New Milltek exhaust = Warning lights !?

New Milltek exhaust = Warning lights !?

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SLINC

Original Poster:

106 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
Hi all,
Just had a Milltek exhaust fitted to my V8V.
Got a few hundred yards before ALL the warning lights lit up the dash!

Drove back and had it checked out by a helpful man who was at the garage on an Audi dyno day.
He put some diagnostic equipment on it and reckoned there were no actual faults (as these get logged on to the ECU apparently) but suggested the sensors had tripped out due to the work I'd just had done.

His view was that the warning lights would self-correct after a while.

Did 50 miles before a stop for petrol. Everything perfect on restart but the same lights came on about 4 miles later.. frown

Any views ??

bogie

16,565 posts

278 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
im sure one of our helpful resident Aston techs will be along soon, but I have heard the ones I know comment that the system in the Aston that measures emmissions etc is very sensitive and can trip the MIL on the dash just for something like removing fuse 22, so it dosent surprise me if you fit an aftermarket exhaust it complains

it could be something as simple as a dodgy earth being disturbed by the exhaust change ....best get it somewhere that knows what they are doing and has a computer/ECU access etc

I can recommend DMS in Derby ....

SLINC

Original Poster:

106 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
bogie said:
im sure one of our helpful resident Aston techs will be along soon, but I have heard the ones I know comment that the system in the Aston that measures emmissions etc is very sensitive and can trip the MIL on the dash just for something like removing fuse 22, so it dosent surprise me if you fit an aftermarket exhaust it complains

it could be something as simple as a dodgy earth being disturbed by the exhaust change ....best get it somewhere that knows what they are doing and has a computer/ECU access etc

I can recommend DMS in Derby ....
Thanks Bogie.
I'm hopeful the legendary Rick from DMS will give some feedback in due course, but cheers for your thoughts...

XXXAngelXXX

1,711 posts

234 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
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Rick is the man !


btw FUSE 22 IS INNOCENT ! ALWAYS AND FOREVER ! tongue out

rick-derby-

1,105 posts

193 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
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Thanks all for the comments really appreciated,

Hi slinc, could you be more specific, with which lights and warnings, I presume because you had a miltek it was just the rear box replaced, if so do you know if the vacuum pipes at the back that originally controlled the bypass valves on the old exhaust have been blocked off if not this needs doing and should have been done,

If the above point has been done and the warning you got was emissions service required and a yellow light in the shape of an engine was eliminated then i presume as everybody does you wanted to hear it so there was plenty of free revving and then a more aggressive drive home than usual, this could trigger this warning as the change in gas flow and driving style the ecu will see a change at the lambda sensors, so in that case nothing to worry about, We always do a full reset which can't be done with generic diagnostic equipment to prevent this issue, So that the new leaned values are with the new exhaust rather than using old data, usually after a few drives this will reset itself,

If you had more warnings than this then it will need checking, if you have a local garage with up to date diagnostic equipment that you trust, i can talk them through a few things that they can check easily, outside that it may mean a trip to a specialist or dealer


SLINC

Original Poster:

106 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th November 2009
quotequote all
rick-derby- said:
Thanks all for the comments really appreciated,Hi slinc, could you be more specific, with which lights and warnings, I presume because you had a miltek it was just the rear box replaced, if so do you know if the vacuum pipes at the back that originally controlled the bypass valves on the old exhaust have been blocked off if not this needs doing and should have been done, If the above point has been done and the warning you got was emissions service required and a yellow light in the shape of an engine was eliminated then i presume as everybody does you wanted to hear it so there was plenty of free revving and then a more aggressive drive home than usual, this could trigger this warning as the change in gas flow and driving style the ecu will see a change at the lambda sensors, so in that case nothing to worry about, We always do a full reset which can't be done with generic diagnostic equipment to prevent this issue, So that the new leaned values are with the new exhaust rather than using old data, usually after a few drives this will reset itself, If you had more warnings than this then it will need checking, if you have a local garage with up to date diagnostic equipment that you trust, i can talk them through a few things that they can check easily, outside that it may mean a trip to a specialist or dealer
Hi Rick,Thanks for taking the time with such a detailed response - much appreciated.
The addition was indeed the Milltek cat-back exhaust, but I'd already had their sports cats fitted a while back so now it's a complete system.
Paramount carried out the work (both times) and they explained that the vacuum pipes needed blocking off as part of the work. I can only assume this was done but didn't think to double-check with them once work was finished - although I will on Monday!

