conundrum/opportunity/nightmare involving a DB7 V12 Vantage
Discussion
Very pleasing to see this thread resurrected and hopefully the car going the same way too.
If helpful I gave AMHT (following posting on here) a copy of the full 700 odd page technical training and workshop manual I had for a DB7. It has all the info you could ever need (wiring diagrams, debugging, programming etc etc).
Perhaps they can loan you that as you slowly work you way through things and bring it back to life? I can ask them if you like?
Good luck with it all. If it is postive encouragement take a look at my XKR to Tokyo thread (Jaguar section) - not to draw attention - my point was my car looked in a pretty similar condition to yours, and onerous as it seemed at the outset (it was effectively scrap), when i got my hands on the finished article, it was totally worth it.
Yes there was a cost (I sadly could not do it myself) but not crazy in the grand scheme of things today: the result provided more satisfaction and value to me than had I not and has hopefully given me a modern classic for a good few years yet. I wish you the same outcome !
Again best of luck with it all.
If helpful I gave AMHT (following posting on here) a copy of the full 700 odd page technical training and workshop manual I had for a DB7. It has all the info you could ever need (wiring diagrams, debugging, programming etc etc).
Perhaps they can loan you that as you slowly work you way through things and bring it back to life? I can ask them if you like?
Good luck with it all. If it is postive encouragement take a look at my XKR to Tokyo thread (Jaguar section) - not to draw attention - my point was my car looked in a pretty similar condition to yours, and onerous as it seemed at the outset (it was effectively scrap), when i got my hands on the finished article, it was totally worth it.
Yes there was a cost (I sadly could not do it myself) but not crazy in the grand scheme of things today: the result provided more satisfaction and value to me than had I not and has hopefully given me a modern classic for a good few years yet. I wish you the same outcome !
Again best of luck with it all.
Mabbott and Viper and AM4884 thank you very much for those thoughts and the kind words 
very encouraging - and excellent points for pondering ...
In the meantime - SGF has astutely pointed out that I'd better get a new battery for the car that lives in it rather than him bringing one down each time - but can I find out which is the best or most advisable battery for it? can I hell! I leafed through the manual that I've now downloaded for the paltry sum of €4.50 (well worth it IMHO) but whoever wrote that seems to assume that an Aston owner somehow 'knows' as if by magic
Can anybody chuck in some clarity on this matter?
Thanks!
very encouraging - and excellent points for pondering ...In the meantime - SGF has astutely pointed out that I'd better get a new battery for the car that lives in it rather than him bringing one down each time - but can I find out which is the best or most advisable battery for it? can I hell! I leafed through the manual that I've now downloaded for the paltry sum of €4.50 (well worth it IMHO) but whoever wrote that seems to assume that an Aston owner somehow 'knows' as if by magic
Can anybody chuck in some clarity on this matter?
Thanks!
Edited by morgaana on Sunday 15th January 11:37
Just quickly in a rate lucid moment whilst recovering from an unholy b
d blend of cold/flu/c*vid … this morning I decided to call the Aston Martin dealership I’d used in the past and get the battery spec … it only took a few moments to shake them off the idea that there may be an earner here for them and they coughed up YAY!
So that’ll be me ordering that next week …
Toodle pip!
d blend of cold/flu/c*vid … this morning I decided to call the Aston Martin dealership I’d used in the past and get the battery spec … it only took a few moments to shake them off the idea that there may be an earner here for them and they coughed up YAY! So that’ll be me ordering that next week …
Toodle pip!
Gosh 4 months has gone by! 
I hope everyone's lives have travelled through magical and delightful places in the interim
So ... I managed to get the new battery and SGF connected it all up and attempted to start the car. Zero nada zilch. SGF then realised that his other project (aka his life!) is too all-consuming right now to dive in any deeper.
Enter Craig the brilliant mechanic from the local garage, who came up and investigated. Yes the fuel tank has to come out so he can examine/test/interrogate the pumps.
