Just bought my first AM.

[justin220]

We did indeed! Seems a natural progression..

I'm enjoying mine more than I was, still missing the liveliness of the Evora though. And the colour, grey blends in too much! Agree completely on the interior though, and the noise is fantastic albeit slightly quiet..

First service next month! Planning on going to Murray's

[Ikobo]

Wouldn't that be bad for your service history having Murray do it Justin? I know Craig had a V8V himself at one point, he didn't like it.........

Well I bought my car on Tuesday and I seem to have already notched up 700 miles in it, I should maybe be thankful it's a low mileage car at the rate I'm going. The "one more quick drive" factor is strong with this one. (As well as frequent fuel stops)



Much happier now that the plate plinth is binned too.

[justin220]

Murrays are an official Aston dealer?

Car looking great btw!

[Ikobo]

Ah right, the Aston garage isn't with the Murray group any more mate, or so the receptionist was telling me on Thursday.

[Ikobo]

Just a quick question guys and didn't think it needed a new thread!

For those of you with older V8V's like mine, now that the cold weather is coming in are there any tips as regards the gearbox being very tight from cold? Do you just let the engine run a while before heading off or is there maybe some wee secret?

Last couple of days mine has been VERY tight from cold, but fine after driving for a while. I wouldn't have thought it would've been that bad as it's kept in a well insulated garage. I know it's not the clutch as it was replaced only a few weeks ago. Just something you have to live with?

[cornerit]

As I'm normally not in a rush nor leaving home at an early hour (neighbours/noise) I let it run a for a couple mins before setting off rather than leaving the second it starts up.

When I did once leave instantly it was actually quite surprising how bad the 1st to 2nd change was! Maybe there's a fix out there, I don't know.

[Speedraser]

Double-clutch (double de-clutch in UK-speak) into 2nd when the 'box oil is cold.

[Jon39]

Ikobo said:

. . . any tips as regards the gearbox being very tight from cold?

Do you just let the engine run a while before heading off or is there maybe some wee secret?

If you think about it, the gearbox oil will only begin getting warm when the car is moving.

Only trying to help.

Glad you are enjoying your new car.

[Ikobo]

If that was the case Jon, wouldn't the gearbox be tight under any conditions instead of just cold days as far as initial starts were concerned? (Which it isn't) A warmer environment seems to cancel the issue out, which is why I asked about letting the car heat up. My knowledge of cars is limited only to driving them though to be fair.

Edited by Ikobo on Monday 17th November 18:48

[Bincenzo]

Quite common I think, mines the same. I tend to sit stationary and work the gearbox a bit, seems to free it up a little. Don't panic!

[Ikobo]

Don't worry Bincenzo, nothings going to sour my ownership (I think!) I love the thing. It's just a little frustrating at times wrestling it in to gear a little!

[gibbon]

Oil is thicker when its cold. On a colder day, it stands to reason the oil will be even thicker. Hence the issues you are having.

Sitting with the engine running will warm up the engine oil, not the gearbox oil, it will make no difference what so ever to that, they are totally separate and different.

Solutions-

Double clutching will solve the issue, oil should warm up once moving in a matter of a couple of minutes.

I also believe theres a newer version of the specified gearbox oil which helps the issue, being a touch less viscous.

Build a heated garage.


Personally i believe i have the newer gearbox oil in mine, and also just change gently into second for my first gearchange. After that its fine.

[Ikobo]

I'll maybe enquire about the gearbox oil. It's in a decent garage as is.

[Barnezy]

First is always a little though first thing..... just go second to first and it'll be fine.

[montecristo]

gibbon said:

Double clutching will solve the issue, oil should warm up once moving in a matter of a couple of minutes.

Barnezy said:

First is always a little though first thing..... just go second to first and it'll be fine.

Both of these. I often slide down into second and then without engaging go straight up into first, it seems easier going up into first that way than from the middle/neutral. Often happens randomly at the lights too.

[Jon39]

Ikobo said:

If that was the case Jon, wouldn't the gearbox be tight under any conditions instead of just cold days as far as initial starts were concerned? (Which it isn't) A warmer environment seems to cancel the issue out, which is why I asked about letting the car heat up. My knowledge of cars is limited only to driving them though to be fair.

I am not an engineer, so can only apply logic.

As you will know, the gearbox is at the back of the car, so no heat generated by the engine would be transmitted to the gearbox.

Overnight (if the car is unused) the temperature within gearbox would presumably be similar to its surroundings. On cooler/cold nights, the drop in temperature must be enough to create the tightness you have described.

The cold weather initial 1st to 2nd gear changes on the 4.7 cars is fairly smooth, so I wonder what was altered when the the 4.7 was introduced.

[gibbon]

Jon39 said:

The cold weather initial 1st to 2nd gear changes on the 4.7 cars is fairly smooth, so I wonder what was altered when the the 4.7 was introduced.

The oil.

ps to the OP, the garage comment was tongue in cheek.

[bentley01]

I wonder if the changes with the gearbox in the later cars can be applied to the earlier cars. There really is no difficulty changing gears at all even on a really cold day. Might be worth looking into.