2006 V8 Vantage. Need HELP........
Discussion
Hi, New to the forum, so please excuse any mistakes. I am a new(ish)owner of a V8 Vantage Coupe(manual). Just had a great summer with the car, but it has now decided to develop a strange problem. Parked the car for a short while (10-15 mins) when I came back to the car, turned the ignition on, no warning lights came up on the dash, (except the engine check light), also no system check/trip computer display, or working gauges (basically anything on ignition position II). Also, neither the indicators or wipers would function. After a short while, the mileage/trip display would show, but then go off again after a short while. Depressing the clutch will illuminate the start button, but nothing responds? The car is currently with a local Aston service centre, but they seem to be struggling with the problem. (They have also been in touch with Gaydon regarding this) I would be very grateful for any input with this problem, as I would really like to be reunited with the car.
Many Thanks in advance.
Many Thanks in advance.
Edited by KevSmith on Tuesday 3rd December 13:00
Edited by KevSmith on Tuesday 3rd December 13:02
KevSmith said:
Hi, New to the forum, so please excuse any mistakes. I am a new(ish)owner of a V8 Vantage Coupe(manual). Just had a great summer with the car, but it has now decided to develop a strange problem. Parked the car for a short while (10-15 mins) when I came back to the car, turned the ignition on, no warning lights came up on the dash, (except the engine check light), also no system check/trip computer display. Also, neither the indicators or wipers would function. After a short while, the mileage/trip display would show, but then go off again after a short while. Depressing the clutch will illuminate the start button, but nothing responds? The car is currently with a local Aston service centre, but they seem to be struggling with the problem. (They have also been in touch with Gaydon regarding this) I would be very grateful for any input with this problem, as I would really like to be reunited with the car.
Many Thanks in advance.
Hi Kev,Many Thanks in advance.
I'm no expert but I'd be thinking about the battery. Is the car used often? If so, what sort of mileage would you do on a run, as short hops ofetn degrade battery life due to the lack of time to charge. I would be, however, surprised if a dealer didn't look at this first. Hope it gets sorted soon.
I had similar things on both my roadsters 
first one was traced to the drivers seat loom draining the battery
second one was a 2 month old battery that half the cells died on
Sound like you are getting a similar power related issue
They can put a data logger on the car to establish the drain is with it locked and open
At that age the battery could also be on its way out, they play up more in the cold as they get weaker
first one was traced to the drivers seat loom draining the battery
second one was a 2 month old battery that half the cells died on
Sound like you are getting a similar power related issue
They can put a data logger on the car to establish the drain is with it locked and open
At that age the battery could also be on its way out, they play up more in the cold as they get weaker
Hi, thanks for the prompt reply. Car is used daily, mileage varies. Initially thought of the battery, called recovery, and they tried to recharge the battery to no avail. The dealer charged the battery when they received the car, (I had already spoken to them, and they thought the same) but it made no difference to the car. They have had it on the diagnostics, but it is constantly throwing random errors, and still won't start. Waiting for a workshop manual to be delivered, so I can have a look myself. Think it is a CAN Bus issue, but not sure which? (Slow or high speed)? Probably a module gone down, so was hoping somebody maybe had a similar issue.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Bincenzo said:
Hi Kev,
I'm no expert but I'd be thinking about the battery. Is the car used often? If so, what sort of mileage would you do on a run, as short hops ofetn degrade battery life due to the lack of time to charge. I would be, however, surprised if a dealer didn't look at this first. Hope it gets sorted soon.
That was my first thought, but I think low battery has the opposite symptoms - more and more unwarranted error messages. And as you say, the dealer must have thought of that.I'm no expert but I'd be thinking about the battery. Is the car used often? If so, what sort of mileage would you do on a run, as short hops ofetn degrade battery life due to the lack of time to charge. I would be, however, surprised if a dealer didn't look at this first. Hope it gets sorted soon.
Kev, this issue is caused due to the lack of photo's posted 
When owning a new Aston it is a mandatory requirement to introduce yourself with pictures of the car or the Mrs OR preferably the Mrs & the car.
Anyway, over with the introductions.... Welcome to the forum
Cold weather, problems with electrics
I would look at the battery first, but if you can get a diagnostics plug in, then that may point to a failure of a device on the canbus. On roadsters, as an example, the roof module failing causes all sorts of electrical issues.
When owning a new Aston it is a mandatory requirement to introduce yourself with pictures of the car or the Mrs OR preferably the Mrs & the car.
Anyway, over with the introductions.... Welcome to the forum
Cold weather, problems with electrics
I would look at the battery first, but if you can get a diagnostics plug in, then that may point to a failure of a device on the canbus. On roadsters, as an example, the roof module failing causes all sorts of electrical issues.You're just described a flat battery.
They are like old people (ask Jockman). In the cold weather it tends to finish them off !
I've had it happen that once it's dead then that's it. You can charge it up until the charger says it's fully charged and a few minutes later it's flat again. A new one is the thing to try first, but, as you say, surely the dealer would have done this first ?
