V8 Vantage - Owned 3 Days and Problems...

[JS1500]

Well I guess I should introduce myself.
I'm Johnny, up in Aberdeen. I bought a 2007 Onyx V8 Vantage from a small dealership recently and had it delivered on Friday...

On Monday, on my way to work I got the “Emission System Service Required” dashboard warning - I immediately Googled the issue and found a couple of threads from this forum which put my mind at rest that it was a common and minor issue. I ordered an OBD II reader to clear the fault and keep an eye on things.

Pulling out of the staff car park on my way home other warning messages and lights appeared - first "Brake Failure", then all the others; "Engine Overheating", Traction Control, ABS etc. Finally a warning came up "Check Battery Off Switch". I pulled over out of traffic as I thought maybe the alternator had gone and the car was about to grind to a halt. The instrument cluster went dark. I switched the ignition off and on to see if the warnings would reappear, which they did.

Being only 2 miles from home I decided to get the car back to the house. The start button wouldn't turn red with the clutch depressed, I kept trying for about 5 minutes and eventually the car started and I was able to get home.

After 30 minutes I tried the car on the driveway - the warnings were all still there, though the start button glowed red and I was able to start the car.

Has anybody experienced this problem before?

I have a decent warranty and also the option to send the car back to the dealer for a refund, though I'm already fond of the car and am hoping it's just a dying battery or something...

Thanks in advance for any help.

[bogie]

With all those electrical issues in succession it sounds like the battery to me too ...when the battery gets low you can get all sorts of weird stuff going on and one error seems to trigger another....

[BravoV8V]

Sounds like your battery is goosed. Time for a new one.

[downr]

+1 sounds like a low battery charge to me

[mikey k]

Dealer probably didn't trickle charge the battery
You could try charging it up properly but as others have said it may be goosed
The vantage is not great at dealing with low voltage all sorts of modules start throwing their toys out
BTW where are the pics

[JS1500]

Thanks for the replies gents.
I'm hoping you are right and it's just the battery. Fingers crossed!

I'll get some pictures up soon, Mikey, when I'm not in a mood with the old girl!

[montecristo]

+1 to the battery, especially given the age of your car. I'd expect soon enough it won't start either (and a dead Vantage can't really be jump started), so best get a new one before then.

[krisdelta]

Another +1 for the battery - very very very likely to be the cause.

[northernmedia]

yep my dashboard went mental when my battery died a month or so back.
Also got a strange clicking / buzzing noise when trying to start up - presume this was down the solenoid not having enough juice to fire up the starter.

[JS1500]

Cheers chaps - reassuring!

[downr]

Its the one piece of advice that should come on a big sticker on the handbook for all the Gaydon cars - always, always put the car on a battery conditioner if its not going to be driven for a week or two

Followed swiftly by the advice not to buy the official branded AM battery conditioner

[DAVIDOXE]

Thats a coincidence i had mine for 3 days then Stratstone had it back for 3 weeks!
All sorted now hope you resolve your problems, would throw it straight back at the dealer to sort out though and not try and fix myself.

[JS1500]

downr said:

Its the one piece of advice that should come on a big sticker on the handbook for all the Gaydon cars - always, always put the car on a battery conditioner if its not going to be driven for a week or two

Followed swiftly by the advice not to buy the official branded AM battery conditioner

Mine will be a daily driver, except in the deepest of snow! Once I get a new battery I will hopefully have no requirement for a battery conditioner... Maybe some winter tyres though!

DAVIDOXE said:

Thats a coincidence i had mine for 3 days then Stratstone had it back for 3 weeks!
All sorted now hope you resolve your problems, would throw it straight back at the dealer to sort out though and not try and fix myself.

I think I read your thread while waiting for my car to arrive. I remember thinking "poor chap, I hope that doesn't happen to me"!
The dealer is near Birmingham and I'm up in Aberdeen, so I'm hoping a combo of AA and Warranty Direct will sort this issue.

Thanks again all. I'll update this thread when I know what's going on!

[montecristo]

downr said:

Its the one piece of advice that should come on a big sticker on the handbook for all the Gaydon cars - always, always put the car on a battery conditioner if its not going to be driven for a week or two

Although....I have a new battery on an old car and when I leave it for 3-4 weeks, it's fine to start up again.

[bogie]

ive got the original battery on my Jan 06 car and it lasts 5-6 weeks ok ish ...any longer and it needs to be on the charger

[Logannz]

I used a battery refresh company on mine recently and it's back to good as new (my car was left un touched for many months by a previous owner so the battery was totally dead and would not even charge when purchased). I'm not quite sure of the process but it's some kind of chemical treatment that removes calcification from the battery plates.
It cost about 1/5 of a new battery. Obviously I now trickle charge the car at al time when not used.
According to the refresh co you can usually refresh batteries 3-4 times, and if you do so as soon it starts to show weakness (slower cranking etc) then you get the best results.

[waremark]

Interested in the team view. To keep a battery healthy by driving, how often do you have to take the car out and for how long? Have been taking my son's 12c out for a minimum of 30 mins every two weeks while he is away, would be happy to be persuaded I need to drive it more (although if I have to choose I honestly prefer the Aston), but expect that really it does not need to be driven either as much or as often.

As an aside I have LifePo4 batteries for my gliders electronics and the supplier says that when not in use over the winter they should not be plugged in and they will hardly lose any charge.

[James B]

Johnny,

Also sounds like the battery to me.

I'm another Aberdonian and did the battery myself in my Vanq. If the battery swap is something you're willing to take on yourself and you want a hand then I'd be happy to assist. I've even got a heated garage you can use.

[hashluck]

James B said:

Johnny,

Also sounds like the battery to me.

I'm another Aberdonian and did the battery myself in my Vanq. If the battery swap is something you're willing to take on yourself and you want a hand then I'd be happy to assist. I've even got a heated garage you can use.

Love the forum for stuff like this

[IanV12VR]

waremark said:

Interested in the team view. To keep a battery healthy by driving, how often do you have to take the car out and for how long? Have been taking my son's 12c out for a minimum of 30 mins every two weeks while he is away, would be happy to be persuaded I need to drive it more (although if I have to choose I honestly prefer the Aston), but expect that really it does not need to be driven either as much or as often.

As an aside I have LifePo4 batteries for my gliders electronics and the supplier says that when not in use over the winter they should not be plugged in and they will hardly lose any charge.

Are you sure you don't need to drive it every day for at least an hour Seriously not sure so don't take my response seriously as not sure how sensitive 12c's are to battery fade but would have thought similar to the Aston.