Next up, Craig and two trusty mates came and took the Aston down to their garage, where it awaits a space opening up in the workshop for said investigation.
Two questions ...
Why/how might fuel pumps die just from sitting around doing nothing for 3 years?
Are the DB7 pumps fairly generic ie should we be able to replace them with something cheaper than actual Aston pumps?
All good wishes to all
I hope everyone's lives have travelled through magical and delightful places in the interim
So ... I managed to get the new battery and SGF connected it all up and attempted to start the car. Zero nada zilch. SGF then realised that his other project (aka his life!) is too all-consuming right now to dive in any deeper.
Enter Craig the brilliant mechanic from the local garage, who came up and investigated. Yes the fuel tank has to come out so he can examine/test/interrogate the pumps.
Next up, Craig and two trusty mates came and took the Aston down to their garage, where it awaits a space opening up in the workshop for said investigation.
Two questions ...
Why/how might fuel pumps die just from sitting around doing nothing for 3 years?
Are the DB7 pumps fairly generic ie should we be able to replace them with something cheaper than actual Aston pumps?
All good wishes to all
Keep plugging away, you will get there in the end.
Yes, the fuel pumps can fail from standing. Fuel can decompose and create acids which eat into components or they may simply have siezed with fuel drying up.
The fuel pumps will absolutely not be some special aston martin things. They will be generic pumps bought in from a specialist fuel pump supplier at the time of design and production, sized for the required fuelling of that engine. Given the Ford ownership and the high fuelling requirements they may be American. Look for manufacturers (not AM) part numbers printed on them and google will be your friend.
Yes, the fuel pumps can fail from standing. Fuel can decompose and create acids which eat into components or they may simply have siezed with fuel drying up.
The fuel pumps will absolutely not be some special aston martin things. They will be generic pumps bought in from a specialist fuel pump supplier at the time of design and production, sized for the required fuelling of that engine. Given the Ford ownership and the high fuelling requirements they may be American. Look for manufacturers (not AM) part numbers printed on them and google will be your friend.
The fuel pumps are Ford parts. Remember there are 2 pumps on the V12.
The Aston part no. is 34-85145.
The Ford part no. is XL2U-9350-AA.
Motorsport Tools sell the kit for £55.59 with filters and details like the flow rate - 210 ltrs/hr.
https://www.motorsport-tools.com/hi-in-tank-fuel-p...
This pump is fitted to the Ford Focus so a search will find lower prices.
The Jaguar part no. is JLM20756.
Use this list to find alternative parts at cheaper prices. https://www.detailcorpsmedia.com/db7alternativepar...
The Aston part no. is 34-85145.
The Ford part no. is XL2U-9350-AA.
Motorsport Tools sell the kit for £55.59 with filters and details like the flow rate - 210 ltrs/hr.
https://www.motorsport-tools.com/hi-in-tank-fuel-p...
This pump is fitted to the Ford Focus so a search will find lower prices.
The Jaguar part no. is JLM20756.
Use this list to find alternative parts at cheaper prices. https://www.detailcorpsmedia.com/db7alternativepar...
Calinours said:
Keep plugging away, you will get there in the end.
Yes, the fuel pumps can fail from standing. Fuel can decompose and create acids which eat into components or they may simply have siezed with fuel drying up.
The fuel pumps will absolutely not be some special aston martin things. They will be generic pumps bought in from a specialist fuel pump supplier at the time of design and production, sized for the required fuelling of that engine. Given the Ford ownership and the high fuelling requirements they may be American. Look for manufacturers (not AM) part numbers printed on them and google will be your friend.
Calinours thank you ~ and I believe welcome to the thread? Yes, the fuel pumps can fail from standing. Fuel can decompose and create acids which eat into components or they may simply have siezed with fuel drying up.
