My16 vantage v8 cutting out
Discussion
Hi all, hoping Mike knows something my dealer doesn't, here 
A few weeks ago I picked up my brand new, dream come true, v8 vantage (in black).
Generally, the experience has been fantastic, with a few gremlins.
Major gremlin is.. on two occasions, dropping speed approaching a junction, the engine has cut out, at very low speed. First time in neutral, clutch pedal not depressed, second time in first, clutch fully depressed.
I flagged this with my dealer, expecting them to plug in the code reader, find two faults, and resolve the problem. They took the car away, but report no faults logged.
I'm really concerned that this could result in a serious problem (not hard to imagine entering a roundabout at low speed, losing the engine, and being side-swiped by a truck, etc..).
My dealer is chasing up with Aston, so maybe this will be resolved as a matter of course.. but I wondered if Mike might be able to point me in the right direction?
Other gremlins are clutch related.. burning in reverse, stalling/kangarooing setting off from stationary. I'm getting the impression that "they all do that, sir", so maybe I just have to learn to WAR it, until the clutch dies..
Not quite the experience I'd hoped for, in first gear.. but the second gear plus drive is marvellous. Beats the f-type and 911s I had previously (sure miss the 996 gearbox tho!).
Thanks in advance,
Alan.
A few weeks ago I picked up my brand new, dream come true, v8 vantage (in black).
Generally, the experience has been fantastic, with a few gremlins.
Major gremlin is.. on two occasions, dropping speed approaching a junction, the engine has cut out, at very low speed. First time in neutral, clutch pedal not depressed, second time in first, clutch fully depressed.
I flagged this with my dealer, expecting them to plug in the code reader, find two faults, and resolve the problem. They took the car away, but report no faults logged.
I'm really concerned that this could result in a serious problem (not hard to imagine entering a roundabout at low speed, losing the engine, and being side-swiped by a truck, etc..).
My dealer is chasing up with Aston, so maybe this will be resolved as a matter of course.. but I wondered if Mike might be able to point me in the right direction?
Other gremlins are clutch related.. burning in reverse, stalling/kangarooing setting off from stationary. I'm getting the impression that "they all do that, sir", so maybe I just have to learn to WAR it, until the clutch dies..
Not quite the experience I'd hoped for, in first gear.. but the second gear plus drive is marvellous. Beats the f-type and 911s I had previously (sure miss the 996 gearbox tho!).
Thanks in advance,
Alan.
Your car is way too new for this to be the issue, but it sounds exactly like the fuel vapor recirculation hose:
http://www.redpants.lol/blog/2015/12/1/the-infamou...
If not that, might be an issue with the clutch not disengaging?
http://www.redpants.lol/blog/2015/12/1/the-infamou...
If not that, might be an issue with the clutch not disengaging?
Is it a Coupe or Roadster?
I had this exact problem on mine recently and took months to rectify. My symptoms were extremely similar to yours - car just intermittently stopped, loss of engine, steering, brakes.
Out of interest, do you know if you also lose the radio when it happens?
Anyways. As it turns out, they traced my fault to a hairline crack in my window seal. When it was either raining or washing the car, a slight dribble of water was running down the window internally and into the door card, where it corroded one of the control modules (I think from memory it was the ignition control one) so the car ECU the key had been removed intermittently.
Scary when it happens, and frustrating trying to resolve it. Finally got there in the end. Seal and module replaced and it's not happened since
I had this exact problem on mine recently and took months to rectify. My symptoms were extremely similar to yours - car just intermittently stopped, loss of engine, steering, brakes.
Out of interest, do you know if you also lose the radio when it happens?
Anyways. As it turns out, they traced my fault to a hairline crack in my window seal. When it was either raining or washing the car, a slight dribble of water was running down the window internally and into the door card, where it corroded one of the control modules (I think from memory it was the ignition control one) so the car ECU the key had been removed intermittently.
Scary when it happens, and frustrating trying to resolve it. Finally got there in the end. Seal and module replaced and it's not happened since
RampantArmadillo said:
Other gremlins are clutch related.. burning in reverse, stalling/kangarooing setting off from stationary. I'm getting the impression that "they all do that, sir", so maybe I just have to learn to WAR it, until the clutch dies.
