Gen II Vanquish- Exhaust Valve Control Options

[Chad_Hugo]

Happy New Year to everyone!

I am at the moment looking at options for a valve control unit- my Vanquish Carbon Edition has been a pleasure to own and drive this autumn, the sound especially in sport is brilliant but would be that bit more brilliant with the valves open all of the time..

I favour a simple, straight forward valve controller which is easily reversible as I want the option to keep the car standard, from what I have heard and read it is the best solution on balance as the Vanquish already sounds amazing this will just give me that same amazing sound more often!

On balance prefer that too de-cat which is obviously more involved/costs more and then car is not standard.

I have come across the CCCharger units and heard good things about them:

https://www.cccharger.co.uk/product-page/aston-mar...

Have any past or present owners had any experience with this unit?

Especially any Vanquish owners?

My local Aston specialist who has an excellent reputation told me its a easy fix and install, they estimated 35 mins or so from memory.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help with some feedback.

[NSP]

I have one fitted to my Vanquish and it does exactly what its supposed to and enables you to manually control the exhaust valves which even in Sport mode do not open until circa 3500 rpm. I have mine permanently open which enables you to hear the engine right through the rev range but it isn't at all intrusive and still quiet on a motorway cruise etc. For what they cost, it is certainly a worthwhile upgrade.

[ZT260SE]

I had one for a Christmas present and will be fitting it on Saturday to my Vantage S. There is a thread somewhere on here that I’d share if I knew how (sorry!) which was positive. A few fellow local owners have them too and they rated it.

Looks pretty straight forward to me looking at the instructions and I am not that proficient. Not that expensive either.

Clive’s site has a Vanquish video on it if I recall too.

Hope that helps.

[yvr]

I installed the cccharger unit in my 2016 Vanquish Carbon and it works well. Makes a huge difference.

I was hoping it might help subdue the cold start on early mornings, but apparently that's not possible.

[Simpo Two]

I have the non-memory version (ie goes back to 'quiet' on switch-off) on my DB9. I stuck the fob onto the centre console with d/s tape so it's effectively just two more buttons, and no fumbling. The bit in the fuse box is so easy that even I could fit it - though I see the Vanquish version is rather harder. A nice little gadget.

[Chad_Hugo]

Haha the early morning cold start, a fav of mine but perhaps not all of the neighbours!

Good to hear from a few fellow Vanquish owners, I will go ahead and order one it was something that I was meaning to do last year.

Will be great having the valves open as/when desired but also can revert to standard all at the touch of a button.

Yes, on DB9 is a DIY job I believe, on Vanquish takes a little longer, but still 35 tops mins for good specialist (they had fitted these before) and the kit comes with full instructions too.

This is the YouTube video for anyone interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1cyL8zCp68

Certainly seems a noticeable difference, will take my car out again by end of Feb and very curious to see what it's like after being fitted..

[Jon39]

There are two considerations.

1. A remote device (very simple to fit) will provide a choice of the exhaust valves to Manufacturers Standard, or Always Open.

2. For anyone wanting to occasionally make the exhaust as quiet as possible, a manual switch needs to be installed.
Completely reversible and usually the switch is positioned in a reachable position, but entirely out of sight.
A switch will enable you to choose between the Manufacturers Operation; Always Open and the additional option, Always Closed.


Edit - Remember that without a switch, the exhaust valves will always be open at cold start (Zero to about 1,500 rpm) and a remote will not quieten the exhaust sound within that rev range.

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 3rd January 18:37

[Geflackt]

I installed the same exhaust valve on my '14 Vanquish. Relatively easy install. Removed the rear wheel, unscrewed parts of the wheel liner, and reached in to add it.
Most of the time I keep the valves open, but usually revert to stock setting in the mornings.
At one point I considered making my own and tying the control signal to certain bus messages(like Sport being pressed) but it didn't seem worth the effort.
The valve controller is definitely a worthwhile and easy mod.

[Chad_Hugo]

Good to hear, will order one tomorrow and have it fitted as soon as car is back with me again towards the end of winter.

Has anyone had any warning lights come up at all when using the valve controller?

Hopefully not but just thought I would ask..

[LTP]

Chad_Hugo said:

Good to hear, will order one tomorrow and have it fitted as soon as car is back with me again towards the end of winter.

Has anyone had any warning lights come up at all when using the valve controller?

Hopefully not but just thought I would ask..

Not on my V8V no, and I doubt anybody ever would. They are purely "dumb" in that the ECU tells the system when to operate the valves but it has no feedback as to whether its instructions were actually carried out. Which is why you find Astons running with a fuse out, or with the owner blissfully unaware that the valves are actually jammed

[Simpo Two]

Chad_Hugo said:

Has anyone had any warning lights come up at all when using the valve controller?

I liked this bit in the advert:

'This product also has a stealth characteristic, which means that its internal "defeat circuit" makes its presence unable to be recognised by either the earlier (6 speed) "Spanish Oak" ECU or the later (8 speed) Bosch ECU. This means no presence detection at all on the Aston Martin AMDS (Aston Martin Diagnostics System) as used by both official dealerships and the better equipped Independent facilities.'

[Chad_Hugo]

I've ordered it, thank you to everyone who shared some feedback.

I will report back later on towards the end of Feb, end of winter/start of spring when the car is back with me from storage. Hopefully its helpful to other Vanquish owners who are thinking of having the same kit fitted.

I am looking forward to trying it out

[Chad_Hugo]

A quick update on this- later than promised but hopefully will be useful to any/all other Gen II Vanquish owners thinking of having this fitted.

The CCCharger valve controller has transformed the sound of the car, and all for just 114 GBP!

The V12 obviously makes a lovely sound, and is brilliant when higher up in the rev range but for me, I suppose like other owners I wanted to hear more of it when driving at more sensible speeds, and under 3k rpm I wanted to improve things.

The little key fob controller has 2 x settings, factory I have never used once since April which tells you how happy I am with it and then 'open' which is the top button. With that pressed I think valves open fully at just 1k, instead of around 3.5kw, and as you go through the first few gears the sound the car makes is so so much better, puts a smile on your face every time.

Highly recommended to everyone one of the best value for money mods you can do, fitting took about 30 mins or so, done by a reputable AM specialist who I used, as its not just plug and play like apparently on vantage etc.

[p102768]

If it is the same as the one on my Virage then I think you will find that the device just removes power from the exhaust valve vacuum pump so they are open all the time in the 'open' position.