The fuel pumps will absolutely not be some special aston martin things. They will be generic pumps bought in from a specialist fuel pump supplier at the time of design and production, sized for the required fuelling of that engine. Given the Ford ownership and the high fuelling requirements they may be American. Look for manufacturers (not AM) part numbers printed on them and google will be your friend.
That's fascinating about what can occur with fuel pumps. And thanks for the suggestions. Fortunately - there is good news regarding the pumps! See next post but one ...
Viper201 said:
The fuel pumps are Ford parts. Remember there are 2 pumps on the V12.
The Aston part no. is 34-85145.
The Ford part no. is XL2U-9350-AA.
Motorsport Tools sell the kit for £55.59 with filters and details like the flow rate - 210 ltrs/hr.
https://www.motorsport-tools.com/hi-in-tank-fuel-p...
This pump is fitted to the Ford Focus so a search will find lower prices.
The Jaguar part no. is JLM20756.
Use this list to find alternative parts at cheaper prices. https://www.detailcorpsmedia.com/db7alternativepar...
Viper wow! you're highly well informed on this and thank you very much indeed The Aston part no. is 34-85145.
The Ford part no. is XL2U-9350-AA.
Motorsport Tools sell the kit for £55.59 with filters and details like the flow rate - 210 ltrs/hr.
https://www.motorsport-tools.com/hi-in-tank-fuel-p...
This pump is fitted to the Ford Focus so a search will find lower prices.
The Jaguar part no. is JLM20756.
Use this list to find alternative parts at cheaper prices. https://www.detailcorpsmedia.com/db7alternativepar...
BREAKING NEWS!
Well ... after however many weeks it is ... partly due to the fact that Craig appears to be single-handedly keeping everybody in a ten mile radius on the road ... plus a truly extraordinary unexpected police related development - there's an update.
So first off - Craig whipped out the fuel tank, stuck the pumps on his flow bench and pronounced them good. So why aren't they running then??? we ask
Craig posits - perhaps there's an immobiliser issue? At about this same time, I get a TOTALLY unexpected call from my favourite PC at the (unnamed police HQ) who says that they are now trying to close the case , which of course has gone on for about 1000% longer than any other similar case he's even been on . In fact he has been promoted in the meantime and was supposed to leave this case to someone else, but was determined to follow it through to the bitter end dammit!
MY PC's update - Mr Perp has been banged up for a month on a different charge, they couldn't charge him re my car but they did on another car where they could prove wrongdoing and he has been well and truly slapped and is now compelled to shell out significantly. Good. Not that I'm vengeful in any manner, shape - or even form
Anyway ... turns out they have had a car belonging to Mr Perp stuck in the yard for the past X number of years and my PC thought to himself "hmmm ... I know Catherine's somewhat upset about the loss of all the paperwork, service history and original keys - maybe I'll have one last look in that car, even though my comrades have already allegedly searched it thoroughly" ... and he dived in there, and beneath a giant mound of old sweet wrappers, pizza boxes and other even less savoury detritus (which must have put off the previous searchers) found all of the lost stuff! The beautiful leather bound owners manual, the A4 white ring binder I lovingly put together with the Aston logo on the spine, with all the history inside, AND the two original keys and fobs - result! bonzer!
He rang me up and told me this, we chortled and generally slapped one another on the back metaphorically - and in truth British style he ended by saying 'sorry to have disturbed you' - ha! I cried - Ha! "You have made my absolute day Sir!" I riposted ...
Anyway ... all the stuff turned up a day or so later - I called Craig - and he beetled up here sharpish for the keys, in the hope that he could now deactivate the immobiliser.
