Roadster Roof Help!

[Old Skool]

Hi guys,

Currently sat on a side of the road with my roof in a halfway position.

The message says "to operate roof please stop" but the car is stationary.

Done everything I can think of to close/open it but to no avail.

Aston Martin "Assist" were singularly unhelpful - first telling me i'm not actually covered (the dealer will be getting a call) and then telling me they "don't do telephone advice" and would just send someone out to collect if i was covered anyway.

Anyone have any idea as to what to do?

[ipd57]

Have not used it, but I think there is a manual crank set behind the passenger seat on mine in case that happened -saw it in the handbook as I recall, not able to check mine right now,

[mikey k]

From a psot of mine on AMOC

Manual Roof Procedure from Manual

1) Remove wind deflector
2) Remove allen key from tool kit (required to lock roof in position)
3) Remove key and leave hydraulics relax (it will still require considerable effort to move manually)
4) Remove battery cover and foam insert
5) Locate two tonneau manual release cables and pull to release while applying slight downward pressure to painted section between humps
6) With one person either side manually lift tonneau cover to full extent
7) Again one person each side, support the tonneau one hand under the rear of roof and one on front edge lift whole roof up and forward
Cool Once roof is clear allow tonneau to drop back in to positon (it will not lock in postion)
9) Lower front and back of roof in to their closed positions
10) Remove plug in lining above rear view mirror
11) One person in eac hseat windows down pull down the front edge of roof & ensure lock arms meet the catches
12) Use allen key in plug above review mirror to tighten and lock down the roof

I'd turn the car on and try it automatically from there, it may reset itself.

[Old Skool]

Hmm

Thanks guys.

No joy so had to do the whole manual roof lock procedure but as far as i understand it, this means that the roof is now fixed and the automatic roof mechanism is "off-line".

So does anyone know if this is likely to be easy to fix and/or a warranty item so that I can get back to enjoying the weather?

and thanks very much for all your quick and prompt responses - very kind.

(I was expecting a "should have bought a coupe you big girl")

[don4l]

What car?


For the DB9, the manual says:

1. Remove the ignityion key and wait for a minimum of 5 seconds. This allows the hydraulics to relax (a bit).
Some hydraulic resistance will remain. It may take considerable effort to fully close the Convertable Roof manually.



The manual says that the tonneau lid, if open, can be moved manually.

There is no suggestion of any manual "winch". Just move the roof.

If closing the roof, you have to remove a trim plug that is located above the rear view mirror. Make sure that the two lock arms are correctly located in their catches (at the top of the windscreen).


Using the allen key provided in the vehicle toolkit lock the roof in position. I think that the allen screw is behind the trim plug that was removed. You have to tighten the allen screw until it cannot be turned any more. You may need another person to push down on the roof while using the allen key.


Don
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[Old Skool]

Sorry, should have said Vantage

[Jockman]

don4l said:

What car?

Don - has to be a vantage roadster, as DB9 only do a volante (4 seats)???

Or have I misread it

Old Skool, I feel a stiff conversation coming up with the Dealer and AM Assist. Should be no problem fixing under the original warranty.

[don4l]

Jockman said:

Don - has to be a vantage roadster, as DB9 only do a volante (4 seats)???

Or have I misread it

Old Skool, I feel a stiff conversation coming up with the Dealer and AM Assist. Should be no problem fixing under the original warranty.

Doh!

I didn't realise that a roadster could only have two seats. You learn something every day.

Don
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[mikey k]

I've already posted the EXACT proceduer from the Vantage Roadster manual

[rick-derby-]

there is a software update for the crm on the V8 Vantage, this can rectify some issues, there is also a reset procedure used usually during repair but can be used if position information is lost usually if the roof is paused for a time when in the mid way position, if you require step by step info please let me know,

[silverspeed]

Mine did the same last year. Was told by dealer to switch engine off exit the car and lock it! Leave for 30 seconds and re enter car. Switch engine on and rev to 1500. Then try roof. Worked for me. When it went to dealer they found a micro switch issue in the roof header above windscreen which was causing the issue. Good luck.

[silverspeed]

Any update? Is the problem sorted?

[Old Skool]

Locked the roof in place manually following the instructions in the manual. Dealer picked it up this morning and said they should have it back to me tomorrow.

Apparently the AM assist issue was a administrative "oversight" which has since been sorted.

Maybe I'm just very used to poor service which has skewed my perception but I thought it was dealt with very quickly and professionally and the fact they pick it up and drop it off is actually pretty damn good. I asked them to clean the throttle flap to see if it dealt with the low rev throttle response issue i've been having too. They said they would and that they'd give it a free "health check" too so I'm happy.

The only negative is that they didn't have a courtesy car to lend me but since it's only 2 days it's not that big a deal. Although have a few days free of work and I'm missing her already. Was a bit cheeky and asked them to drop off a V12 for an extended test drive - met by a nervous laugh and a "errrr......"

[Knights of Aston]

Don't suppose you saw what the outside temp sender was reading on the centre stack did you? I know it's a weird question....

[Good Soil (Pete)]

Knights of Aston said:

Don't suppose you saw what the outside temp sender was reading on the centre stack did you? I know it's a weird question....

So do you think it was too hot outside and the car is saying "No No No you have a convertible now keep the roof down!!!" Very clever! :-)

[mikey k]

Good Soil-Pete said:

So do you think it was too hot outside and the car is saying "No No No you have a convertible now keep the roof down!!!" Very clever! :-)

Now that is a feature that should be fitted to all roadsters!

ETA - Every time I quote Good Soil (Pete) the formatting fails
ETFA - fixed - it's his pesky extra brackets in his username!

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 10th May 18:33

[Jockman]

mikey k said:

ETFA - fixed - it's his pesky extra brackets in his username!

Knew it was the brackets but didn't know how to fix it

Mikey, your knowledge knows no bounds.

[Knights of Aston]

If the ambient sensor fails, the roof doesn't know what temperature it is outside and it's programmed not to work in super cold conditions in case some of the mechanism is frozen. So if the reading is missing, as a precaution, the roof won't work.

[Adam2S]

Old Skool said:

Was a bit cheeky and asked them to drop off a V12 for an extended test drive - met by a nervous laugh and a "errrr......"

Dont do it! I did something very similar whilst getting my 4.7 V8 serviced last year. A few days later I owned a V12V!!!!!

[Knights of Aston]

Got me wondering if it might be an earthing problem now....