Discussion
Apart from driving them and cleaning them, I'm generally very wary about dabbling with cars.
Thanks to the 'sport pack' my DB9 has no shortage of road noise, but it was decidedly quiet at the back end. It could have been any car, not a prestige V12...
And so we come to Fuse 22... I'd seen various videos of 'before and after', and apart from it being louder when you booted it, there didn't seem to be much if any difference at idle or low revs. And I rarely go over 3,000 rpm. However, after reading the relevant page on the aston1936 site, I felt sufficiently well informed to advance on the fusebox and give it a go...
After start-up I went round the back and even at idle the difference was obvious - suddenly it sounded 'right'. The sound matched the looks. A little test with the windows down through a small town with narrow streets confirmed that I could actually hear my own car!
I'm pondering the remote kit that you probably all know: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142435446232 However this requires a bit more 'dabbling' to fit, and the video he mentions on YouTube doesn't show any more than the back of a car. Is there a more idiot-proof video anywhere, just so I can see what's involved?
Thanks to the 'sport pack' my DB9 has no shortage of road noise, but it was decidedly quiet at the back end. It could have been any car, not a prestige V12...
And so we come to Fuse 22... I'd seen various videos of 'before and after', and apart from it being louder when you booted it, there didn't seem to be much if any difference at idle or low revs. And I rarely go over 3,000 rpm. However, after reading the relevant page on the aston1936 site, I felt sufficiently well informed to advance on the fusebox and give it a go...
After start-up I went round the back and even at idle the difference was obvious - suddenly it sounded 'right'. The sound matched the looks. A little test with the windows down through a small town with narrow streets confirmed that I could actually hear my own car!
I'm pondering the remote kit that you probably all know: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142435446232 However this requires a bit more 'dabbling' to fit, and the video he mentions on YouTube doesn't show any more than the back of a car. Is there a more idiot-proof video anywhere, just so I can see what's involved?
If you can fit a fuse you can fit the remote kit. It comes with simple instructions, but basically you put the small relay box inside the fuse box area and connect two spade connectors to your fuse 22 location. Thats it. When you press the remote button it enables the relay to make or break the circuit that is opening the exhaust valves.
My knowledge about this is V8, so there might be differences with your car.
The V8V exhaust valves are open on cold start from 0 to 1,500 (ish) rpm. Have never been quite sure, whether that is different with a warm start. Therefore fuse in or out, does not make any difference at cold idle.
Yes, the valves open/fuse out is heard when accelerating, but that suits me because when cruising I don't want extra noise.
I originally had the Open / Closed remote gadget (as already mentioned, very easy to fit) and it all fits neatly within the fuse box.
With the 4.7, I could not hear much difference with either open or closed (from inside the car), so have now had a cat mod done and the orchestra is now in fine voice (louder when accelerating and at idle, but still subdued on steady throttle). The remote has been replaced by a 3-way switch, which allows Always Closed, for anyone making early starts. Always Open is my permanent setting.
Edited by Dewi 2 on Monday 27th June 12:34
Dewi 2 said:
The V8V exhaust valves are open on cold start from 0 to 1,500 (ish) rpm. Have never been quite sure, whether that is different with a warm start. Therefore fuse in or out, does not make any difference at cold idle.
Perhaps the valves should operate on throttle position rather then rpm...?I gather than in some models the valves open when you engage Sport mode, which is logical.
Simpo Two said:
I gather than in some models the valves open when you engage Sport mode, which is logical.
On the V12 the normal behaviour is as follows:Open : 0-1500 RPM ish (so open at every start up and at tick over)
Closed : 1500-4000 RPM
Open : 4000+ RPM
When the sport button is pressed the 4000 RPM threshold is reduced to 3500 RPM.
Open = Noisy
Closed = Quiet
Removing the fuse, or using a ccharger kit simply removes the middle section so they stay open all the time (or indeed closed all the time if you have one of those 3 way switches).
AdamV12V said:
On the V12 the normal behaviour is as follows:
Open : 0-1500 RPM ish (so open at every start up and at tick over)
Closed : 1500-4000 RPM
Open : 4000+ RPM
My idle was definitely louder at tickover (2007 model) with the fuse out. Before you could barely hear it.Open : 0-1500 RPM ish (so open at every start up and at tick over)
Closed : 1500-4000 RPM
Open : 4000+ RPM
NB If the valves were open all the time between 0 and 1500 rpm, it wouldn't go quiet a few seconds after start-up...
Anyway, that's incidental now 'cos now I have control, muahaha.
Fuse kit is easy to fit and highly recommended. You get the best of both worlds at the flick of a switch.
The only complicating factors are making sure you get the right fuse. It can be either 15 or 22 depending on the car and the fuse box can be either on the right or left hand side of the boot.
The only complicating factors are making sure you get the right fuse. It can be either 15 or 22 depending on the car and the fuse box can be either on the right or left hand side of the boot.
Bobajobbob said:
Fuse kit is easy to fit and highly recommended. You get the best of both worlds at the flick of a switch.
The only complicating factors are making sure you get the right fuse. It can be either 15 or 22 depending on the car and the fuse box can be either on the right or left hand side of the boot.
Fortunately the relevant page of Aston1936 uses a DB9, though a bit earlier than mine. So it's fuse 22 on the left side of the boot.The only complicating factors are making sure you get the right fuse. It can be either 15 or 22 depending on the car and the fuse box can be either on the right or left hand side of the boot.
Whilst the handbook tells you what each fuse is for, there isn't a diagram with a numbered layout. There is on Aston1936's page, but not in my handbook (and there are no pages missing). No picture on the inside of the fusebox lid either - so whilst you may know what number fuse you want, there's no way to know which one it is just by looking at the car and the handbook.
When I drive under a motorway bridge or through a tunnel, obviously it is 'correct form' that we should use a low gear and full throttle, but such is the volume of noise now with my new cat setup, I am careful not to do it when any pedestrians or cyclists are nearby.
Just right though, because on steady throttle, the exhaust sound remains fairly quiet.
Simpo Two said:
Whilst the handbook tells you what each fuse is for, there isn't a diagram with a numbered layout. There is on Aston1936's page, but not in my handbook (and there are no pages missing). No picture on the inside of the fusebox lid either - so whilst you may know what number fuse you want, there's no way to know which one it is just by looking at the car and the handbook.
They aren't at all obvious but the there are numbers in the casing next to each fuse in the rear fuse box in my '11 Virage. I can hardly read them though, even with a torch!p102768 said:
They aren't at all obvious but the there are numbers in the casing next to each fuse in the rear fuse box in my '11 Virage. I can hardly read them though, even with a torch!
I did wonder, but my eyes would need to be mounted on stalks to get in the space... I could print out the diagram and stick it in the lid - but with luck will never need to go there again, other than to fit The Gadget.Simpo Two said:
p102768 said:
They aren't at all obvious but the there are numbers in the casing next to each fuse in the rear fuse box in my '11 Virage. I can hardly read them though, even with a torch!
I did wonder, but my eyes would need to be mounted on stalks to get in the space... I could print out the diagram and stick it in the lid - but with luck will never need to go there again, other than to fit The Gadget.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff