DB9/Virage Total Transplant of Electronic Modules
Discussion
Hello everyone,
I imported a 2011 Virage Volante from Florida to the UK after it was fully submerged in seawater during Huricane Ian. It is LHD and 315MHz remote locking.
Most, if not all, of the electronic modules are toast - you don't have to test them, you can see corrosion and pins dropping off etc.
I have bought quite a lot of the replacement modules (and wiring loom) required, but many require coding to the CEM / VIN I believe. I can't find a definitive list of what is coded and what is plug-and-play - any help with this would be appreciated.
There is a possibility to buy the "electronic heart" of a crashed Virage coupe -- CEM, 2x engine ECUs, (glass) key, key receiver assembly, and also the gearbox as well as some other modules such as door modules. Being a UK car it is RHD with 433MHz remote locking - its airbags had deployed but I'm not planning on using any airbag modules from it.
Would those work in my car?
I don't mean "work perfectly" - obviously the convertible roof wouldn't work, and it's possible the seat controls will drive the wrong seat or something, I can live with that temporarily.
My plan is just to get it driving, hopefully MOT it, register it and then take it to a specialist with AMDS to get the config file changed to my original VIN when they can fit me in. I have a trailer but it's a real pain loading a car without drive here, and the specialist wouldn't be too pleased with it either I presume.
Would there be issues later on trying to get everything right in the config file with AMDS? It would have switched from 315MHz to 433MHz but otherwise it would be the same as when it left the factory, I think?
Any help appreciated before I end up with some expensive paper weights!
I imported a 2011 Virage Volante from Florida to the UK after it was fully submerged in seawater during Huricane Ian. It is LHD and 315MHz remote locking.
Most, if not all, of the electronic modules are toast - you don't have to test them, you can see corrosion and pins dropping off etc.
I have bought quite a lot of the replacement modules (and wiring loom) required, but many require coding to the CEM / VIN I believe. I can't find a definitive list of what is coded and what is plug-and-play - any help with this would be appreciated.
There is a possibility to buy the "electronic heart" of a crashed Virage coupe -- CEM, 2x engine ECUs, (glass) key, key receiver assembly, and also the gearbox as well as some other modules such as door modules. Being a UK car it is RHD with 433MHz remote locking - its airbags had deployed but I'm not planning on using any airbag modules from it.
Would those work in my car?
I don't mean "work perfectly" - obviously the convertible roof wouldn't work, and it's possible the seat controls will drive the wrong seat or something, I can live with that temporarily.
My plan is just to get it driving, hopefully MOT it, register it and then take it to a specialist with AMDS to get the config file changed to my original VIN when they can fit me in. I have a trailer but it's a real pain loading a car without drive here, and the specialist wouldn't be too pleased with it either I presume.
Would there be issues later on trying to get everything right in the config file with AMDS? It would have switched from 315MHz to 433MHz but otherwise it would be the same as when it left the factory, I think?
Any help appreciated before I end up with some expensive paper weights!
Edited by MaxVH on Saturday 13th July 20:39
Wow, that is some project. I wish I could help but beyond my knowledge base, I do hope you keep us updated as I will be very interested to see how it all turns out.
One suggestion: you might try https://astonowners.com for this kind of help, there are some very knowledgeable people on there, as there are here of course.
Good luck!
One suggestion: you might try https://astonowners.com for this kind of help, there are some very knowledgeable people on there, as there are here of course.
Good luck!
Thanks dokkodo,
I ordered those parts because I was worried about missing out on them as a complete package. I have also joined the astonowners forum and I can already see there are plenty of folk there with the sort of deep AMDS knowledge that might well be able to help me out of a tricky situation in future.
I'll update this thread for future reference after I've got the results.
I ordered those parts because I was worried about missing out on them as a complete package. I have also joined the astonowners forum and I can already see there are plenty of folk there with the sort of deep AMDS knowledge that might well be able to help me out of a tricky situation in future.
I'll update this thread for future reference after I've got the results.
Thanks DBS2000 and Reynardff1600.
I tried all the available potions to chemically treat the corroded wiring terminals but nothing worked -- anything that would remove the corrosion would also destroy the plastic. I think everyone fixing a saltwater flood car eventually has the realisation that everything electrical just has to be replaced.
The youtuber is samcrac. He made three videos about a Hurricane Ian flooded DBS Volante, which contained quite a bit of useful information.
But then he came up against the same problem with coded modules and the unusual (possibly unique to Aston Martin?) lack of aftermarket diagnostic tools. He did trailer the car to an AM dealer to code a brand new CEM, but apparently his wiring harness was damaged so they couldn't do it, but still gave him a rather hefty bill. He ended up falling out with the dealer and being told they would not do any more work on that car. I think he has now sold it on, as it wasn't mentioned in his "fleet update" video.
Although we are blessed with far more choice outside the dealership network here, I am still very wary of anything that relies on AMDS, what with so many unknowns; hence this attempt at a workaround.
I tried all the available potions to chemically treat the corroded wiring terminals but nothing worked -- anything that would remove the corrosion would also destroy the plastic. I think everyone fixing a saltwater flood car eventually has the realisation that everything electrical just has to be replaced.
The youtuber is samcrac. He made three videos about a Hurricane Ian flooded DBS Volante, which contained quite a bit of useful information.
But then he came up against the same problem with coded modules and the unusual (possibly unique to Aston Martin?) lack of aftermarket diagnostic tools. He did trailer the car to an AM dealer to code a brand new CEM, but apparently his wiring harness was damaged so they couldn't do it, but still gave him a rather hefty bill. He ended up falling out with the dealer and being told they would not do any more work on that car. I think he has now sold it on, as it wasn't mentioned in his "fleet update" video.
Although we are blessed with far more choice outside the dealership network here, I am still very wary of anything that relies on AMDS, what with so many unknowns; hence this attempt at a workaround.
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