2018 Vantage SOS button issue

[Rapid rental]

Hi all

I have an issue with my car and what I thought would be a simple fix is turning into a marathon saga. Basically my SOS button is permanently red, it used to be green, but is now always red. I noticed it one night and called the dealer the next day to mention it as it is under the Timeless warranty. They advised it should be green and to drop it in for fixing. Fast forward three months and it is still showing red and it has had modules/antennas etc changed and wiring checked and replaced. AM tech have been assisting with it all but I am starting to lose the will to live. My dealers are a super bunch but I would just like it fixed, any suggestions, has this happened to anyone before? Oddly, you press the button and it works as intended even though it is showing a red light. Any suggestions welcome.

[Simpo Two]

Frankly after all that malarkey, if it wants to be red that badly I would let it be red

[Rapid rental]

Yes I think I might follow your advice, as long as it works who cares I suppose.

[EVR]

Bringing back this as I honestly thought that having an always red SOS button was the normal state, like mine is.

How are yours? Green, red, working? I might test mine to see if it works but I don't want to trigger a fake SOS either.

[EVR]

My curiosity got the best of me and I pressed it. Got greeted with a message from Vodafone saying the number is non-existent.

Any idea on how to configure the proper number? Dealer-only job?

[Simpo Two]

Good job you didn't need it. In practice wouldn't you just phone your chosen breakdown company or dial 999?

[EVR]

Simpo Two said:

Good job you didn't need it. In practice wouldn't you just phone your chosen breakdown company or dial 999?

I think so! Thing is, I am not sure there is a way to configure the number from a user perspective. I was thinking that maybe the European unique emergency number (112) might be a good one. Seemingly, the system should automatically call the stored emergency number if it detects that the airbags have been deployed. Of course I sincerely hope to never ned it, but I would like to have it in working order.

But now that I think about it, I recall that the prerecorded message is mentioning another number to call in case of problem. I will try to dial it to see if something can be configured from their side maybe.

If all else fails, I will inquire with my dealer during the next service.

For other new Vantage and DB11 owners, are the SOS buttons in your car lighted up green or red?

[EVR]

Plot twist, I push it again and to my surprise 112 answered, no more prerecorded message. But the button stays fixed red. Will try later to pull the fuse out and back to see if it might change something.

[Rapid rental]

EVR said:

Plot twist, I push it again and to my surprise 112 answered, no more prerecorded message. But the button stays fixed red. Will try later to pull the fuse out and back to see if it might change something.

Good luck. From my (very detailed) experience with this issue, it appears to be unfixable.

Over three months, four technicians, including a master technician who came over from Spain, were unable to resolve the problem with my red button. They effectively stripped out the dashboard and replaced numerous components, all to no avail.

In the end, I sold the car. This issue was one of a long list of annoying issues that finally led to a moment of clarity about the brand. Which for me was a great pity as it was my fifth AM.

[EVR]

Thanks for getting back. I mean, as long as the button works and calls 112, I don't mind its colour so much. Will try the fuse first, the dealer at the next service later and if there is no solution, I will live with it.

The car is perfect apart from that, I am really in a phase where I look for super small things as an excuse to work on it as I don't intend to do any modifications.

[Rapid rental]

EVR said:

Thanks for getting back. I mean, as long as the button works and calls 112, I don't mind its colour so much. Will try the fuse first, the dealer at the next service later and if there is no solution, I will live with it.

The car is perfect apart from that, I am really in a phase where I look for super small things as an excuse to work on it as I don't intend to do any modifications.

Before you pull that fuse I would check what might happen with any electronics linked to that system. There are antenna/modules etc and they are very sensitive.

[EVR]

Seemingly, only the eCall & Tracker (that I do not have).

[EVR]

The plot thickens.

Even with the above fuse out, the light stays on.

I also noticed it is always on even when the car is locked, seemingly all the time. I approached it after a while without the key in my pocket and there she was.

Advice welcome: apart from the colour, having it always on is normal behaviour?

[EVR]

Regarding this, some more researches point to the eCall module having an independent battery (size unknown) to make the SOS call in case they car battery is destroyed in an accident; and that the fixed red light means that said auxiliary battery is out of juice.

Does this ring a bell in your ordeal Raid Rental?

And any idea to which battery and where the module is? Is something that mere mortals can do or a dealer job?

[Rapid rental]

I had the Aux battery changed twice as well as the whole aux unit and it made no difference.

[EVR]

Rapid rental said:

I had the Aux battery changed twice as well as the whole aux unit and it made no difference.

Ok, thanks for confirming. I will ask the dealer (in September when my service is due so do not hold your breath ) and report back.