The single plate clutch on the V8V is widely regarded as borderline adequate despite improvements over the years. The best solution is to replace it with a twin plate clutch (and lightened flywheel) but this is obviously expensive to do. The other solution is to drive around it.Reverse gear is difficult because it is such a high gear (closer to second than first), however the car has a fairly decent anti-stall system so the solution is to use this. When reversing do not touch the throttle and just raise the clutch peddle very slowly. Try it, it works, even reversing up hill. As soon as you touch the throttle the car then "thinks" you are in control and no longer uses the anti-stall system so if you get it wrong you either stall or slip/burn the clutch. As far as "stalling/kangarooing setting off from stationary" is concerned you will get used to the fact that the clutch is a bit difficult to modulate and get better at it if not always perfect.
Anyway, having driven several V12Vs with the twin plate clutch I know too well how good it is so when the warranty on my SP10 expires in a few months I will be replacing the clutch/flywheel for one worthy of the car. Some say wait until the current one dies but I say if I'm going to spend the money anyway then enjoy the car with the enhancement for as long as possible. Others say buy a V12V but that won't go up my drive and the cost to change isn't worth it IMHO. A V12VS manual in a few years may be a different story ......
telum01 said:
Your car is way too new for this to be the issue, but it sounds exactly like the fuel vapor recirculation hose:
http://www.redpants.lol/blog/2015/12/1/the-infamou...
...
Sounded like this to me too. Weren't some of these instances also down to the fuel filler cap/tank being faulty?? OP - be worth pointing your dealer at these and getting them to check.http://www.redpants.lol/blog/2015/12/1/the-infamou...
...
Ref the clutch, use the anti-stall as mentioned above, but avoid reversing up hill if you can. The choice of reverse gear ratio is one of Aston's little jokes for owners
There is no real need for a different clutch. Enough people get 50k+ miles out of their clutches. Driving styles make a big difference...
Is there any reason why reverse gear on the Vantage is such a stupid ratio? I'm assuming there is seeing that it's remained the same for over ten years now. I've got a steep, narrow drive to negotiate and never sure if I'm doing the clutch more harm by reversing all the way up or doing a 3-4 point turn at the bottom so I can drive up.
Re. clutch: I used to have to reverse round a 90 degree bend and a up steep drive, which occasionally resulted in a burnt clutch smell, and I am convinced this contributed to the need for an early replacement of the clutch. Solved the problem in two ways: a) moved house (quite expensive option but did help) and b) replaced original with twin plate, which solved this problem and improved the overall driving experience.
Re. stalling: I had (have) this issue on my 09MY 4.7 V8V. Regular stalling when coasting with no fault codes. My instance of this issue would happen regardless of fuel level, engine temperature or ambient temperature. At first I checked the fuel tank issue but the pipework is very different on the later cars so this was not the cause. I then cleaned the throttle body and all was good for a few miles but the problem returned. When I went back to check the thorttle body again I noticed a small pool of oil at the base of the throttle butterfly so I replaced both the PCV and AOS. Again this worked for a few miles but the problem returned. In the end I lashed up a temporary catch can between the PCV and the inlet manifold and so far neither the oil or stalling has returned. I have written 'had (have)' because this was done around 450 miles ago so I wouldn't say it was conclusively fixed but I have experienced no stalling since ftting the catch can (stalling was previously happening once per day on my 20 mile daily commute), plus overall the car feels smoother to drive when pulling away. I figured the oil was interferring with the amount of air being drawn into the car when the butterfly was at idle position and this occasionally caught the engine management system out. Perhaps somebody with more experince could state whether this is possible and why the oil was getting there?
Hope this helps but given the age of the car the dealer should sort this stalling problem for you.
Re. stalling: I had (have) this issue on my 09MY 4.7 V8V. Regular stalling when coasting with no fault codes. My instance of this issue would happen regardless of fuel level, engine temperature or ambient temperature. At first I checked the fuel tank issue but the pipework is very different on the later cars so this was not the cause. I then cleaned the throttle body and all was good for a few miles but the problem returned. When I went back to check the thorttle body again I noticed a small pool of oil at the base of the throttle butterfly so I replaced both the PCV and AOS. Again this worked for a few miles but the problem returned. In the end I lashed up a temporary catch can between the PCV and the inlet manifold and so far neither the oil or stalling has returned. I have written 'had (have)' because this was done around 450 miles ago so I wouldn't say it was conclusively fixed but I have experienced no stalling since ftting the catch can (stalling was previously happening once per day on my 20 mile daily commute), plus overall the car feels smoother to drive when pulling away. I figured the oil was interferring with the amount of air being drawn into the car when the butterfly was at idle position and this occasionally caught the engine management system out. Perhaps somebody with more experince could state whether this is possible and why the oil was getting there?
