Discussion
My V8V will be 6 years old later this year and is, I believe, still on its original battery. When the car's not in use it's hooked up to an Optimate Ampmatic 6 and the display never indicates that the battery is in poor condition, not sulphided and regularly tells me that battery is about 80% charged when I hook it up.
So, with that in mind, I'm just seeking some opinions. From all that I've read Astons really, really don't like low-voltage or failing batteries, so should I change the battery at 6 years old as a precaution?
So, with that in mind, I'm just seeking some opinions. From all that I've read Astons really, really don't like low-voltage or failing batteries, so should I change the battery at 6 years old as a precaution?
My first Vantage battery lasted from 2006 until I traded it in at 83k miles in 2015. My current 2012 Vantage battery lasted until 60k miles ish and changed late in 2019 because it wasnt holding charge longer than a couple of weeks in winter.
You might be ok for a few years yet, if its well looked after.
You might be ok for a few years yet, if its well looked after.
you will know when your battery begins to lose capacity. The car will crank noticeably slower even if on a conditioner as max CCA reduces, the time it can hold charge off the conditioner reduces (have you disabled the tracker?) and yes, you start to get the odd error messages as a result of low terminal voltage even while the engine is running.
When its clear the battery is becoming degraded, just online a new battery for £100 and set aside a couple of hours of struggling/fiddling around uncomfortably behind the drivers seat to change it (really!)
Until then - forget about it and enjoy the car!
When its clear the battery is becoming degraded, just online a new battery for £100 and set aside a couple of hours of struggling/fiddling around uncomfortably behind the drivers seat to change it (really!)
Until then - forget about it and enjoy the car!
LTP said:
From all that I've read Astons really, really don't like low-voltage or failing batteries, so should I change the battery at 6 years old as a precaution?
Snap! So thanks for asking the question. Mine isn't due a service until next February, so I think I'll get it done then. I have heard that the clamps that secure the battery are a stupid design and a pain to release, so I might be lazy and get Bamford Rose to change the battery rather than DIY it.I've also read that a Bosch S5 AGM battery is the one to get, although it's £160, gulp.
My original battery was 9 years old and behaving perfectly.
Did not give it a thought, but when a service became due, I then decided that I was pushing my luck, particularly having read about the associated electrical problems, so had it changed.
Surprising just how long some batteries last now.
You can find the Bosch battery online for about £130, I put one in about 18 months ago. Took 30 mins in my Roadster, a bit easier on the back with the roof down when compared to a coupe.
Some people have had success at their local Halfords, £15 fitted whilst you wait and let a young lad struggle lifting the battery in
Some people have had success at their local Halfords, £15 fitted whilst you wait and let a young lad struggle lifting the battery in
bogie said:
Just leave your battery charger plugged into the charge port so the car never powers down.
Not all chargers/conditioners will work this way. I was checking the instructions for my Ctek yesterday and if it does not detect a battery is connected, it will simply shut down. I have another Ring manufactured charger that will however provide a 12v supply that you can hook up to specifically help you change the battery without losing settings. You do have to set it to the specific position though.bullet7 said:
bogie said:
Just leave your battery charger plugged into the charge port so the car never powers down.
Not all chargers/conditioners will work this way. I was checking the instructions for my Ctek yesterday and if it does not detect a battery is connected, it will simply shut down. I have another Ring manufactured charger that will however provide a 12v supply that you can hook up to specifically help you change the battery without losing settings. You do have to set it to the specific position though.bogie said:
It was a CTEK MXS5 charger I have on the Vantage and was plugged into the boot charge port whilst I changed the battery....it worked, maybe I was so fast changing the battery the CTEK didnt notice
That is exactly the same one I have! The odd thing is that I was sure I used it when I changed the battery on my 911. I did not suffer any loss of settings, so it either did work or I was lucky or I used another charger - it was a few years ago. Apparently the MXS 10 has the facility. Aldhun said:
Is there anyway of changing the battery on a 2016 DB9 GT without having to do lots of resets?
yes there iswhen you reconnect the battery dont start the car straight away
turn the ignition on, leave car in that state for 30 seconds or so to let the computers check that everything is powered up . Then TURN OFF and wait 5-10 seconds. Then start car normally
should mean no resets required
has worked on both my V8V and V12V
Graeme
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