New N420 owner with questions on TPMS and exhaust

[EVR]

Hi guys, first of all thank you for your support while looking for which car to buy, I was silently lurking and this forum has been super precious on learning what to check and the various red flags (the FAQ is pure gold).

So, two days ago I bought a lovely Quantum Silver over Obsidian Black Vantage N420, number 70/420, very low mileage (29,000 km). Two days prior it went for service at Aston Martin Bruxelles and I drove it back 900 km from Paris to Milan, so it should be pretty spotless... or is it?

TPMS

The warning light is always on, but weirdly enough, the sensors are transmitting back the pressure to the unit, since the little car diagram shows pressure on all tires (no ! there). But the warning stays on, accompanied by a general “TPMS fault” message.

Could it be the sensors batteries on their way out but not completely dead yet?

According this website, I have the Beru/Huf system and not the old Smart Tire one, how can I personally verify on the car? Is there a way to reset it and maybe clear this non-existing error?

EXHAUST RATTLE

At start up, the left exhaust has a small rattle. Less noticeable when it warms up but still there.

Valve flap not opening or closing correctly? Of course, I am not looking forward in changing the whole box just for a valve, are there maybe other known causes? Or solutions if it is indeed the valve?

I was thinking about pulling out fuse 22 and/or check if one exhaust is louder than the other to rule out/in the valves. I will report back on this.



To be honest, I find it weird the Bruxelles dealer actually did not reported back any of this while I called them before, during and after service, before writing the check to the owner of course.

Thank you for your input, I look forward been a contributing member of this community and report everything I go through with this car.
Knowledge is power and from small/big problems to small/big modifications passing through all sorts of experiences, forums like this ones can be life savers and I want to make sure others can understand and enjoy those wonderful cars. I was very active on Maserati Life before, having been a happy owner of a GranTurismo with Larini x-pipe and mufflers.

Cheers.

[bignoise]

Hi

Firstly congratulations on your new Vantage

Whilst I cannot comment on the TPMS I can say I also get a little rattle from the exhaust butterflies when I start up from cold which I put down to the rev flare and revs at which the engine runs when on a cold start is right on the cusp of the valve closure point

Once the engine settles below 1500rpm all is quiet

[Jon39]

Remember (as standard with fuse 22 installed) the valves should be open when under 1,500 rpm.

I have not done this, but the two external valve arms should be seen to move when the engine speed goes above or below 1,500 rpm.

Perhaps a carefully positioned camera could help with this, instead of asking a friend. You probably might not hear the sound difference at those low revs, and they won't open again until about 4,000 rpm..

[ashway]

EVR said:

TPMS

The warning light is always on, but weirdly enough, the sensors are transmitting back the pressure to the unit, since the little car diagram shows pressure on all tires (no ! there). But the warning stays on, accompanied by a general “TPMS fault” message.

Could it be the sensors batteries on their way out but not completely dead yet?

According this website, I have the Beru/Huf system and not the old Smart Tire one, how can I personally verify on the car? Is there a way to reset it and maybe clear this non-existing error

Cheers.

I bought a set of TPMS valves from the website you mentioned for my winter wheels. They are the Beru type and exhibit the same characteristics as you describe. Tyre pressures all ok on the flip screen but shows a fault in the dash display message window. Annoying but I haven’t changed them

[EVR]

ashway said:

I bought a set of TPMS valves from the website you mentioned for my winter wheels. They are the Beru type and exhibit the same characteristics as you describe. Tyre pressures all ok on the flip screen but shows a fault in the dash display message window. Annoying but I haven’t changed them

Thanks for chipping in.

But how do you know if my car has the Beru or the older Smart Tire module? I have yet to be sure!

[EVR]

bignoise said:

Hi

Firstly congratulations on your new Vantage

Whilst I cannot comment on the TPMS I can say I also get a little rattle from the exhaust butterflies when I start up from cold which I put down to the rev flare and revs at which the engine runs when on a cold start is right on the cusp of the valve closure point

Once the engine settles below 1500rpm all is quiet

Thank you very much! It is a great car.

My rattle is still somewhat there even when the engine is hot though, I am very sensitive to abnormal noises sadly.

I just hope it could be an heat shield, hanger or whatever not properly fixed, the valve would be the pricey road. I will try to do some tests later today.

[EVR]

Jon39 said:

Remember (as standard with fuse 22 installed) the valves should be open when under 1,500 rpm.

