DB9 exhaust valve questions

DB9 exhaust valve questions

Author
Discussion

vet652000

Original Poster:

52 posts

3 months

Tuesday 20th May
quotequote all
I tried removing the fuse to increase the exhaust sound on my 2005 DB9, but did not notice any difference. I then manually operated the valve and again noticed no difference. Anybody have an idea on what is going on? I also got a code on my Foxwell after removing the #22 fuse??

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

Tuesday 20th May
quotequote all
Valve rusted close? Does the valve actually move?

vet652000

Original Poster:

52 posts

3 months

Tuesday 20th May
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Valve rusted close? Does the valve actually move?
I can move actuator easily, so not frozen. Car is a one owner and is from Silicon Valley CA, zero rust or corrosion.
Underside is like new. When key is turned on should valves move or not until it reaches 1500 rpm?

skyebear

844 posts

19 months

Tuesday 20th May
quotequote all
https://aston1936.com/2015/10/25/uncorking-your-db...

You may have seen this already but it explains the normal behaviour of exhaust valve as well as post removal of fuse.

When you say you don't notice any difference after pulling the fuse, at what RPMs is the engine?

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

Wednesday 21st May
quotequote all
vet652000 said:
Hoofy said:
Valve rusted close? Does the valve actually move?
I can move actuator easily, so not frozen. Car is a one owner and is from Silicon Valley CA, zero rust or corrosion.
Underside is like new. When key is turned on should valves move or not until it reaches 1500 rpm?
As I understand it, when the car is off you pull the fuse. This locks the valves in place.

Normally when you switch the engine on, the valves close, and then open when you press on. With the valves locked open, you get a louder sound all the time.

I'm surprised you can't tell the difference. (Not saying that there is a difference, mind - you may have some kind of fault with the exhaust box.) What about when you rev the engine?

vet652000

Original Poster:

52 posts

3 months

Wednesday 21st May
quotequote all
I don't notice any difference at any rpm, but I was using the remote switch when engine is running vs when engine was off, if that matters. Obviously when you increase rpm you hear more engine sound, but not anything close to loud. When engine is off, are valves open or baffled? Will the valves move if just revved up in park to 1500 rpm or 3000 rpm, or only when driven?

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

Wednesday 21st May
quotequote all
vet652000 said:
I don't notice any difference at any rpm, but I was using the remote switch when engine is running vs when engine was off, if that matters. Obviously when you increase rpm you hear more engine sound, but not anything close to loud. When engine is off, are valves open or baffled? Will the valves move if just revved up in park to 1500 rpm or 3000 rpm, or only when driven?
As I say, it closes when you switch the engine on due to the pressure in the hoses (as I understand it), so it's open when off and stays open when you pull the fuse.

Sounds ('scuse the pun) like something's broken. I thought you were physically squeezing a valve to confirm that the valves were working.

Hang on - you said you moved the actuator easily. What did you physically do then? biggrin

vet652000

Original Poster:

52 posts

3 months

Thursday 22nd May
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
As I say, it closes when you switch the engine on due to the pressure in the hoses (as I understand it), so it's open when off and stays open when you pull the fuse.

Sounds ('scuse the pun) like something's broken. I thought you were physically squeezing a valve to confirm that the valves were working.

Hang on - you said you moved the actuator easily. What did you physically do then? biggrin
My bad I just read link you provided, I need to move the Actuator and check the opposite exhaust outlet as that is where the exhaust flows. When mine is idling or engine off the actuator rod is all the way out/down, which I assume is bypassing the Baffles in muffler, so when I push the actuator rod up it should causing the exhaust to quiet down?
My son is coming over tomorrow to help me with a couple things, so I'll be able to run/rev engine and have him check what the actuators are doing with fuse in and with fuse out. It may be that previous owner has plugged the vac hoses and they are open all the time, so I don't hear a change in sound level. I just expected a big difference the way people were describing bothering the neighbors in the morning, which is exactly what I want to do hehe

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

Thursday 22nd May
quotequote all
vet652000 said:
Hoofy said:
As I say, it closes when you switch the engine on due to the pressure in the hoses (as I understand it), so it's open when off and stays open when you pull the fuse.

Sounds ('scuse the pun) like something's broken. I thought you were physically squeezing a valve to confirm that the valves were working.

Hang on - you said you moved the actuator easily. What did you physically do then? biggrin
My bad I just read link you provided, I need to move the Actuator and check the opposite exhaust outlet as that is where the exhaust flows. When mine is idling or engine off the actuator rod is all the way out/down, which I assume is bypassing the Baffles in muffler, so when I push the actuator rod up it should causing the exhaust to quiet down?
My son is coming over tomorrow to help me with a couple things, so I'll be able to run/rev engine and have him check what the actuators are doing with fuse in and with fuse out. It may be that previous owner has plugged the vac hoses and they are open all the time, so I don't hear a change in sound level. I just expected a big difference the way people were describing bothering the neighbors in the morning, which is exactly what I want to do hehe
biggrin

Yeah - it's possible they did something else so the fuse makes no difference.

There are quite a few videos on YT - search "fuse 22 DB9".

vet652000

Original Poster:

52 posts

3 months

Hoofy said:
biggrin

Yeah - it's possible they did something else so the fuse makes no difference.

There are quite a few videos on YT - search "fuse 22 DB9".
Thanks Hoofy for your input/help!

