V8 Vantage Gear box being dropped - Worry?
Discussion
Good evening all,
Well I've had my '09 V8V coupe (sports shift) a month now and thought the lack of smooth pull away was down to my unskilled driving style and that I would master the Aston but alas that just wasn’t happening.
In traffic when in first gear the revs seemed to be hunting for a point and when I pull away its far from smooth and feels like it’s going to stall. In fact on 3 occasions it did! That’s not supposed to happen I’m sure.
So spoke to the dealer I bought it from and booked it in for yesterday. Their initial thought was that it was something called "clutch learn". I was told today that they wanted to keep it next week as they want to take the gearbox out as the fault isn’t obvious. I suppose I should be pleased that they are doing a thorough job but I can’t help but worry.
Any thoughts to ease my mind or to add to my sleepless nights welcomed.
Cheers
Jason
Well I've had my '09 V8V coupe (sports shift) a month now and thought the lack of smooth pull away was down to my unskilled driving style and that I would master the Aston but alas that just wasn’t happening.
In traffic when in first gear the revs seemed to be hunting for a point and when I pull away its far from smooth and feels like it’s going to stall. In fact on 3 occasions it did! That’s not supposed to happen I’m sure.
So spoke to the dealer I bought it from and booked it in for yesterday. Their initial thought was that it was something called "clutch learn". I was told today that they wanted to keep it next week as they want to take the gearbox out as the fault isn’t obvious. I suppose I should be pleased that they are doing a thorough job but I can’t help but worry.
Any thoughts to ease my mind or to add to my sleepless nights welcomed.
Cheers
Jason
well, not sure if its much comfort but they are going to put it right so I suppose its a question of how long your finger nails are for you to bite down! I'd be the same as you tbh, just keep thinking it will be sorted and all will be well when it is. When I've had bits and pieces go wrong with mine I've consoled myself by saying at least I've got an Aston to worry about which was only an aspiration not that long ago for me!There, probably hasn't helped at all........... best of luck 
the clutch learn thing does seem to help a bit.
have they explained it to you? Let me know if not and I can describe the procedure if you want. Also, worth occasionally cleaning out the throttle flap - not an overall cure by any means but definitely IMO worth doing as deposits do build up and will cause stalling if left unchecked. My 1st vantage (manual) throttle stuck so badly that the dealer was forced to install a replacement. Useful bit of video courtesy of Derby Motors;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCyuLNbuMcY
most importantly, there IS something wrong with the clutch system. I had exactly the same problems as you're having, plus I was occasionally stalling when reversing, and when I put the car into first immediately after reversing the gears occasionally wouldn't engage at all. Really frustrating, felt that I couldn't trust my car...My dealer was as usual excellent about it all - they did take me seriously, they simply couldn't find anything wrong. Took me 6 months of moaning before they trawled through their fault logs and found a service fix they could apply. Unfortunately although I was shown the bug number I didn't take a note of it, so I guess what I'm trying to get across is that there is a fix, the car is much better now. Still judders a bit on occasion at low speeds but I believe the fix applied plus occasional clutch learn plus occasional throttle cleaning makes driving this car so much more fun. Hope this all helps a bit, good luck
have they explained it to you? Let me know if not and I can describe the procedure if you want. Also, worth occasionally cleaning out the throttle flap - not an overall cure by any means but definitely IMO worth doing as deposits do build up and will cause stalling if left unchecked. My 1st vantage (manual) throttle stuck so badly that the dealer was forced to install a replacement. Useful bit of video courtesy of Derby Motors;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCyuLNbuMcY
most importantly, there IS something wrong with the clutch system. I had exactly the same problems as you're having, plus I was occasionally stalling when reversing, and when I put the car into first immediately after reversing the gears occasionally wouldn't engage at all. Really frustrating, felt that I couldn't trust my car...My dealer was as usual excellent about it all - they did take me seriously, they simply couldn't find anything wrong. Took me 6 months of moaning before they trawled through their fault logs and found a service fix they could apply. Unfortunately although I was shown the bug number I didn't take a note of it, so I guess what I'm trying to get across is that there is a fix, the car is much better now. Still judders a bit on occasion at low speeds but I believe the fix applied plus occasional clutch learn plus occasional throttle cleaning makes driving this car so much more fun. Hope this all helps a bit, good luck
Edited by cotton53 on Saturday 11th September 00:57
Edited by cotton53 on Saturday 11th September 00:59
The Sportshift box does take a bit of getting used to.
In traffic if you take your foot off the brake and do not touch the throttle it will going in to "creep" mode.
It will find the bite point and creep forward (it will also do it in reverse)
If you put a little throttle on whilst it is in "creep" mode it does get confused as it thinks the system has applied throttle when it is not needed. I have stalled mine a few times doing this.
I have found the best thing to do is either use it in manual and put it in neutral when stationary.
Or leave it in auto when you take your foot off the brake put some decent positive throttle on to get it out of "creep" mode.
I tend to use mine in manual unless I'm on the motorway. If you are in manual a slight lift as you change gear makes them very smooth.
If you've not used the car for a bit leaving it ~20 seconds idling from start for the clutch learn process is a good idea.
IMHO I doubt the gearbox needs dropping. It is unlikely to be a mechanical issue more like the gearbox ECU needs a hard reset
In traffic if you take your foot off the brake and do not touch the throttle it will going in to "creep" mode.