I have not done this, but the two external valve arms should be seen to move when the engine speed goes above or below 1,500 rpm.

Perhaps a carefully positioned camera could help with this, instead of asking a friend. You probably might not hear the sound difference at those low revs, and they won't open again until about 4,000 rpm..

Hi, thanks for your help. I will try to crawl under the car and move the arm manually, hopefully it's just a little stuck.

I am not sure if I understood correctly your 1500 RPM explanation: I thought those valves were opening just after 4000 RPM, what's this 1500 RPM threshold?

[Phil57DBS]

OEM programming is :
valves open from 0 to 1500rpm
valves closed 1500 to 3500
valves open 3500 to 7500

Have a look to decide yourself
https://www.cccharger.co.uk/

if you have the 4 tire pressures displayed on the dashboard, then they are always HUF/Beru

[EVR]

Phil57DBS said:

OEM programming is :
valves open from 0 to 1500rpm
valves closed 1500 to 3500
valves open 3500 to 7500

Have a look to decide yourself
https://www.cccharger.co.uk/

if you have the 4 tire pressures displayed on the dashboard, then they are always HUF/Beru

Ok, thanks for the clear explanation, glad to know I have the Beru one, sensors are way less expensive if they need change. They are in common with other brands like Mercedes right?

Good for the valves then, I have yet to try to pull fuse 22 or crawl under the car.

[EVR]

ashway said:

I bought a set of TPMS valves from the website you mentioned for my winter wheels. They are the Beru type and exhibit the same characteristics as you describe. Tyre pressures all ok on the flip screen but shows a fault in the dash display message window. Annoying but I haven’t changed them

Got it. Then maybe the fault lies somewhere else. I'll ask the dealer next time. It could also be that the fault is intended as "low battery" for the sensors maybe and you got old ones with batteries already on the way out?

[ashway]

EVR said:

Thanks for chipping in.

But how do you know if my car has the Beru or the older Smart Tire module? I have yet to be sure!

I asked my local dealer before ordering

[EVR]

Had the chance to play a little with the exhaust, under the car.

The valve has a little metal thingy that I suppose should be tied to something, but it is not and it's just loose, I can turn it around (in green on the pic). I can push up and down the arm though (in yellow).

[PatCub]

Looks like the green section has broken away from the flap spindle possibly because it has seized, if car is under timeless warranty get them to replace rear silencer otherwise get a local garage to weld the arm back on and free off the flap if it is seized.

[EVR]

I'll drop the car at the dealer on Monday, to check what my options are. Sadly, no Timeless warranty.

[EVR]

On the TPMS: thanks to some of you, I am now sure I have the 2nd generation system, the Beru/Huf one.

If the dealer will confirm I need to change my sensors because the batteries are running out, did anyone bought those and can confirm they work, hassle-free?



https://tpms-24.de/S037-Alpina-Audi-Aston-Martin-T...

Cheers.

[cayman-black]

I,m sure Phil (above in this post) bought these.

As for the exhaust work do you not have a local who you trust that can sort that small job out for you?

Loads of independents in Italy.

[EVR]

cayman-black said:

I,m sure Phil (above in this post) bought these.

As for the exhaust work do you not have a local who you trust that can sort that small job out for you?

Loads of independents in Italy.

I might, but first I want Aston to assess what's wrong, the car needs some other stuff like language change from French to English anyway (it still baffles me this is a dealerś job, but oh well).

If it's just the small metal thingy, sure. But it the valve is seized/broke/whatever, I suspect an indie will not be able to put it back together. But I hope to be proven wrong!

And I have yet to find an Aston specialist here in Italy to be honest. You have loads of Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche.

[Phil57DBS]

you can see the system working... and what part is missing to reassemble it ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P7Dqg5AOlY

Edited by Phil57DBS on Tuesday 30th April 13:08

[EVR]

Phil57DBS said:

you can see the system working... and what part is missing to reassemble it ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P7Dqg5AOlY

Edited by Phil57DBS on Tuesday 30th April 12:47

I have yet to see the part working, I have to ask my GF to accelerate while I look under the car or try to catch it on video. I am familiar with the video you posted.

But you are spot on with that image, the broken part is this one in green. Can I order and buy just that assembly? Where is it coming from?

[Phil57DBS]

In your picture it looks like it just need to be re-embedded on the small axle from the exhaust tube...
Please picture from other angle ?