57 V8V - First Week Of Ownership

57 V8V - First Week Of Ownership

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jonamv8

Original Poster:

3,176 posts

172 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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Thought I'd write up my first experience with Aston Martin ownership, it's been eventful!

Picked up the car on Friday last week from a Main Dealer. Enjoyed the collection, very professional and a great experience. Car was (I thought) well prepared and my drive back was awesome. I had them remove Fuse22 for me prior to collection, oh my god, I have never heard anything like it... Makes my previous 911 sound like my Miele Vacuum. Encountered a couple of tunnels on my journey home that made me laugh ridiculously in the cockpit!!!

Saturday morning, I'm getting used to the car and I start to drive it a little more enthusiastically, that's when the problems start. I notice the rear cluster full of condensation, the rear brakes are binding and making a squeeling noise. I have 'Emissions System Service Required', 'Engine System Service Urgent', it goes into failsafe mode leaving me no power. I then get 'PAT Trans Not Conn'. I limp home...

Then on closer inspection I find some more issues, bonnet sitting badly, panel gaps are out, seal sitting on top of bonnet. A tracker light appears on the left handside of the dashboard. My passenger window switch is playing up also. Find more marks that require smart repair on the interior, standard of dealer detail not great, dust and grime still in the car etc.

Dealer has been very professional, they picked it up and left me with a '09 Jag X Type which is ok I guess, not great tho. They tell me everything is fixed now and I am getting it back just after lunch today, very excited, it's like taking delivery all over again! The only issue I have is that they couldn't pin-point what caused the fault codes, they have just been reset, I have a funny feeling tomorrow morning I will be limping home again.

I had a 996 911 C4S for 12 months, didn't have a single problem, replaced the rear tyres, the battery and a service. One day into Aston ownership and my Vantage is falling to pieces! Thing is, regardless of the problems, I am ridiculously excited to get it back and hear that bloody noice again. The car is fantastic even if everything is broken!!!

If anyone else has had experience with those error codes that I have listed I would appreciate any feedback that you may have??

BTW - Onyx Black, Chancellor Red Hide, Red Callipers, 19s, no FUSE22 and a few more toys, will get some shots over the weekend and upload.

sadlerj

855 posts

290 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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Sorry to hear your troubles, I went from a 996 C2 4.5 years ago and have never looked back, it has been a much better car than my Porkie (that I did love), especially as I had RMS issues with her.

"I notice the rear cluster full of condensation" - is there a crack somewhere in the lens, I am sure your dealer should sort
"the rear brakes are binding and making a squeeling noise." is this when reversing, if so then they all do that
" I have 'Emissions System Service Required', 'Engine System Service Urgent', it goes into failsafe mode leaving me no power. I then get 'PAT Trans Not Conn'. I limp home..." according to the factory you should not remove Fuse 22 as it can cause these code, I have been driving mine for 4.5 years without F22 and have had no issues, but some cars get them
"bonnet sitting badly, panel gaps are out, seal sitting on top of bonnet" - if you are not careful putting the bonnet down then the seal will pop out, just put the bonnet down slow
"A tracker light appears on the left handside of the dashboard" - not heard of that before
"My passenger window switch is playing up also" they will probably flash the unit
"Find more marks that require smart repair on the interior, standard of dealer detail not great, dust and grime still in the car etc" - probably a rush job getting the car ready, shame.

I am sure she will soon get under your skin and you will learn to love the 'aston ness'. I have driven some newer cars and find them a bit too polished now and a little soleless...IMO...

Soovy

35,829 posts

277 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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Don't want to sound like a knob, but

1. You've pulled a fuse out to alter the exhaust and you're surprised the car throws fault codes?!

2. Sounds like these issues were present, but you bought with your eyes closed by lust.


I'm sure Aston will sort it.

oceantools

260 posts

197 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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In my experience, the Tracker light can appear if you start the car before the Power, Beauty, Soul message has disappeared.

I've had F22 out for a couple of years with no error messages.

jonamv8

Original Poster:

3,176 posts

172 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
I should have mentioned really, Aston have replaced the one rear cluster and they say that something on the rear brake was actually touching the plate causing a squeel on low down accelleration, this has been rectified. To be honest I hadn't noticed anything when reversing but then I haven't really driven the car too much as yet. With the bonnet they have said that they have had to adjust it to fit correctly but I will remember to be nice and gentle with it in future!

