Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist

Aston Martin advice from Bamford Rose independent specialist

Author
Discussion

Stonic

169 posts

147 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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For everyone that has had the BR Bilstein electronically variable shocks, the new upgraded control module is fantastic - get booked in for the update.

The previous soft / hard settings are now supplemented with a programmable setting which replaces "soft" and it's fantastic. Picked up the car on Monday evening and it is now so much more balanced on B roads without the solidness you got with firm setting. Firm was always great (if a little solid) but soft lets me carry more speed (much more) with confidence on the back roads!

As a passing comment to potential new customers - I think the challenge for BR is their popularity and volume of business. They have a big workshop but every ramp was in use. Its a great challenge to have - more customers than you can physically deal so I would suggest perseverance and once you are a customer, the service is 100%.

mikey k

13,011 posts

215 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
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JohnG1 said:
tonyhall38 said:
censored
oh dear...
yes predictable hehe
Stonic that is interesting might have to have a conversation with Mike about Johnny's suspension then!

Tonythesalesman

57 posts

121 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Help Please, I've got a 2004 V12 Anniversary edition DB7 coupe and it's stuck in neutral, can't shift it out at all, I have an idea - and thoughts from others, that this might be a problem between the footbrake and gear box safety interlock system whereby the brake pedal has to be applied before the car can be shifted from 'Park', can anyone ''confirm'' that this could be the case? The gear box, which is Touchtronic / full auto seemed fine otherwise on its and the cars last run out. Thanks, Tony.

Edited by Tonythesalesman on Monday 25th May 01:10

BamfordMike

1,192 posts

156 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Tonythesalesman said:
Help Please, I've got a 2004 V12 Anniversary edition DB7 coupe and it's stuck in neutral, can't shift it out at all, I have an idea - and thoughts from others, that this might be a problem between the footbrake and gear box safety interlock system whereby the brake pedal has to be applied before the car can be shifted from 'Park', can anyone ''confirm'' that this could be the case? The gear box, which is Touchtronic / full auto seemed fine otherwise on its and the cars last run out. Thanks, Tony.

Edited by Tonythesalesman on Monday 25th May 01:10
Interlock unit, check fuse 20 (5A) in the the RHS bulkhead fuse box which is on the passenger side footwell, if ok then its the solenoid at the bottom of the lever

Tonythesalesman

57 posts

121 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Thanks very much for your advice Mike, if not the fuse I'll get the AA to take the car up on a low loader to my Jaguar specialist dealer, (great ''old school'' very honest straightforward and expert guys) used to dealing with modern and classic Jaguars and by the many past faults on my Aston are getting experts at DB7's!

WBlohm

96 posts

106 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Hi Mike,

Wonder if you could shed some light...

I have a ticking sound when engine is running, making my V8 vantage sound a little bit like a diesel. It is the 4.3 manual that I own. I have had full oil change and engine flush, the sound is still there

I have been informed by a mechanic friend that it is a valve clearance issue, he diagnosed this using the stethoscope on engine parts.

Have you heard of this problem with the V8 Vantage before? Is it a long job? whats the potential cost?

Thanks Will


BamfordMike

1,192 posts

156 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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WBlohm said:
Hi Mike,

Wonder if you could shed some light...

I have a ticking sound when engine is running, making my V8 vantage sound a little bit like a diesel. It is the 4.3 manual that I own. I have had full oil change and engine flush, the sound is still there

I have been informed by a mechanic friend that it is a valve clearance issue, he diagnosed this using the stethoscope on engine parts.

Have you heard of this problem with the V8 Vantage before? Is it a long job? whats the potential cost?

Thanks Will
we have seen this before but wouldn't say its common even on high milers. The valve clearances might be a bit larger / out of tolerance at higher miles, but just returns a slightly louder valvetrain noise instead of a ticking which sounds like something is on need of adjustment in comparison.

variable cam timing unit is in that vicinity too, so worth checking is not that, but either way, I'm sorry to say is a big job to correct because front cover needs to come away to remove cams to replace shims, meaning is engine out job.

budget on minimum 20 hours engine in / out. 30 hours for engine rebuild and finally parts - tappet shims and gaskets / fluids and consumables.


Luke.

10,944 posts

249 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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BamfordMike said:
WBlohm said:
Hi Mike,

Wonder if you could shed some light...

I have a ticking sound when engine is running, making my V8 vantage sound a little bit like a diesel. It is the 4.3 manual that I own. I have had full oil change and engine flush, the sound is still there

I have been informed by a mechanic friend that it is a valve clearance issue, he diagnosed this using the stethoscope on engine parts.

Have you heard of this problem with the V8 Vantage before? Is it a long job? whats the potential cost?

Thanks Will
we have seen this before but wouldn't say its common even on high milers. The valve clearances might be a bit larger / out of tolerance at higher miles, but just returns a slightly louder valvetrain noise instead of a ticking which sounds like something is on need of adjustment in comparison.

variable cam timing unit is in that vicinity too, so worth checking is not that, but either way, I'm sorry to say is a big job to correct because front cover needs to come away to remove cams to replace shims, meaning is engine out job.

budget on minimum 20 hours engine in / out. 30 hours for engine rebuild and finally parts - tappet shims and gaskets / fluids and consumables.
What's the good news?

mikey k

13,011 posts

215 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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He doesn't have to pay AM rates and it hasn't lunched itself?

