Aston Martin DBS crash

[Archimedou]

Hello everybody,

I recently bought a front crashed DBS from 2008.
I was told that the fuel pumps wouldn't work as long as the airbags were replaced and ECU cleared, and also, that on the DBS there is no button under the rear seats to bypass this cut off. (contrary to the DB9 or Vanquish).

Would someone confirm this ? Thank you in advance !

[Archimedou]

Anyone?

[rowley birkin]

There's a knowledgeable chap on here called Yipper who should know what to do. He will probably be along soon.

[Archimedou]

Thank you for your answer.
I will send him a private message I think.
Hopefully he will be able to answer.

[4Q]

Ignore the idiot post above you. I'm sure there must be someone here who has a constructive answer, perhaps try asking in the Bamford Rose thread in this section.

[BamfordMike]

Archimedou said:

Hello everybody,

I recently bought a front crashed DBS from 2008.
I was told that the fuel pumps wouldn't work as long as the airbags were replaced and ECU cleared, and also, that on the DBS there is no button under the rear seats to bypass this cut off. (contrary to the DB9 or Vanquish).

Would someone confirm this ? Thank you in advance !

Regarding your button under / behind the seat question I think you are confusing fuel pump inertia switch reset with a battery disconnect button?

The battery disconnect button when pressed isolates all but essential electronic circuits mainly pressed when storing car for a long time. On older level cars (up until about 07) you had to physically press the battery enable button located behind drivers seat, but on newer cars the battery ‘auto enables’ when ignition is turned on. DBS is auto batt enable on ignition switch.

A fuel pump intertia switch also doesn’t exist on Gaydon era Astons. When a crash is detected the ECU auto cuts / inhibits fuel pumps and stops the engine running. A key / ignition cycle should clear that and the car start up, however if it doesn’t try a battery disconnect and if that doesn’t work the laptop will be needed to clear all codes to enable running.

You’ll need a laptop anyway because if the airbags have gone off the one time shot restraint control module will need renewing and the new module from dealer will need configuration to car with laptop.

All being well post accident the engine should fire back up without bother, but if it’s had a front end smash to extent airbags have gone off then I guess the plastic induction system is compromised, so be careful running engine and avoid sucking up any debris into the intake!

Hope that helps!

[Archimedou]

Thank you very very much Mike ! This is an incredibly detailed and clear answer !
I now understand much more what is going on.

It only raises one simple question to my mind:

When you are talking about the "laptop" needed to re-initiate either the ECU or the airbag module, do you mean that a simple OBD2 reader will work or shall I necessary have to go to an Aston Martin garage for this ?

Best regards,

[BamfordMike]

Archimedou said:

Thank you very very much Mike ! This is an incredibly detailed and clear answer !
I now understand much more what is going on.

It only raises one simple question to my mind:

When you are talking about the "laptop" needed to re-initiate either the ECU or the airbag module, do you mean that a simple OBD2 reader will work or shall I necessary have to go to an Aston Martin garage for this ?

Best regards,

No probs

A simple OBD reader will read / reset engine ECU codes (OBD connector in drivers footwell). The faults that your car likely needs resetting and configuration of new restraint control module will be within body control module (OBD connector in passenger footwell) which most of the generic OBD tools cannot communicate with and none can reconfigure the control module. So where I say laptop I mean the official AMDS tool either at an Indi which have it or franchised garage

[Archimedou]

Thank you again, very helpful !

Best regards,

Edited by Archimedou on Monday 26th February 09:39

[Captain Smerc]

The Alien coming out of the steering wheel is worrying !

[Archimedou]

Hello !
Some news regarding my crashed DBS with popped out airbags:

- Yesterday I started the car for the first time and the engine ran properly without the airbag module renewed and even without the driver's airbag connected (the steering wheel is not in place yet, but I have already plugged in the renewed passenger airbag)

I was expecting the ignition or fuel pumps to be switched off by the airbag control module, but it's working fine...

Maybe I will have to go to the dealer to change the airbag control module afterwards to be sure the airbags will work in case ?

Edited by Archimedou on Tuesday 24th July 13:26

[BamfordMike]

Archimedou said:

Hello !
Some news regarding my crashed DBS with popped out airbags:

- Yesterday I started the car for the first time and the engine ran properly without the airbag module renewed and even without the driver's airbag connected (the steering wheel is not in place yet, but I have already plugged in the renewed passenger airbag)

I was expecting the ignition or fuel pumps to be switched off by the airbag control module, but it's working fine...

Maybe I will have to go to the dealer to change the airbag control module afterwards to be sure the airbags will work in case ?

Edited by Archimedou on Tuesday 24th July 13:26

Nice to hear it’s running, I feared for the worst because the timing chest was exposed!

When in a crash and car is put into ‘crash mode’ which inhibits fuel / engine running in that moment, a few fob lock / unlock and key cycles will clear the mode and the engine will fire up without a laptop needed to reset stuff.
There is no long term direct interaction between airbag module and engine ECU other than the initial instigation if crash mode

If the airbags fired you will need a new airbag module as it’s a one time use part. Likewise if seatbelts fired you’ll need new ones, with all that stuff renewed the airbag light should go off after a laptop reset (the light won’t self extinguish even if all parts are good / new).

[Archimedou]

Thank you Mike, this is super clear ! Thank you so much.
Once I have fully finished the car, I will then change the airbag module and then go to an Aston garage to reset it. I would of course go to your place if I wasn't living in France...

But with my girlfriend we are thinking of doing a road trip to Scotland one day, and I will then take the occasion to bring the car to your place, when passing by, and make the "primary cat removal" job :-)

Edited by Archimedou on Wednesday 25th July 10:30