But no, not a chance. No response whatsoever. Why??? Oh dear ... upon investigation behind the dash, Craig discovered that someone has been in there cutting wires, splicing in new wires, such that it's completely not clear what is what or what should be what and basically no wonder the keys are not talking to anything. We suspect that the people who had the car, sans original keys and fobs, must've got a key from somewhere that opens the doors, turns the ignition but due to last of appropriate programming to the actual car did nowt else. And they perhaps decided to try to bypass the immobiliser via the wiring, but didn't complete the job, or realised they couldn't, who even knows. Grrr
So, after deciding upon due deliberation not to go out and shoot himself, Craig went off to see a mate who might know something useful about all this. Meanwhile I asked him if he could connect the pumps directly to the battery and then try to start the engine. At first he wasn't keen, feeling that the immobiliser must be also preventing the engine from sparking. BUT SGF reminded me that the original garage (right at the beginning of the thread) had got a spark when he sprayed something with EasyStart. Craig perked up considerably when I shared this nugget with him, and he says he'll have a go at that ASAP.
Meanwhile - it would obviously be fantastic to the wiring behind the dash put to rights. But Craig can't seem to get his hands on a wiring diagram to guide him. I wonder if anyone on here might have an inkling as to where such a diagram might be sourced???
So there we have it. Still not running, but the pumps are OK, we now have the correct keys and fobs, plus all the paperwork, and we have a couple of ideas for next steps.
As always - any and all comments, suggestions, nuggets of wisdom very gratefully received ... and especially if someone can point me to the wiring diagram somewhere!
Wishing everyone a supercilious weekend
Well ... after however many weeks it is ... partly due to the fact that Craig appears to be single-handedly keeping everybody in a ten mile radius on the road ... plus a truly extraordinary unexpected police related development - there's an update.
So first off - Craig whipped out the fuel tank, stuck the pumps on his flow bench and pronounced them good. So why aren't they running then??? we ask
Craig posits - perhaps there's an immobiliser issue? At about this same time, I get a TOTALLY unexpected call from my favourite PC at the (unnamed police HQ) who says that they are now trying to close the case , which of course has gone on for about 1000% longer than any other similar case he's even been on . In fact he has been promoted in the meantime and was supposed to leave this case to someone else, but was determined to follow it through to the bitter end dammit!
MY PC's update - Mr Perp has been banged up for a month on a different charge, they couldn't charge him re my car but they did on another car where they could prove wrongdoing and he has been well and truly slapped and is now compelled to shell out significantly. Good. Not that I'm vengeful in any manner, shape - or even form
Anyway ... turns out they have had a car belonging to Mr Perp stuck in the yard for the past X number of years and my PC thought to himself "hmmm ... I know Catherine's somewhat upset about the loss of all the paperwork, service history and original keys - maybe I'll have one last look in that car, even though my comrades have already allegedly searched it thoroughly" ... and he dived in there, and beneath a giant mound of old sweet wrappers, pizza boxes and other even less savoury detritus (which must have put off the previous searchers) found all of the lost stuff! The beautiful leather bound owners manual, the A4 white ring binder I lovingly put together with the Aston logo on the spine, with all the history inside, AND the two original keys and fobs - result! bonzer!
He rang me up and told me this, we chortled and generally slapped one another on the back metaphorically - and in truth British style he ended by saying 'sorry to have disturbed you' - ha! I cried - Ha! "You have made my absolute day Sir!" I riposted ...
Anyway ... all the stuff turned up a day or so later - I called Craig - and he beetled up here sharpish for the keys, in the hope that he could now deactivate the immobiliser.
But no, not a chance. No response whatsoever. Why??? Oh dear ... upon investigation behind the dash, Craig discovered that someone has been in there cutting wires, splicing in new wires, such that it's completely not clear what is what or what should be what and basically no wonder the keys are not talking to anything. We suspect that the people who had the car, sans original keys and fobs, must've got a key from somewhere that opens the doors, turns the ignition but due to last of appropriate programming to the actual car did nowt else. And they perhaps decided to try to bypass the immobiliser via the wiring, but didn't complete the job, or realised they couldn't, who even knows. Grrr
So, after deciding upon due deliberation not to go out and shoot himself, Craig went off to see a mate who might know something useful about all this. Meanwhile I asked him if he could connect the pumps directly to the battery and then try to start the engine. At first he wasn't keen, feeling that the immobiliser must be also preventing the engine from sparking. BUT SGF reminded me that the original garage (right at the beginning of the thread) had got a spark when he sprayed something with EasyStart. Craig perked up considerably when I shared this nugget with him, and he says he'll have a go at that ASAP.