Tonythesalesman

57 posts

121 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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And I thought I had troubles!! Sorry.
WBlohm said:
Hi Mike,

Wonder if you could shed some light...

I have a ticking sound when engine is running, making my V8 vantage sound a little bit like a diesel. It is the 4.3 manual that I own. I have had full oil change and engine flush, the sound is still there

I have been informed by a mechanic friend that it is a valve clearance issue, he diagnosed this using the stethoscope on engine parts.

Have you heard of this problem with the V8 Vantage before? Is it a long job? whats the potential cost?

Thanks Will
Edited by Tonythesalesman on Saturday 30th May 09:58

Ken Figenus

5,678 posts

116 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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Are the V12's bucket and shims too Mike - i.e not hydraulic and not adjustable?

WBlohm

96 posts

106 months

Monday 1st June 2015
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Mike,

Thank you for the information.

Lucky for me, I have had the car checked at Aston Martin and the engine is running perfectly. The ticking sound is coming from a leak in the exhaust

So looks like a great chance to have a performance exhaust fitted

Will

BamfordMike

1,192 posts

156 months

Monday 1st June 2015
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Ken Figenus said:
Are the V12's bucket and shims too Mike - i.e not hydraulic and not adjustable?
the v12 has hydraulic lash adjusters which dont require any adjustment. Should the lash adjuster fail it is possible to change with engine in-situ because the cam can extract without needing front cover removal.

the v8 has bucket shims which are not adjustable, if clearance become too big the engine will develop a ticking sound. Because the cams cant easily extract with front cover fitted, to gain access to replace shims the engine needs to come out of the car.

so in terms of ease of maintenance with regard to valve shimming, the v12 is better which is a consideration come higher mileage.

BamfordMike

1,192 posts

156 months

Monday 1st June 2015
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WBlohm said:
Mike,

Thank you for the information.

Lucky for me, I have had the car checked at Aston Martin and the engine is running perfectly. The ticking sound is coming from a leak in the exhaust

So looks like a great chance to have a performance exhaust fitted

Will
great news. As i said, it is not common for the V8 to go out of spec with regard valve shim. Was the exhaust cracked or leaking from gasket face? Must have been a lot to sound like a ticking noise though?

WBlohm

96 posts

106 months

Thursday 4th June 2015
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Mike,

My description of ticking maybe inaccurate, it sounds like a slight chugging sound but can only really hear it when it echos off garage walls etc. I am paranoid with car engine noises

They have not said where it is coming from but I had a new clutch fitted a few months back and I am wondering whether that could be why, I know they have to remove parts of the exhaust to fit the clutch

Will

Ken Figenus

5,678 posts

116 months

Friday 5th June 2015
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BamfordMike said:
the v12 has hydraulic lash adjusters which dont require any adjustment. Should the lash adjuster fail it is possible to change with engine in-situ because the cam can extract without needing front cover removal.

the v8 has bucket shims which are not adjustable, if clearance become too big the engine will develop a ticking sound. Because the cams cant easily extract with front cover fitted, to gain access to replace shims the engine needs to come out of the car.

so in terms of ease of maintenance with regard to valve shimming, the v12 is better which is a consideration come higher mileage.
Thanks Mike. Had bother with hydraulic tappets on a Rover V8 once - but it is a 25 year old grudge so best let it go now wink

With these feet

5,728 posts

214 months

Friday 5th June 2015
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WBlohm said:
Mike,

My description of ticking maybe inaccurate, it sounds like a slight chugging sound but can only really hear it when it echos off garage walls etc. I am paranoid with car engine noises

They have not said where it is coming from but I had a new clutch fitted a few months back and I am wondering whether that could be why, I know they have to remove parts of the exhaust to fit the clutch

Will
Yup,to change the clutch you have to remove the system cat back and remove a manifold so the torque tube can be rotated and removed. A few things could cause the exhaust noise, a failed manifold gasket would give a "futting" noise whereas the circular clamp and the gaskets on the cat gives a more conventional blow.

WBlohm

96 posts

106 months

Wednesday 10th June 2015
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So an update on this exhaust leak situation. I am currently looking at new performance exhaust systems, Manifolds, cats, etc.

But over the weekend I have had the message appear 'emissions system service required' and it has been on constantly.

I have read that this is usually due to the O2 sensors, but given I have a leak in my exhaust system I wondered if this could be related?

I am getting it on the computer this weekend to source the fault, but wondered if anyone had any thoughts

Will

Trek930

129 posts

166 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Hi Mike,

Quick question, how easy is it to remove the CF diffuser on the DBS? Ive just reversed mine into a wall and need to get it repaired. Its nothing too bad, low speed into a corner of a wall, just bleeding anoying!

Anyone used Carbonfibrerepair.com before? Anyone know of a good repairer nearer London?

Cheers,

Neil

Edited by Trek930 on Thursday 11th June 20:04


Edited by Trek930 on Thursday 11th June 20:07

TuonoPants

276 posts

143 months

Tuesday 16th June 2015
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carbonfibrerepair.com have been used by some here who have recommended them http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=151...