It will find the bite point and creep forward (it will also do it in reverse)
If you put a little throttle on whilst it is in "creep" mode it does get confused as it thinks the system has applied throttle when it is not needed. I have stalled mine a few times doing this.
I have found the best thing to do is either use it in manual and put it in neutral when stationary.
Or leave it in auto when you take your foot off the brake put some decent positive throttle on to get it out of "creep" mode.
I tend to use mine in manual unless I'm on the motorway. If you are in manual a slight lift as you change gear makes them very smooth.
If you've not used the car for a bit leaving it ~20 seconds idling from start for the clutch learn process is a good idea.
IMHO I doubt the gearbox needs dropping. It is unlikely to be a mechanical issue more like the gearbox ECU needs a hard reset
Edited by mikey k on Saturday 11th September 12:00
I recall a bit more about my problem now. Seems there was an imbalance with the hydraulic pressure. All sorted under warranty as it was nothing to do with my driving.
mikey k is spot on about creep mode and lifting prior to gear change (although I think the manual doesn't recommend the latter), however since the dealer applied said 'fix' all is (largely) well.
mikey k is spot on about creep mode and lifting prior to gear change (although I think the manual doesn't recommend the latter), however since the dealer applied said 'fix' all is (largely) well.
On upshifts, you EASE the pressure on the throttle pedal AS you pull the + paddle. Its a simultaneous action. Most people tend to come right off the throttle, but that is wrong. In effect, you want to free up the drivetrain, so there is no positive or negative loading. We say, "curl your toes up, as you upshift". You will then achieve seamless upshifts. Same for Vanquish.
In the "automated" D mode, you can use the same technique [with the throttle] to induce upshifts. The transmission will interact with the driver. If you want to "kick-down" the gears, give the throttle a quick stab. Same for Vanquish.
Mikey is right, at manouevering speed, either allow the car to use its "crawl" mode [which is more positive on the 4.7's], OR be positive with the throttle pedal to get the clutch fully engaged.
One last tip. For a hill start, always use the handbrake, NEVER hold the the car static on the throttle on a hill, as you are riding/overheating the clutch.
Hope all this helps............
In the "automated" D mode, you can use the same technique [with the throttle] to induce upshifts. The transmission will interact with the driver. If you want to "kick-down" the gears, give the throttle a quick stab. Same for Vanquish.
Mikey is right, at manouevering speed, either allow the car to use its "crawl" mode [which is more positive on the 4.7's], OR be positive with the throttle pedal to get the clutch fully engaged.
One last tip. For a hill start, always use the handbrake, NEVER hold the the car static on the throttle on a hill, as you are riding/overheating the clutch.
Hope all this helps............
Edited by roughrider on Sunday 12th September 09:48
Gentlemen
Many thanks for all your input. It’s put my mind as rest that the dealer will be able to sort any fault and that with some tweaks to my driving style it will help.
I do use the "toe curl" technique and smooth changes are the norm. It’s really the crawl mode and traffic and pulling away in first (even in manual mode) that’s the problem. I think I will have to accept that the reversing manoeuvre out of my garage is always going to be a pain. As I have the 4.7 the crawl mode it sharp and I can’t allow it to come out at that speed and as soon as the brakes are hit it confuses the poor thing lol. Oh well it’s a small price to pay for the privilege of Aston ownership.
Well the gear box comes out tomorrow and I hope to know later this week if the dealer thinks it’s improved. I'll let you know and once again thanks for your time and thoughts.
Jason
Many thanks for all your input. It’s put my mind as rest that the dealer will be able to sort any fault and that with some tweaks to my driving style it will help.
I do use the "toe curl" technique and smooth changes are the norm. It’s really the crawl mode and traffic and pulling away in first (even in manual mode) that’s the problem. I think I will have to accept that the reversing manoeuvre out of my garage is always going to be a pain. As I have the 4.7 the crawl mode it sharp and I can’t allow it to come out at that speed and as soon as the brakes are hit it confuses the poor thing lol. Oh well it’s a small price to pay for the privilege of Aston ownership.
Well the gear box comes out tomorrow and I hope to know later this week if the dealer thinks it’s improved. I'll let you know and once again thanks for your time and thoughts.
Jason
Jason,
I have a 4.7 sportshift and have found it to be the best of the automated manuals I have driven including cambiocorsa, r-tronic & egear. I suspect there is something wrong somewhere as I have relatively good shifts between first and second, which was always the problem with the other geaboxes. Cambiocorsa was the worst - seriously bad until they upgraded the software and messed around with the clutch bite point, the others were acceptable. I really like the creep mode on the Aston, if only it had a hill hold mode like the R8 it would be pretty much perfect .
Hopefully you will get this sorted.
I have a 4.7 sportshift and have found it to be the best of the automated manuals I have driven including cambiocorsa, r-tronic & egear. I suspect there is something wrong somewhere as I have relatively good shifts between first and second, which was always the problem with the other geaboxes. Cambiocorsa was the worst - seriously bad until they upgraded the software and messed around with the clutch bite point, the others were acceptable. I really like the creep mode on the Aston, if only it had a hill hold mode like the R8 it would be pretty much perfect .
Hopefully you will get this sorted.
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