Hope this helps but given the age of the car the dealer should sort this stalling problem for you.
blade runner said:
Is there any reason why reverse gear on the Vantage is such a stupid ratio?....
Not sure.I always wondered whether they'd screwed up on ratios or more specifically final drive ratios and botched a fix that screwed up reverse.
Or maybe they didn't have the cash to look at changes in ratios and had to take an off the shelf compromise? (Can't see that though....who would have reverse like that on any car?).
Perhaps it's the James Bond connection and wanting to be able to do 60mph in reverse
Many thanks to all for comments and suggestions.
Justin, my car is a coupe, forgot to mention that. Your story is very interesting since a lesser niggle I reported to the dealer, a rattle on the drivers-side door card, turned out to be an incorrectly adjusted window glass. Not sure the car has seen enough water for that to be the problem, but who knows?
I asked the dealer service centre to review this thread, just in case one of these issues fits the bill.
Cheers!
Edit: forgot the obligatory pics
Here are a few my detailed took after defect correction and quartz protection. She's a beauty, even if I do say so myself
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=...
Justin, my car is a coupe, forgot to mention that. Your story is very interesting since a lesser niggle I reported to the dealer, a rattle on the drivers-side door card, turned out to be an incorrectly adjusted window glass. Not sure the car has seen enough water for that to be the problem, but who knows?
I asked the dealer service centre to review this thread, just in case one of these issues fits the bill.
Cheers!
Edit: forgot the obligatory pics
Here are a few my detailed took after defect correction and quartz protection. She's a beauty, even if I do say so myself
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=...
Edited by RampantArmadillo on Saturday 15th October 13:06
Edited by RampantArmadillo on Saturday 15th October 13:06
Had this exact problem a year ago on my new V8V. Car would stall at low revs approaching a junction / traffic. Put it down to my habitually poor clutch control and reckoned I could live with it. But it got worse and then it stalled as I accelerated from lights in the outside lane, which was awkward, I took it into AM Pangbourne. They had it for a month whilst AM technical "looked into it". Turns out it was a software glitch that needed fixing. Havent had the problem since. And AM apologised for the length of time it took them to resolve, and sent me some luggage. Which was nice.
Jon
Jon
Without an engineering bone in my body it was hard to ague, but the software patch resolved it. They treated it like it had never happened to anyone before, so I pointed them here, and have to assume all the other potential issues were ruled out. I'm not sure AM's tech team have graduated onto windows yet. The ZX Spectrums still have some life in them.
Jon2410 said:
Had this exact problem a year ago on my new V8V. Car would stall at low revs approaching a junction / traffic. Put it down to my habitually poor clutch control and reckoned I could live with it. But it got worse and then it stalled as I accelerated from lights in the outside lane, which was awkward, I took it into AM Pangbourne. They had it for a month whilst AM technical "looked into it". Turns out it was a software glitch that needed fixing. Havent had the problem since. And AM apologised for the length of time it took them to resolve, and sent me some luggage. Which was nice.
Jon
Fascinating, many thanks for this Jon.Jon
Hopefully my dealer can contact Pangbourne to find out the fix. Would you mind pm-ing me the registration of your car (or the VIN, if the reg is ambiguous in some way).
Ken Figenus said:
Lovely car Alan - dont get it wet now 
Did you use CQuartz?
Jon - that is a strange explanation mate as they all run the same ROM 'software'. Maybe some fueling adaptation value had logged wrong or something or maybe the Windows needed an update
CQuartz, yep. Very pleasing results. Did you use CQuartz?Jon - that is a strange explanation mate as they all run the same ROM 'software'. Maybe some fueling adaptation value had logged wrong or something or maybe the Windows needed an update
You're right though.. black is a nightmare. It's funny, my options (cars on the forecourt) were black, one of the 50 shades and white. The F-Type Jag I traded in was white, and I promised myself I'd never have another white car; they show the dirt too much.
We live and learn, eh?
V8V Pete said:
Reverse gear is difficult because it is such a high gear (closer to second than first), however the car has a fairly decent anti-stall system so the solution is to use this. When reversing do not touch the throttle and just raise the clutch peddle very slowly. Try it, it works, even reversing up hill. As soon as you touch the throttle the car then "thinks" you are in control and no longer uses the anti-stall system so if you get it wrong you either stall or slip/burn the clutch.
Many thanks for this Pete, it works!Can't help noticing that, somehow, the anti-stall can reverse uphill at far lower revs than I can without slipping or stalling.
Seems a bit like black magic, but I'll take it!
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