Having done quite a bit of research on FUSE22 the resounding opinion is that it shouldn't throw up error codes, the dealers have agreed with this and say it is unrelated.

I'd say that perhaps I should have looked over the car in a little greater detail and spotted some of the interior knocks that require a smart repair. As for the other issues none were present on test drive or collection inspection. Then again, when buying main dealer with a warranty I don't check the car over as much as I would with a private sale.

OceanTools - Thanks for the note on the tracker light, I will try that in future if the light comes up again and see if it works on mine.

Murph7355

38,697 posts

262 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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1) "I notice the rear cluster full of condensation" - a few cars have had this issue I think. Ask your dealer if they've replaced the faulty unit as I think that's the only real option.

2) "the rear brakes are binding and making a squeeling noise." - is it definitely the rears? Brake squeal is a common complaint, but it's normally the fronts. I think it's down to the Pagid pads and their compound. There's a procedure for bedding them in (involves using the brakes quite hard...do a search on here).


3) " I have 'Emissions System Service Required', 'Engine System Service Urgent', it goes into failsafe mode leaving me no power. I then get 'PAT Trans Not Conn'. I limp home..." - agree with the above. Some cars get these every now and then. Might be worth leaving fuse 22 in for a few miles to see if the fault recurs (though I fundamentally don't believe fuse 22 is the issue in these instances - mine's never been in and I never get these warnings). Could just be moisture getting into a sensor somewhere I guess.

4) "bonnet sitting badly, panel gaps are out, seal sitting on top of bonnet" - ref the bonnet, as above they all do this. It shouldn't be a problem, just re-close the bonnet. Which other panel gaps are poor?

5) "A tracker light appears on the left handside of the dashboard" - did you have the chunky fobs in the car? If your car hasn't had replacement fobs/batteries yet, it will almost certainly need them (the batteries seem to fail after 2-3yrs). The red light indicates that the tracker isn't deactivating. It could simply be that the fobs weren't registered with the car though.

6) "My passenger window switch is playing up also" - agree with the above. Door module will likely be reflashed.

7) "Find more marks that require smart repair on the interior, standard of dealer detail not great, dust and grime still in the car etc" - when you pick the car up today, go in with a properly critical eye and don't accept the car if it's sub-standard. You also need to be objective though, and consider whether the price you paid reflected these...?


Do a search on here for common issues on these cars. There were a few, and a 57 plate car may still suffer some if they've not yet been rectified. Have a good read through, compare with your car and talk to your dealer if any look to be outstanding. Once done, you should have a very reliable car.

michael gould

5,692 posts

247 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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Soovy said:
Don't want to sound like a knob, but

1. You've pulled a fuse out to alter the exhaust and you're surprised the car throws fault codes?!

2. Sounds like these issues were present, but you bought with your eyes closed by lust.


I'm sure Aston will sort it.
I think your comments smack of a little schaden-fraud and are not helpful to a guy who's having problems with his new pide and joy.......pulling fuse 22 makes no difference to the car.....

christer

2,804 posts

257 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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I am not sure how likely it is that panel gaps can easily be "fixed" or indeed why there would be any.....

Give them a reasonable amount if time to rectify, but I would also write to them sooner rather than later that you reserve the right to reject the car etc. Someone can help you write it properly.

Hopefully this will not be necessary, but just getting the thought into your mind early on, because if it drags on it could become more tedious and harder to do later on.

Good luck!

jonamv8

Original Poster:

3,176 posts

172 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
The only issue I have with any of the panel gaps are with the bonnet, the space to the one side is significantly greater than the other, although I am assured that the bonnet has been re-fitted and is now properly aligned - I should know in the next 45 minutes when it's back on my drive!

Michael - Thanks, I thought the same but couldn't be bothered saying to be honest.

