Does This V8 Vantage Engine Sound Right To You?
Discussion
Hey folks, I have an '06 V8 Vantage that I've never fallen in lover with (had it about 18 months) mainly because the engine has this weird sound to it. You can hear the power of the engine... but above and beyond that there is this higher-pitched whir noise as well. I have the 2-wall idler pulley and belt from RedPants.lol so it's not the "chirp" this year sometimes has. Also of note, the sound quickly dissipates and stops once you push in the clutch, so it's something that's only engaged when the clutch it. I have tried my best to get it in this video attached. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated because I WANT to love this car... but this drives me up a wall.
I rev the engine in second gear and you hear the nice noise and a bit of the annoying one... then I let off the gas and the engine quiets and you can really hear the higher pitched annoying whir thing. Then I push the clutch in an everything disappears. I repeat this twice and both times you can hear the differences in these 3 stages.
I apologize, it's much easier to hear in person but:
1- I don't know any other Aston people nearby
2- my mechanic hears it but isn't an Aston expert so doesn't know if that's how it SHOULD sound and also says he sees nothing to hint at an issue
3- I asked the nearest Aston dealer if someone could just sit in the car with me and tell me if what they hear is normal, I got a "no" and a "you'd have to probably leave it here for 2-3 days" which means s
t tons of money just to ask a single easy question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWY-1PEd_9A
Best,
Chris
I rev the engine in second gear and you hear the nice noise and a bit of the annoying one... then I let off the gas and the engine quiets and you can really hear the higher pitched annoying whir thing. Then I push the clutch in an everything disappears. I repeat this twice and both times you can hear the differences in these 3 stages.
I apologize, it's much easier to hear in person but:
1- I don't know any other Aston people nearby
2- my mechanic hears it but isn't an Aston expert so doesn't know if that's how it SHOULD sound and also says he sees nothing to hint at an issue
3- I asked the nearest Aston dealer if someone could just sit in the car with me and tell me if what they hear is normal, I got a "no" and a "you'd have to probably leave it here for 2-3 days" which means s
t tons of money just to ask a single easy question.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWY-1PEd_9A
Best,
Chris
I listened to the sound on your video, but only using an earpiece so could not hear properly.
The important clue must be in your mention, that the unwanted siund sound stops when the clutch pedal is depressed.
Would that indicate transmission?
Is there any dfference between, when the car is moving, or stopped?
Are you in the UK?
Hi Chris, where are you based? If your in England I would 100% take it to see Mike at Bamford Rose.
I'm sure if you just pop in he'll diagnose it instantly with little or no cost involved.
He worked in engine development at AM so knows everything about your car.
These are great cars and I'm sure you'll love yours once your happy with it.
I'm sure if you just pop in he'll diagnose it instantly with little or no cost involved.
He worked in engine development at AM so knows everything about your car.
These are great cars and I'm sure you'll love yours once your happy with it.
Edited by paulrog1 on Friday 5th March 08:08
Thanks for all the replies. Any pop or metal clink you are hearing in that video isn’t the car, that’s just the phone picking up movement of mine trying to drive and catch a video.
The noise of concern is the higher pitched sound after the gas is let off. It sounds to be in time with the motor, but isn’t the nice throaty growl OF the motor. If you listen in the video at time ~2sec that’s the end of the first ‘rev up’ and where I let off the gas. What you hear after the clink (which again is me, not car) is the noise I’m referring to. Almost a mechanical tick tick tick tick tick at the same frequency as the motor, higher pitched, and when the motor isn’t reving its actually louder and more pronounced than the motor growl. It’s an annoying almost mechanics sound. And yes, I think it’s extremely interesting that it goes away with the clutch.
Sadly I’m nowhere near the UK. I’m in the Washington DC area in the US.
Best,
Chris
The noise of concern is the higher pitched sound after the gas is let off. It sounds to be in time with the motor, but isn’t the nice throaty growl OF the motor. If you listen in the video at time ~2sec that’s the end of the first ‘rev up’ and where I let off the gas. What you hear after the clink (which again is me, not car) is the noise I’m referring to. Almost a mechanical tick tick tick tick tick at the same frequency as the motor, higher pitched, and when the motor isn’t reving its actually louder and more pronounced than the motor growl. It’s an annoying almost mechanics sound. And yes, I think it’s extremely interesting that it goes away with the clutch.
