Comparing A V8V Coupe and Roadster

[xnetco]

Hello,

I've had a Coupe since Christmas 64 reg. The dealer lent me a Roadster of the weekend and the handling is actually very difficult which I understand. However the gearbox feels a lot more clunky and makes a odd banging sound when changing gears in the Coupe while the Roadster doesn't.

Is this normal or could I have a problem with my Coupe?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tim

[mikey k]

xnetco said:

Hello,

I've had a Coupe since Christmas 64 reg. The dealer lent me a Roadster of the weekend and the handling is actually very difficult which I understand. However the gearbox feels a lot more clunky and makes a odd banging sound when changing gears in the Coupe while the Roadster doesn't.

Is this normal or could I have a problem with my Coupe?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tim

Difficult or different handling?
The roadster has softer ARBs and some scuttle shake
On the gearbox I'd get them to drain the box and check its oil with a magnet for particles
My last roadster suffered similar symptoms before the crown wheel and pinion were found to look like this

IMG_0271 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Gear box is a sealed unit from Graziano so if there is an issue it will be a swap out

[xnetco]

Thanks. I'll speak to the dealer.

[xnetco]

Took your advice guys. Dealer had the car for about 10 days.

Car came back yesterday and feels much smoother to drive.

Now all I need to do is get the girlfriend used to changing the gears with the paddles! It makes me cringe every time.

Thanks for your help.

[mikey k]

Good result

[V8V Pete]

xnetco said:

Took your advice guys. Dealer had the car for about 10 days.

Car came back yesterday and feels much smoother to drive.

Would you mind sharing with us what they found and what work was done in that 10 days? Gearbox problems seem to be quite rare with Mikey's at the top of the pile as far as I can see.

[mikey k]

I suspect they just swapped it
They are sealed units from Graziano, even the factory doesn't open them.

[xnetco]

V8V Pete said:

Would you mind sharing with us what they found and what work was done in that 10 days? Gearbox problems seem to be quite rare with Mikey's at the top of the pile as far as I can see.

Good question. I took the car in saying it felt very different. One of the engineers immediately went out for a drive with me. He noticed a knocking noise when going into first gear. He managed to replicate it every time.

The senior engineer and sales manager then took it for a test drive and confirmed the same issue. Apparently they had to report it to Aston Martin who asked that they run a bulletin which didn't seem to fix it. AM then asked them to remove the gear box and then swap the clutch. That appears to have cured the problem.

[V8V Pete]

xnetco said:

AM then asked them to remove the gear box and then swap the clutch. That appears to have cured the problem.

Sorry, just to clarify - they changed the clutch & gearbox or just the clutch? Glad you got it sorted.

[xnetco]

V8V Pete said:

Sorry, just to clarify - they changed the clutch & gearbox or just the clutch? Glad you got it sorted.

Just the clutch.