Inside The Toolbox: Essential Tools Every Ferrari Mechanic Needs
Ferrari has a reputation for being the pinnacle of super cars. When it comes to maintenance and repair work, you don’t want to trust your luxury car to just anyone. You want a mechanic who has a special understanding of a Ferrari’s needs, which means they should have some basic tools in their arsenal.
With the right know-how and equipment, any common Ferarri repair can be a breeze. While knowing only comes with experience, we can help you familiarize yourself with the essentia tools any Ferrari mechanic should have in their toolbox.
Tools A Ferrari Mechanic Should Have: A Code Scanner
One of the most important repair tools that any mechanic should have, Ferrari or not, is a dealer-level code scanner. Code scanners interface with your car’s computer through the OBD2 port, allowing you to read and clear stored error codes, reset service intervals and adaptations, and read live data from all sensors. Not only does having access to all this information help cut down on diagnostic time, it can also make mechanics aware of issues that might not be obvious.
A Metric Socket Set
Italian-based Ferrari exclusively uses metric nuts and bolts, so a set of metric sockets and allen keys are vital before attempting any work on a Ferrari. The company also packs large V8s and V12s in very small compartments, so a set of extensions and swivels will further help you access these hard-to-reach bolts.
Combine these sockets with a ⅜” drive ratchet, a ¼” ratchet, and a ½” torque wrench, and you’ll be ready to tackle any task your Ferrari sets for you.
A Multimeter
Italians are amazing at making spaghetti, and this still holds true when it comes to wiring. Ferraris are famous for electric gremlins. When they develop, it can take hours to diagnose and chase down the loose connection, worn wire, or a damaged circuit.
A good multimeter will allow a Ferrari mechanic to measure voltages, currents, resistance, and continuity, and compare these values against known values to help find faults.
Wiring Tools
Once you find the culprit wires or components, it’ll be time to repair it. Every wiring kit should include wire cutters, wire strippers, various diameters of heat shrink, a heat gun, a soldering iron and solder, and lastly, de-soldering wicks.
With these tools, a Ferrari mechanic will be able to replace damaged wire lengths, insulate soldered wire lengths, remove damaged components, and re-solder new components.
Ferrari Specific Sockets
Ferrari, being Ferrari, wants everything to be as bespoke as possible, including several nuts found on several different Ferrari models. Depending on the model and vintage, your Ferrari may need a Ferrari-specific socket to free nuts on the transmission, steering wheel, timing belt pulleys, and rear axels.​​​​​​ While these sockets are only available through Ferrari, they will fit standard-size ratchets.
A Cylinder Carbon Blaster
Ferrari introduced direct injection with the F154 engine in 2013. With all direct fuel injection engines, they suffer from carbon build-up that can rob the engine of performance and, in some severe cases, cause valves to get stuck open and damaged by the piston.
A cylinder carbon blaster is one of the safest ways to remove carbon without damaging or scoring the cylinder heads. It works by blasting walnut shells into the cylinders, which are abrasive enough to remove the carbon buildup, but not so abrasive as to damage the metal in the engine. Then, it is as simple as using a shop vac to remove the walnut shells and carbon debris from the cylinder head.
A Vacuum Coolant Bleeder
Vacuum coolant bleeders are a great tool for any mid and rearengine car. The distance between the radiators in the front of the car and the engine in the rear leaves a lot of room for air to get stuck, causing airlocks in your cooling system that can lead to overheating.
A vacuum bleeder creates a vacuum in the cooling system of the car. With a flick of a valve, coolant will be sucked into the cooling system with no air trapped behind.
An Exhaust Gas Tester
Ferraris struggle with head gasket failures, and one of the best ways to test for a failed head gasket is by using an exhaust gas tester. When a head gasket fails, it allows coolant to enter the engine cylinder and exhaust gasses to enter to coolant system.
An exhaust gas tester uses a vial that fits onto the coolant expansion tank and contains a blue liquid. If exhaust gases are present in the coolant system, the liquid will turn green, and eventually yellow, if the failure is severe enough.
Ferrari Mechanics In Pompano Beach
With all the Ferrari-specific tools you’ll need to work on your car, it makes sense to take your prancing horse to a Ferrari Specialist. Foreign Affairs Motorwerks is South Florida’s Ferrari specialist. Our team of ASE-certified mechanics has every tool required to tackle any task your Ferrari may need, regardless of the vintage, engine, and layout.
Whether you drive an Italian stallion or an American pony, new or vintage, we offer a premium experience for you and your car. So, next time your car needs some additional love, think Foreign Affairs Motorwerks, South Florida’s Premier Luxury Auto Repair, Performance, and race Facility Since 1978. Call 954-746-0488 to schedule an apppointment for your luxury vehicle today.