Meanwhile - it would obviously be fantastic to the wiring behind the dash put to rights. But Craig can't seem to get his hands on a wiring diagram to guide him. I wonder if anyone on here might have an inkling as to where such a diagram might be sourced???
So there we have it. Still not running, but the pumps are OK, we now have the correct keys and fobs, plus all the paperwork, and we have a couple of ideas for next steps.
As always - any and all comments, suggestions, nuggets of wisdom very gratefully received ... and especially if someone can point me to the wiring diagram somewhere!
Wishing everyone a supercilious weekend
Don't you lead an eventful life?
Anyway, you should be able to get a wiring diagram or help from these 2 Facebook sites dedicated to the DB7:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/826528282009287
You can download a pdf version of the Vantage wiring diagram here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
The workshop manual vol 3 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
Anyway, you should be able to get a wiring diagram or help from these 2 Facebook sites dedicated to the DB7:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/826528282009287
You can download a pdf version of the Vantage wiring diagram here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
The workshop manual vol 3 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
Edited by Viper201 on Friday 30th June 23:09
A couple of things occurred to me , did Craig change the battery in the key ?
A good way to check the key is to press the key button, whilst simultaneously saying the word "Energise" ...
if he then finds himself pinned to the floor by Seven of Nine , then it's working ( in more ways than one)
Having raved about the traction control in the v12 , i was told it was a mondeo ecu x 2 , i wonder if the immob is also mondeo , so a mondeo wiring diagram might be relevant .
A good way to check the key is to press the key button, whilst simultaneously saying the word "Energise" ...
if he then finds himself pinned to the floor by Seven of Nine , then it's working ( in more ways than one)
Having raved about the traction control in the v12 , i was told it was a mondeo ecu x 2 , i wonder if the immob is also mondeo , so a mondeo wiring diagram might be relevant .
Viper201 said:
Don't you lead an eventful life?
Anyway, you should be able to get a wiring diagram or help from these 2 Facebook sites dedicated to the DB7:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/826528282009287
You can download a pdf version of the Vantage wiring diagram here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
The workshop manual vol 3 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
Viper thank you - brilliant! I have downloaded those PDFs and will send them over to Craig. Anyway, you should be able to get a wiring diagram or help from these 2 Facebook sites dedicated to the DB7:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/826528282009287
You can download a pdf version of the Vantage wiring diagram here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
The workshop manual vol 3 here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5338579996/permali...
Edited by Viper201 on Friday 30th June 23:09
ivanhoew said:
A couple of things occurred to me , did Craig change the battery in the key ?
A good way to check the key is to press the key button, whilst simultaneously saying the word "Energise" ...
if he then finds himself pinned to the floor by Seven of Nine , then it's working ( in more ways than one)
Having raved about the traction control in the v12 , i was told it was a mondeo ecu x 2 , i wonder if the immob is also mondeo , so a mondeo wiring diagram might be relevant .
Ivanhoew thank you and welcome to the thread Sir!A good way to check the key is to press the key button, whilst simultaneously saying the word "Energise" ...
if he then finds himself pinned to the floor by Seven of Nine , then it's working ( in more ways than one)
Having raved about the traction control in the v12 , i was told it was a mondeo ecu x 2 , i wonder if the immob is also mondeo , so a mondeo wiring diagram might be relevant .
Hmmm any guidance as to how to ask Craig if he changed the battery without risk of fem-annoying him??
Mondeo wiring diagram . - intriguing ... thank you for that insight
Hey Seven of Nine could probably start the b***dy thing by simply looking at the engine sternly with one eyebrow very slightly raised ...
