V12VS Intermittent Drive fault
Discussion
Hi
Hoping someone might be able to help with some advice. My Vantage V12S has an annoying very intermittent fault.
ETA For clarity and with apologies to the purists it is a sportshift V12S.
Every so often when at a junction in 1st gear when I try to accelerate away instead of the usual acceleration I get hardly any drive, enough to move at maybe a few miles an hour. The only way to then get proper drive is to brake and try again. At this point it has always then gone off as I would expect.
Obviously it is very worrying as it puts you into the path of oncoming vehicles who are expecting you to move out of their way.
Whenever it does happen it is accompanied by a flare of revs and the smell of a burning clutch.
It has been in several times, had a new clutch and brake assembly fitted but still persists.
During its last workshop visit it was suggested that the remote switch fitted to the exhaust might be giving the ecu some weird data and so that was removed.
Problem is still occurring so i am hoping someone might be able to offer some advice from any similar experiences.
The dealer has been very good in all this and I am not knocking their efforts especially as trying to rectify a rarely occurring fault is a nightmare.
I just want to get it sorted so I can enjoy my dream car without worrying it will leave me in the path of a lorry one day.
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance to any of you who can offer any advice.
Kev
Hoping someone might be able to help with some advice. My Vantage V12S has an annoying very intermittent fault.
ETA For clarity and with apologies to the purists it is a sportshift V12S.
Every so often when at a junction in 1st gear when I try to accelerate away instead of the usual acceleration I get hardly any drive, enough to move at maybe a few miles an hour. The only way to then get proper drive is to brake and try again. At this point it has always then gone off as I would expect.
Obviously it is very worrying as it puts you into the path of oncoming vehicles who are expecting you to move out of their way.
Whenever it does happen it is accompanied by a flare of revs and the smell of a burning clutch.
It has been in several times, had a new clutch and brake assembly fitted but still persists.
During its last workshop visit it was suggested that the remote switch fitted to the exhaust might be giving the ecu some weird data and so that was removed.
Problem is still occurring so i am hoping someone might be able to offer some advice from any similar experiences.
The dealer has been very good in all this and I am not knocking their efforts especially as trying to rectify a rarely occurring fault is a nightmare.
I just want to get it sorted so I can enjoy my dream car without worrying it will leave me in the path of a lorry one day.
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance to any of you who can offer any advice.
Kev
Edited by J12KJR on Tuesday 4th September 15:50
I have had that happen once to me. It was soon after I bought the car. It had just had a new clutch too. It has not happened to me since. Same symptoms with momentary clutch slip and a flare in engine revs pulling away in first.
Unfortunately I don’t know the cause and as it hasn’t happened since I haven’t investigated further.
Hazarding a wild guess, the clutch adaptions have missed the learned clutch kiss point??
Unfortunately I don’t know the cause and as it hasn’t happened since I haven’t investigated further.
Hazarding a wild guess, the clutch adaptions have missed the learned clutch kiss point??
Sometimes when I come almost to a halt at a junction for instance and I immediately accelerate afterwards, it's like I'm not in gear and the engine is revving with no forward motion. I get it very occasionaly, I think it is to do with the gearbox going from second to first while I'm accelerating and it doesn't know what to do anymore.
I always drive on the paddles, never use D but even so it will go from second to first gear when it senses you're going very slowly.
When it happens I take my foot off the throttle completely and then accelerate again.
I always drive on the paddles, never use D but even so it will go from second to first gear when it senses you're going very slowly.
When it happens I take my foot off the throttle completely and then accelerate again.
One thing I have thought is that the clutch self tests/learns the biting/kiss point just after starting the car (when the N button flashes) and also at a few different clutch temperatures while you are driving, when the vehicle is in drive or in 1st but stationary (N button flashes momentarily).
If you select a gear or drive before the initial learn on start up or if you drive on paddles and go into N when stationary (saving clutch wear), the clutch doesn’t have chance to learn the warm biting/kiss point, which may lead to this situation.
If you select a gear or drive before the initial learn on start up or if you drive on paddles and go into N when stationary (saving clutch wear), the clutch doesn’t have chance to learn the warm biting/kiss point, which may lead to this situation.
Again thanks for the replies.
I do make a point of waiting for the neutral light to stop flashing before engaging a gear and the d button was only used once about 15000 miles ago when I test drove the car. as i always use the paddles.
Odd time when I have been slowing for a junction and it has happened I have assumed that it had reached the speed where it would drop itself from second to first to prevent stalling and the request to go had been at the same time so had given it the benefit of the doubt.
However most times it occurs when I have been in first and moved forward as the car in front has left the junction. As I then ease off and then go back on the accelerator as it is clear to go it is then that the flare of revs occur so definitely not a change from second to first as I haven't asked for another gear at that point.
Unfortunately it just takes the edge off the experience as there is always that nagging doubt that you might be left stranded when you decide to go for a gap.
I do make a point of waiting for the neutral light to stop flashing before engaging a gear and the d button was only used once about 15000 miles ago when I test drove the car. as i always use the paddles.
Odd time when I have been slowing for a junction and it has happened I have assumed that it had reached the speed where it would drop itself from second to first to prevent stalling and the request to go had been at the same time so had given it the benefit of the doubt.
However most times it occurs when I have been in first and moved forward as the car in front has left the junction. As I then ease off and then go back on the accelerator as it is clear to go it is then that the flare of revs occur so definitely not a change from second to first as I haven't asked for another gear at that point.
Unfortunately it just takes the edge off the experience as there is always that nagging doubt that you might be left stranded when you decide to go for a gap.
A few times over the past 3 years something similar ish but usually when parked all day in car park and then moving off - no smell but definitely an odd feeling as though in neutral and car can’t be bothered.
No fault codes and 3 works services no comments.
Never any issue when on the move and certainly nothing to worry me about as you are.
I’ll email my friends at Works this thread.
It’s a bit like sometimes when the car won’t change to second when moving off if you toe curl but will if not - usually when much colder than now though.
It’s probably just character.
No fault codes and 3 works services no comments.
Never any issue when on the move and certainly nothing to worry me about as you are.
I’ll email my friends at Works this thread.
It’s a bit like sometimes when the car won’t change to second when moving off if you toe curl but will if not - usually when much colder than now though.
It’s probably just character.
Hi Paul thanks for the suggestion but brake switch assembly was working correctly and was replaced as it was a potential cause but unfortunately the problem remains. I suppose I could be unlucky and have 2 assemblies with the same occasional fault.
Alscar thanks for offering to contact Works but that is where the investigation works have been carried out.
They have been great at trying different things and replacing items such as clutch even though there wasn't an obvious problem with it and when removed all looked as it should.
My hope with the thread was that someone might have had a similar problem and a possible suggestion to look at for Works when it goes back to them again in a few days.
As with intermittent faults it never occurs when they have it.
Alscar thanks for offering to contact Works but that is where the investigation works have been carried out.
They have been great at trying different things and replacing items such as clutch even though there wasn't an obvious problem with it and when removed all looked as it should.
My hope with the thread was that someone might have had a similar problem and a possible suggestion to look at for Works when it goes back to them again in a few days.
As with intermittent faults it never occurs when they have it.
Kev , Voaksie replied along pretty similar lines to the posts above - he sounded as frustrated as you especially with the failure to recreate the issue.
Obviously I hope they manage to do something to ease your concerns.
Heading back from my office now so I’ll try not to overthink when I start up.
Obviously I hope they manage to do something to ease your concerns.
Heading back from my office now so I’ll try not to overthink when I start up.
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