket, and look for it in the service file. Look here: Exhaust manifolds either side of the engine, under the rear engine cover