Edited by morgaana on Friday 7th July 20:37
Hello is there anybody still on this thread who hasn't entirely lost the will to live in regard to this Aston nightmare/conundrum etc.?
Breaking news ... this just in ...
It's alive!
It's now a year on since the car was left with the nice mechanic man with the remit to 'get 'er running' ...
I said to him 2 months ago "um ... as you'll have had it 12 months on 12th May, would it be unreasonable for me to take it back at that point? whether or not you've finished the job?" "Oh ... " he responded ... "Have I really had it that long?" ... general embarrassed coughing and shuffling about ensued.
Anyway ... booked it in to be delivered back yesterday ... not a peep from them, car still not running, me digging deep into my Zen EquaNimity protocol and gearing up for The Next Big Decision (what to do in other words) - and received a panicked phone call, he's a man down, can we do it today instead? Ok, I say. What's the diff?
So today they rock up and park the van (which is one of those you stick your home made buggy type racing thingy in for weekend racing events) much further from the barn than I expected. "Are you going to push it from there??" I say ... and the ba*stard only grins and says "I have a surprise for you!" They've only stayed up half the night doing mysterious things to the car and it now runs!!!
At this point I am *In Shock*. (I subsequently ask a friend what to do for shock resulting from unexpected GOOD news, and they have no clue, as this is an unprecedented circumstance!) I start babbling appreciating nonsense, my whole world goes through a 45 degree tip to the diagonal and back the other way, which is an experience I haven't had since the 70s. Somehow I manage to take a video of the car being driven from the van to the barn.
So essentially the car is now a car again, as opposed to a beautiful piece of sculpture in a fetching shade of Buckingham Green.
I've been a bit insane with relief for the rest of the day following the delivery. I hope to resume relatively normal functioning over the next few days and will come back with another post.
Meanwhile - greetings to all, I hope your projects are running a bit smoother than mine and less continental-drift-speed!
Breaking news ... this just in ...
It's alive!
It's now a year on since the car was left with the nice mechanic man with the remit to 'get 'er running' ...
I said to him 2 months ago "um ... as you'll have had it 12 months on 12th May, would it be unreasonable for me to take it back at that point? whether or not you've finished the job?" "Oh ... " he responded ... "Have I really had it that long?" ... general embarrassed coughing and shuffling about ensued.
Anyway ... booked it in to be delivered back yesterday ... not a peep from them, car still not running, me digging deep into my Zen EquaNimity protocol and gearing up for The Next Big Decision (what to do in other words) - and received a panicked phone call, he's a man down, can we do it today instead? Ok, I say. What's the diff?
So today they rock up and park the van (which is one of those you stick your home made buggy type racing thingy in for weekend racing events) much further from the barn than I expected. "Are you going to push it from there??" I say ... and the ba*stard only grins and says "I have a surprise for you!" They've only stayed up half the night doing mysterious things to the car and it now runs!!!
At this point I am *In Shock*. (I subsequently ask a friend what to do for shock resulting from unexpected GOOD news, and they have no clue, as this is an unprecedented circumstance!) I start babbling appreciating nonsense, my whole world goes through a 45 degree tip to the diagonal and back the other way, which is an experience I haven't had since the 70s. Somehow I manage to take a video of the car being driven from the van to the barn.
So essentially the car is now a car again, as opposed to a beautiful piece of sculpture in a fetching shade of Buckingham Green.
I've been a bit insane with relief for the rest of the day following the delivery. I hope to resume relatively normal functioning over the next few days and will come back with another post.
Meanwhile - greetings to all, I hope your projects are running a bit smoother than mine and less continental-drift-speed!
Very pleasing to read! If you still need wiring diagrams etc I mentioned it way above and probably 2 years ago now; I donated to AMHT a surplus dealer training / service manual I had for the DB7 Vantage. 700 pages plus on how the car worked and included all the wiring diagrams. I gave it to them based on guidance here - they should be able to loan it to you if you ask them? Best wishes in the meantime for getting it back to how you wanted.
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