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

vet652000 said:
Thanks Hoofy for your input/help!
No probs. I suppose one thing to consider - does the exhaust sound quite loud? I think DB9s are generally quite quiet. The exhaust bypass valve doesn't turn it into a straight pipe and you have two cats down the line (do you also have a resonator box, I can't remember?). The exhaust gasses still go into the silencer but exit via a less convoluted path hence it's louder.

vet652000

Original Poster:

52 posts

3 months

My son came up last night and the valves does not move at any rpm. It is open/not thru muffler all the time, which is why I never noticed any difference, now I need to determine if the valves are not getting vacuum/hose plugged or the is no vac from the source. I must say I don't think it is overly loud even with muffler bypassed 100% of the times, in fact, I'd say some more volume could be good!

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

vet652000 said:
My son came up last night and the valves does not move at any rpm. It is open/not thru muffler all the time, which is why I never noticed any difference, now I need to determine if the valves are not getting vacuum/hose plugged or the is no vac from the source. I must say I don't think it is overly loud even with muffler bypassed 100% of the times, in fact, I'd say some more volume could be good!
It's still using the silencer box, so it's going to be louder but not racecar loud. If you do go down the custom route, investigate bigger downpipes, X-pipe and no exhaust box or a smaller exhaust box. Search on YT for "DB9 X-pipe".

kipv12

115 posts

117 months

You have a leaky pipe or vacuum pump has packed in, I have had both, there is not a great deal of difference with valve open or shut on standard system. Doing a secondary cat delete has made mine just right, not expensive and a lovely sound

DB9S Paul

168 posts

45 months

Yesterday (06:48)
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
It's still using the silencer box, so it's going to be louder but not racecar loud. If you do go down the custom route, investigate bigger downpipes, X-pipe and no exhaust box or a smaller exhaust box. Search on YT for "DB9 X-pipe".
X-Pipe will make it quieter not louder. Easiest and cheapest way to make it flow better and louder is to use secondary cat delete pipes. A vanquish rear box will make it louder as well, both these routes save a lot of weight too.

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

Yesterday (10:39)
quotequote all
DB9S Paul said:
Hoofy said:
It's still using the silencer box, so it's going to be louder but not racecar loud. If you do go down the custom route, investigate bigger downpipes, X-pipe and no exhaust box or a smaller exhaust box. Search on YT for "DB9 X-pipe".
X-Pipe will make it quieter not louder. Easiest and cheapest way to make it flow better and louder is to use secondary cat delete pipes. A vanquish rear box will make it louder as well, both these routes save a lot of weight too.
The X-pipe will change the tone. It shouldn't make it quieter... or louder. There are a few videos where you can hear the difference because saddos like me but with pipe bending skills have experimented with exhausts. biggrin

X-pipes make V engines sound louder at higher revs, H-pipes make engines sound louder at lower revs.

DB9S Paul

168 posts

45 months

Yesterday (10:52)
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
The X-pipe will change the tone. It shouldn't make it quieter... or louder. There are a few videos where you can hear the difference because saddos like me but with pipe bending skills have experimented with exhausts. biggrin

X-pipes make V engines sound louder at higher revs, H-pipes make engines sound louder at lower revs.
I've only experimented with my DB9 and the x-pipe versus straight decats was definitely smoother and quieter, both to my ear and to the sound level meter I measured it with. I ended up without the x-pipe as I preferred the louder sound with more rumbling at low revs.



Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

Yesterday (12:21)
quotequote all
DB9S Paul said:
Hoofy said:
The X-pipe will change the tone. It shouldn't make it quieter... or louder. There are a few videos where you can hear the difference because saddos like me but with pipe bending skills have experimented with exhausts. biggrin

X-pipes make V engines sound louder at higher revs, H-pipes make engines sound louder at lower revs.
I've only experimented with my DB9 and the x-pipe versus straight decats was definitely smoother and quieter, both to my ear and to the sound level meter I measured it with. I ended up without the x-pipe as I preferred the louder sound with more rumbling at low revs.
Oh, but not x-pipe with cats vs x-pipe without cats? Of course, removing any cats will increase the sound. Sounds like ('scuse the pun) we're talking at cross (again, 'scuse the pun) purposes.

I meant whether or not cats are in or not, X-pipe should not decrease the volume or increase the volume. It changes the sound/tone. You probably want the H-pipe if you like more rumble and low revs!

DB9S Paul

168 posts

45 months

Hoofy said:
Oh, but not x-pipe with cats vs x-pipe without cats? Of course, removing any cats will increase the sound. Sounds like ('scuse the pun) we're talking at cross (again, 'scuse the pun) purposes.

I meant whether or not cats are in or not, X-pipe should not decrease the volume or increase the volume. It changes the sound/tone. You probably want the H-pipe if you like more rumble and low revs!
Sorry, I didn't make myself very clear, decatted straight pipes vs decatted x-pipe.

Hoofy

78,402 posts

295 months

DB9S Paul said:
Hoofy said:
Oh, but not x-pipe with cats vs x-pipe without cats? Of course, removing any cats will increase the sound. Sounds like ('scuse the pun) we're talking at cross (again, 'scuse the pun) purposes.

I meant whether or not cats are in or not, X-pipe should not decrease the volume or increase the volume. It changes the sound/tone. You probably want the H-pipe if you like more rumble and low revs!
Sorry, I didn't make myself very clear, decatted straight pipes vs decatted x-pipe.
Oh! Was the volume drop consistent across the rev range?