Sadly I’m nowhere near the UK. I’m in the Washington DC area in the US.
Best,
Chris
Edited by Verhoevc on Friday 5th March 16:42
Edited by Verhoevc on Friday 5th March 16:42
I called up Mike and he said he’d listen. Curious to see.
Going into the office today there was an ‘08 V8 sitting outside the office as well! I talked to the guy (just bought his so taking it with a grain of salt), but what I described didn’t register with him at all. Also granted, I forgot to check if he was manual like me. Either way, at least (he claims) he’s still the same 4.3L engine.
Best,
Chris
Going into the office today there was an ‘08 V8 sitting outside the office as well! I talked to the guy (just bought his so taking it with a grain of salt), but what I described didn’t register with him at all. Also granted, I forgot to check if he was manual like me. Either way, at least (he claims) he’s still the same 4.3L engine.
Best,
Chris
I would say that the noise the OP mentions is just the valvetrain noise, which is more audible when the engine is coasting (full throttle you hear mainly the exhaust).
If you depress the clutch, the engine revs will go down and the valvetrain will not make that (or not so much) noise.
My car (2006 4.3 V8 vantage) makes this noise too, and all the 4.3 Vantages I heard. Actually the engine being so noisy is one of the reasons I am not 100% in love with the car too. Don't know whether it's the fact the the car is dry sumped, and because of that the noises are not so muffled as in other engines or what, but all those whines, ticks and cluncks generate extreme anxiety in me too.
If you depress the clutch, the engine revs will go down and the valvetrain will not make that (or not so much) noise.
My car (2006 4.3 V8 vantage) makes this noise too, and all the 4.3 Vantages I heard. Actually the engine being so noisy is one of the reasons I am not 100% in love with the car too. Don't know whether it's the fact the the car is dry sumped, and because of that the noises are not so muffled as in other engines or what, but all those whines, ticks and cluncks generate extreme anxiety in me too.
Edited by lestrat on Saturday 6th March 12:54
Edited by lestrat on Saturday 6th March 13:14
Verhoevc -
I just reached out to a very knowledgeable Aston owner in the D.C. area and he also confirmed that the local D.C. Aston dealer needs a few lessons in customer service.
He recommended you try Rosso Service which has a great reputation or Eurosport Auto Care.
https://www.rossoservice.com/
https://www.eurosportautocare.com/
I hope this helps.
I just reached out to a very knowledgeable Aston owner in the D.C. area and he also confirmed that the local D.C. Aston dealer needs a few lessons in customer service.
He recommended you try Rosso Service which has a great reputation or Eurosport Auto Care.
https://www.rossoservice.com/
https://www.eurosportautocare.com/
I hope this helps.
Thanks for the input everyone! Really appreciate it. My mechanic WILL work on my Aston, but he’s more a Lamborghini, Ferrari guy so although he agrees he can hear it he didn’t offer an answer.
I’ll try those two suggestion up by Baltimore (Rossi and Euro) when I get time and see what they say. Although my gut wants to agree with lestrat, there’s enough folks saying it could be something with the transmission/gearbox that I guess it’s worth having looked at before I give up on her.
No idea when I’ll get up there, but will keep folks updated if/when I learn something.
Best,
Chris
I’ll try those two suggestion up by Baltimore (Rossi and Euro) when I get time and see what they say. Although my gut wants to agree with lestrat, there’s enough folks saying it could be something with the transmission/gearbox that I guess it’s worth having looked at before I give up on her.
No idea when I’ll get up there, but will keep folks updated if/when I learn something.
Best,
Chris
Drum roll... there is nothing wrong with my car... as was mentioned above, they’re just loud like that. Apparently what I’m hearing that is unpleasant to my ears is the injectors.
So I guess that’s good news that it’s not an issue, but that’s also Ronald the worst possible news for ME cause that just cements that I don’t really like the car that much and it’s unlikely to change.
Anyone need a Vantage? Lol
Also, GF1 knows his Astons!!! Thanks again for letting me drop by and helping me diagnose the noise.
Best,
Chris
So I guess that’s good news that it’s not an issue, but that’s also Ronald the worst possible news for ME cause that just cements that I don’t really like the car that much and it’s unlikely to change.
Anyone need a Vantage? Lol
Also, GF1 knows his Astons!!! Thanks again for letting me drop by and helping me diagnose the noise.
Best,
Chris
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