V8V: A couple of minor problems

[Amris]

Well I'm a couple of months into ownership of my V8V now and having a couple of niggles. So thought I would pop them up on the forum and see if there are any easy fixes or if I need to book the car in.

1. The Sat Nav: whilst i expected the Sat Nav not be great, it doesn't seem to work properly at all as it generally puts me in completely the wrong location. The last time I tried to use it was on the M40 and it showed me in a field and then told me to take a left at the next T junction! I don't know if this is an actual issue or it just needs the new software but the M40 is pretty established so does make me wonder if it is just the software.

2. Air conditioning: Is the air con button meant to be permanently on?

3. The exhaust (i think): With or without fuse 22 in (and I think only when the car is cold) I seem to get a horrible buzzing sound coming from the back of the car at around 2800rpm. Kind of like a motor straining to turn on something. It is really quite loud though and very annoying. Originally when I bough the car there was an issue with the valves not working but this was fixed promptly by the garage (One of the hoses had come of) but the noise did not go away. The problem seems a little intermittent too. Has anybody had any experience of this?

[yeti]

Amris said:

1. The Sat Nav: whilst i expected the Sat Nav not be great, it doesn't seem to work properly at all as it generally puts me in completely the wrong location. The last time I tried to use it was on the M40 and it showed me in a field and then told me to take a left at the next T junction! I don't know if this is an actual issue or it just needs the new software but the M40 is pretty established so does make me wonder if it is just the software.

Not a software issue, hardware I;m afraid - the GPS reciever on my car occasionally packs up and commonly just thinks I am somewhere else extrapoloated from where I was when it worked last. It then never catches up. It is usually reset by a restarting the engine, not always practical of course when you're in the middle of a journey and need directions! I would imagine it needs replcing, but seeing as I have had the satnav completely removed from my car, not really relevant for me!

[snuffy]

Amris said:

Well I'm a couple of months into ownership of my V8V now and having a couple of niggles. So thought I would pop them up on the forum and see if there are any easy fixes or if I need to book the car in.

2. Air conditioning: Is the air con button meant to be permanently on?

I've only had mine 11 days and that's the first thing I noticed. I can press the button as much as I like it it wont go off. The only way I can get it to turn off is turn the climate control knob up. I assume this is how it's supposed to work.

[BingoBob]

1. What yeti said. GPS antenna on the way out.

2. Is yours the 4.3 or 4.7? It sound like the flaps might be seized and the motor straining to open, if it's the 4.3. If it's the 4.7 then the valves are electro-pneumatic and I can't imagine them making any noise. Could it simply be an exhaust rattle?

[Jockman]

yeti said:

.....the GPS reciever on my car occasionally packs up and commonly just thinks I am somewhere else extrapoloated from where I was when it worked last. It then never catches up....

Mikey K's satnav does that

[X7LDA]

snuffy said:

Amris said:

Well I'm a couple of months into ownership of my V8V now and having a couple of niggles. So thought I would pop them up on the forum and see if there are any easy fixes or if I need to book the car in.

2. Air conditioning: Is the air con button meant to be permanently on?

I've only had mine 11 days and that's the first thing I noticed. I can press the button as much as I like it it wont go off. The only way I can get it to turn off is turn the climate control knob up. I assume this is how it's supposed to work.

It's only meant to stay on if you have the settings to blow air out of the windscreen vents. Turn the knob to footwell or dash vents and then you will be able to disengage the AC.

[Amris]

BingoBob said:

2. Is yours the 4.3 or 4.7? It sound like the flaps might be seized and the motor straining to open, if it's the 4.3. If it's the 4.7 then the valves are electro-pneumatic and I can't imagine them making any noise. Could it simply be an exhaust rattle?

Its a 4.3 but it makes the noise when the fuse is pulled out which is what is confusing me as the valves won't be moving.

[X7LDA]

Amris said:

BingoBob said:

2. Is yours the 4.3 or 4.7? It sound like the flaps might be seized and the motor straining to open, if it's the 4.3. If it's the 4.7 then the valves are electro-pneumatic and I can't imagine them making any noise. Could it simply be an exhaust rattle?

Its a 4.3 but it makes the noise when the fuse is pulled out which is what is confusing me as the valves won't be moving.

Unless one/both of the valves are seized shut (which is a common problem).

In my opinino it sounds more like an exhaust rattle however. There is a lot of metal back there in heat sheilds, exhausts, mounts, tail pipes etc. Could be one of a million things - which I know isn't very helpful.

[Amris]

yeti said:

Not a software issue, hardware I;m afraid - the GPS reciever on my car occasionally packs up and commonly just thinks I am somewhere else extrapoloated from where I was when it worked last. It then never catches up. It is usually reset by a restarting the engine, not always practical of course when you're in the middle of a journey and need directions! I would imagine it needs replcing, but seeing as I have had the satnav completely removed from my car, not really relevant for me!

Thought it might be a hardware issue. Any idea how much the fix is? (I wonder is this would this be covered under an independent warranty scheme?)

[yeti]

Amris said:

Its a 4.3 but it makes the noise when the fuse is pulled out which is what is confusing me as the valves won't be moving.

If you only get it at certain revs i.e. 2800rpm it could simply be a loose bracket that vibrates at a certain resonance..?

[yeti]

Amris said:

Thought it might be a hardware issue. Any idea how much the fix is? (I wonder is this would this be covered under an independent warranty scheme?)

I'd say a new unit. Plenty of scrap Aston though and the unit just unplugs and then replugs in.

[yeti]

X7LDA said:

It's only meant to stay on if you have the settings to blow air out of the windscreen vents. Turn the knob to footwell or dash vents and then you will be able to disengage the AC.

^^ This ^^

Confused me at first as well

[Amris]

X7LDA said:

Amris said:

BingoBob said:

2. Is yours the 4.3 or 4.7? It sound like the flaps might be seized and the motor straining to open, if it's the 4.3. If it's the 4.7 then the valves are electro-pneumatic and I can't imagine them making any noise. Could it simply be an exhaust rattle?

Its a 4.3 but it makes the noise when the fuse is pulled out which is what is confusing me as the valves won't be moving.

Unless one/both of the valves are seized shut (which is a common problem).

In my opinino it sounds more like an exhaust rattle however. There is a lot of metal back there in heat sheilds, exhausts, mounts, tail pipes etc. Could be one of a million things - which I know isn't very helpful.

Thanks X7LDA, I know the valves aren't seized as I can move them manually. But if its just a rattle at a resonant frequency I may be able to have a prod around and see if anything appears loose

[Amris]

yeti said:

Amris said:

Thought it might be a hardware issue. Any idea how much the fix is? (I wonder is this would this be covered under an independent warranty scheme?)

I'd say a new unit. Plenty of scrap Aston though and the unit just unplugs and then replugs in.

I don't suppose you know if this is likely to be a new antenna or receiver?

[snuffy]

yeti said:

X7LDA said:

It's only meant to stay on if you have the settings to blow air out of the windscreen vents. Turn the knob to footwell or dash vents and then you will be able to disengage the AC.

^^ This ^^

Confused me at first as well

I shall check that out.

I did not have any of this on my Noble. Mind you, it only had two buttons; one to start the engine and one turn the fogs on and off !

[Amris]

Finally got the last of these niggles fixed yesterday by fitting the new GPS tuner. Found one on eBay for £50 so pretty pleased. Was very easy to fit (anyone with half a tool box could do this). However went to use it for the first time and surprise surprise it didnt have the street.... haha never mind. Maybe I need some new discs.