DB11 Body Port

[idealsam]

I've got a loose cable under my drivers seat that causes the airbag warning light to come on now and again. Fed up with paying the dealer to reset it for £300 each time I have bought a device so that I can do it myself.

However... I can't find the body port for connecting it. The OBD port is in the usual place under driver side dash, and images online show DB9s having two ports next to each other. But nobody on the Internet seems to ever mention where it is for a DB11.

Does anyone know?

[Phuketpaul]

The DB9 (and early Vantages) were very unusual in having 2 ports so I would expect that the DB11 just has the 1 port like almost every other car, particularly as the underlying electronics are based on Mercedes and not bespoke aston Martin like the DB9

[Ninja59]

There is only one port on the mercedes era cars. Fundamentally they use completely different official diagnostic systems as well:
AMDS1 - VH era, offline diagnostics and pretty much a purchase once and you are done.

AMDS2 - Merc era, online and very subscription based and uses Eepod MCS1 and AMDS VCI*

AMDSB - is the new one undergoing release currently into dealers globally using the Bosch MTS6531 VCI. Only works on Mercedes era cars currently, but will eventually also cover VH, apparently from my understanding

• at Gaydon for Merc era cars engineering also used platforms such as Mercedes Vediamo, it does allow diagnostics as well.

[idealsam]

Thanks for the detailed information.

I took a punt on a Foxwell device but, despite it saying it was supported and having the DB11 in the menu on the actual device, it isn’t communicating so I might be heading back to the dealer yet again.

[skhannes]

idealsam said:

Thanks for the detailed information.

I took a punt on a Foxwell device but, despite it saying it was supported and having the DB11 in the menu on the actual device, it isn’t communicating so I might be heading back to the dealer yet again.

Hi,

Is your DB11 a V8 or V12?

The Foxwell device might read the V8, but there is not anything out there I've found to read the V12.

As mentioned above - on these cars (DB11, either 8 or 12) everything comes and goes from the OBDII port.

[Cold]

Top tip, fix the dodgy wire that's causing the lamp to illuminate.

[idealsam]

I've been charged £300 a pop twice already to "fix" it.

[Simpo Two]

idealsam said:

I've been charged £300 a pop twice already to "fix" it.

My Aston is the first car I've owned where I pay people not to fix it.

With a normal car, if it has a problem, you take it to a man with a spanner, he fixes it, you pay him, everybody's happy.
With an Aston, if it has a problem, you take it to a man with a spanner, he fixes it, you pay him, it breaks, he fixes it, you pay him, it breaks, he fixes it, you pay him and on it goes. Budget a few hundred £ a week.

I have been very fortunate to find an expert diagnostician and fixer - and there isn't a wings logo over his door. We are almost at the stage now where everything is fixed So maybe that's the answer for you too.