I'll let you know how the car is following a (hopefully) happy weekend of motoring...

mikey k

13,014 posts

222 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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jonamv8 said:
Then again, when buying main dealer with a warranty I don't check the car over as much as I would with a private sale.
I wouldn't presume that is the case.
I detailed a list of 14 remedials to be done on mine as a condition of the sale from an AM dealer.
They got 12 of them right wink


Do persevere with the car & the dealer. It will be worth it in the end!

cerealsurfer

594 posts

269 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
michael gould said:
Soovy said:
Don't want to sound like a knob, but

1. You've pulled a fuse out to alter the exhaust and you're surprised the car throws fault codes?!

2. Sounds like these issues were present, but you bought with your eyes closed by lust.


I'm sure Aston will sort it.
I think your comments smack of a little schaden-fraud and are not helpful to a guy who's having problems with his new pide and joy.......pulling fuse 22 makes no difference to the car.....
I seemed to recall from an AM technician that the Mass AirFlow Sensor (MAF) was also on the Fuse 22 loop?

Edited by cerealsurfer on Friday 3rd September 14:53

Muzzer

3,814 posts

227 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
jonamv8 said:
I had a 996 911 C4S for 12 months, didn't have a single problem, replaced the rear tyres, the battery and a service. One day into Aston ownership and my Vantage is falling to pieces!
Hardly.

You've had a couple of faults that should have been sorted prior to you taking ownership. They have now been corrected by the dealer.

Enjoy the car.

cerealsurfer

594 posts

269 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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BTW.. is your V8V an 06MY or and 07My car? I've noticed a lot of 06MY cars on 07 & 57 plates in the PH & AM classified's.

jonamv8

Original Poster:

3,176 posts

172 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Mikey - Don't get me wrong I had a list of about 9 things which were to be sorted as a condition of sale, the dealer delivered on all of them. It's the issues I wasn't aware of that came to light after taking collection that I'm listing here.

I know the whole Fuse22 debate has been going on for a long time, my research in the forums prior to buying highlighted Fuse22 over and over again. Seems to be a real split of opinion on it. Unfortunately I'm no technician so can't comment, if my issue with emmissions service continues however, I will try running the car with the fuse in to see if it rectifies the fault.

Muzzer - Admittedly a slight exageration, don't get me wrong, I love this car, I've always wanted one and I feel priveledged to own it. I just thought it was worth detailing these faults to share the experience and of course learn from the wealth of knowledge/experience of existing owners.

The car is 07MY with the newer seats. When looking I also found quite a few 06MY on later plates also

simonpieman

366 posts

192 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
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quote=jonamv8]

Do persevere with the car & the dealer. It will be worth it in the end!
[/quote]

I agree. Just keep taking the problems back, in a patient but determnied fashion. They will get sorted.

Edited by simonpieman on Friday 3rd September 18:20

jonamv8

Original Poster:

3,176 posts

172 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
Got the car back, most of the issues were rectified. Unfortunately I got the same error messages today, car went into failsafe mode on 3 seperate occassions since I got it back, complete loss of power, restart etc. It's going to have to go back, there is a clearly something at fault. Real shame as I have really enjoyed having it back on my drive. Also the brakes started squeeling again, not as bad as before but I'm pretty certain it's the same issue again.

I will continue on with the dealer, I just hope I get a better courtesy car this time...

jonamv8

Original Poster:

3,176 posts

172 months

Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Despite occasionally cutting out but always restarting I decided to take my Vantage 15 minutes from my office for a meeting, foolish decision. Long story short, cut out 3 times and gave up on me. Blocked a road in the process, loads of funny comments in a rather poor area of Birmingham. Not a great morning. Had to be recovered to the dealership on a truck.

Good news : some faults were stored in the system and they have found some electrical wiring issues.

Bad news: they don't know how to fix it and need some one from the factory to instruct them as to the best proceedure, sounds ominous...

Better courtesy car tho, new e class saloon with plenty of toys but it's hardly the Aston.

Spoke to a few people who are saying I should consider refusing the car and going for a refund, never had to think about this before so unsure as to whether I should continue to let them fix it or tell them I've had enough?

Murph7355

38,697 posts

262 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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If it's from a dealer, I would be taking a look at their stock and asking for it to be replaced rather than for a refund (at first).

Electrical issues could be sorted in 2mins, or never. These are, I firmly believe, reliable cars. But there will be duff examples that cause hassle (we've had a few on here).

tonyhall38

4,194 posts

222 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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sounds like you have a lemon there....give it back to the dealer....and get another one.....

michael gould

5,692 posts

247 months

Wednesday 8th September 2010
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I agree with tony.......ask them to replace the car......kick up a fuss.........if you decide to go down this route do it quickly