[having said the dealer should know what they are doing, a few years ago I was working for a company and I was away from the office. We had a PC go down and Dell were called out. 2 days it took to fix. Someone from the office rang me and described the fault and I said "Well, sounds like the hard drive is goosed". "Yeah, that's what the dell man said in the end but it took him 2 days to reach that conclusion".]
They are like old people (ask Jockman). In the cold weather it tends to finish them off !
I've had it happen that once it's dead then that's it. You can charge it up until the charger says it's fully charged and a few minutes later it's flat again. A new one is the thing to try first, but, as you say, surely the dealer would have done this first ?
[having said the dealer should know what they are doing, a few years ago I was working for a company and I was away from the office. We had a PC go down and Dell were called out. 2 days it took to fix. Someone from the office rang me and described the fault and I said "Well, sounds like the hard drive is goosed". "Yeah, that's what the dell man said in the end but it took him 2 days to reach that conclusion".]
Edited by snuffy on Tuesday 3rd December 15:04
Hi, thanks again for all replies. When it was recovered, they put a load tester on the battery, and this came up as healthy, albeit slightly down on voltage.(Still +12V). Now reading the comments, starting to think maybe possible earthing problem. Is there any known issues around this. When the RAC came out, they tried to recharge the car from the engine bay. (Thinking not enough charge getting to the actual battery) Could a poor engine earth cause similar issues?
I had an engine earth problem on my old shopping car. The easiest way to check is to take a jump lead and connect it from the block to the chassis. If it all springs into life then it's a bad earth.
I think the battery voltage should be 14V or so (I know the battery is 12V, but that's just it's nominal voltage).
I think the battery voltage should be 14V or so (I know the battery is 12V, but that's just it's nominal voltage).
snuffy said:
I had an engine earth problem on my old shopping car. The easiest way to check is to take a jump lead and connect it from the block to the chassis. If it all springs into life then it's a bad earth.
I think the battery voltage should be 14V or so (I know the battery is 12V, but that's just it's nominal voltage).
13.7 V would be good for a fully charged, but certainly over 13 V. 12V would indicate a battery that is heavily discharged or maybe in trouble.I think the battery voltage should be 14V or so (I know the battery is 12V, but that's just it's nominal voltage).
Kev, we tend to think that a main dealer would do the obvious, but I'd be really tempted to ask them if they have connected the car to a new battery, rather than charging what, to me, sounds like a battery that has seen better days. Could be a very quick fix. As Cockers states, that battery seems a little low on power, which I think has fairly dramatic effect on the V8V.
13.7V = 14V or so. Either way, certainly nearer 14 than 12.
and they would need to test under load.
I know this is an old one, but have they checked the battery terminals ? If they are corroded then there will be high resistance. Clean them with sandpaper and cover them in vaseline was what I've always been told.
and they would need to test under load.
I know this is an old one, but have they checked the battery terminals ? If they are corroded then there will be high resistance. Clean them with sandpaper and cover them in vaseline was what I've always been told.
snuffy said:
13.7V = 14V or so. Either way, certainly nearer 14 than 12.
and they would need to test under load.
I know this is an old one, but have they checked the battery terminals ? If they are corroded then there will be high resistance. Clean them with sandpaper and cover them in vaseline was what I've always been told.
I thought you did that before sex with a first date !and they would need to test under load.
I know this is an old one, but have they checked the battery terminals ? If they are corroded then there will be high resistance. Clean them with sandpaper and cover them in vaseline was what I've always been told.
I learnt something at school 
KevSmith said:
Hi, thanks again for all replies. When it was recovered, they put a load tester on the battery, and this came up as healthy, albeit slightly down on voltage.(Still +12V). Now reading the comments, starting to think maybe possible earthing problem. Is there any known issues around this. When the RAC came out, they tried to recharge the car from the engine bay. (Thinking not enough charge getting to the actual battery) Could a poor engine earth cause similar issues?
Rare for it to be an earth problem. Ask the Aston garage to plug in a spare battery and see what happens. Like everyone else, it sounds like that's what it is.
Thanks to all. Just been talking to the service centre, it turns out it is the engine bay fusebox. Apparently it has a relay, which is actually part of the fusebox, which has failed. New fusebox on order, should have the car back by end of the week.
Result......
First time they have ever seen this problem, so probably one to stick in the memory bank. The car is with Aston Workshops, they are an absolute pleasure to deal with, (they serviced the car in July). If anyone is in, or around the North East, they are well worth a visit. They have a nice collection of classic Astons, which are always available to view, and a nice collection of restorations on the go. Thanks again for all the replies, and now just looking forward to enjoying the car some more. Will post some pictures of the car soon.
Result......
First time they have ever seen this problem, so probably one to stick in the memory bank. The car is with Aston Workshops, they are an absolute pleasure to deal with, (they serviced the car in July). If anyone is in, or around the North East, they are well worth a visit. They have a nice collection of classic Astons, which are always available to view, and a nice collection of restorations on the go. Thanks again for all the replies, and now just looking forward to enjoying the car some more. Will post some pictures of the car soon.
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