As for the warning lights then I'm afraid to say it was pretty much all of them EXCEPT the "Engine" logo;
The red Warning Triangle, the red "Brake" one, the yellow "Traction Control" one and the yellow ABS one - with various fault messages in the dialogue box - all came on within 60secs of starting my return journey.
Naturally i drove back conservatively (given these lights!!) but after a stop for petrol it took a good 4 miles (c.10mins) for these to reappear.

Have just started her up again to put in garage and am just getting the yellow ABS light. For what it's worth I did notice a medium pitched buzzing sound coming from above the back box of the exhaust. It was loud enough to just make out from inside the car with the engine running!Not sure if these are connected in someway or indeed whether I should go for a long-ish journey tomorrow to see if this helps !?

rick-derby-

1,105 posts

193 months

Sunday 29th November 2009
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These lights are not related to the exhaust, there are two common issues first one is the wiring to the front abs sensors the plastic clips that hold the wiring break and allow the wiring to foul and rub through, the second one is the brake pressure sensor fitted into the brake master cylinder,

first a visual check of the front wiring it runs along the upper suspension arm, and can be easily repaired the second would require a code read to confirm the issue, unfortunately generic equipment will not read this system, the upside is if either of these problems are what i think they are both an inexpensive repair,

SLINC

Original Poster:

106 posts

202 months

Sunday 29th November 2009
quotequote all
rick-derby- said:
These lights are not related to the exhaust, there are two common issues first one is the wiring to the front abs sensors the plastic clips that hold the wiring break and allow the wiring to foul and rub through, the second one is the brake pressure sensor fitted into the brake master cylinder,

first a visual check of the front wiring it runs along the upper suspension arm, and can be easily repaired the second would require a code read to confirm the issue, unfortunately generic equipment will not read this system, the upside is if either of these problems are what i think they are both an inexpensive repair,
Thanks again Rick.
I guess my best option is to take her to AM Sevenoaks and get this checked out.
My other concern is that faults have occurred because of some accidental damage resulting from the fitting of the exhaust itself. Could the 2 scenarios you've outlined above be the result of "bad fitting"?
It's almost certainly SOMETHING to do with the work carried out as the faults happenened immediately after completion..

You didn't comment on the "buzzing" sound emanating from somewhere near the backbox. Presumably this wouldn't have any bearing on those warning lights appearing, or indeed vacuum pipes that hadn't been blocked off properly?

Any further views very welcome, but really appreciate your advice so far..
(Contemplating a drive up to Derby!)

rick-derby-

1,105 posts

193 months

Sunday 29th November 2009
quotequote all
Hi Slinc, if the wiring at the back to the abs sensors has been damaged then yes it could be related to the exhaust fitment although being honest because of the location of the wiring it would be difficult to damage it, the buzzing at the rear is probably the vacuum valve that worked the exhaust bypass system, is it buzzing all the time if so the pipes have not be capped properly, try removing fuse 22 from the boot fuse box i am sure that noise will stop,

It does need looking at, as when those lights are on the ABS, Traction control and the drivers stability control is all off, great on a track not so good on wet roads, You would be more than welcome to pop in, either that or your local dealer as Aston Martin diagnostic equipment is required for these systems,

ref the buzzing if you are not sure how to remove fuse 22 this link will tell you how http://www.derbymotorservices.com/faq/questions/6/...

gary.taylor17

144 posts

189 months

Sunday 29th November 2009
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Hi just curious to know weather the exhaust sounds good as im thinking of fitting one.
ps hope you sort your other issues.

SLINC

Original Poster:

106 posts

202 months

Monday 30th November 2009
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gary.taylor17 said:
Hi just curious to know weather the exhaust sounds good as im thinking of fitting one.
ps hope you sort your other issues.
Hi Garry,
Have emailed you my thoughts!

Murph7355

38,668 posts

262 months

Monday 30th November 2009
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You should note Rick's advice many times over mine (he's a Pro, I'm not), but I really can't see the ABS warnings being linked to the exhaust swap - you'd have to be a proper gorilla to bugger anything up in that area when changing the exhaust (swapped one myself). Mine came on a couple of months ago. Just happened. I'd suggest coincidence perhaps?

Also, the car wasn't a monstrous beast to drive in wet conditions with no ABS/TC on. Respect it, and the car handles very well with obvious warning signs if you start to push it. Though if you've never driven a powerful RWD car with zero aids, be very circumspect.

Have also not had issues with emissions lights. But then have fuse 22 out. I appreciate this could arguably lead to issues with the actuator at some point. But not wholly convinced blocking the pipes and leaving the fuse in is the answer (surely blocking the pipes means pressure has nothing to work on?).