Totally Dead Battery

[Slidefighter]

So...I can't get the trunk open nor the glove box (where the manual is) either. Have the new battery, but in the meantime, every effort to charge the old one has failed (three different charging points and three different chargers). Don't think I can reach the inside trunk/boot latch release from inside, so I'm wondering if there is a somewhat hidden external key latch that I haven't found yet? Once in, I'll change the battery and problem solved but it would be a lot easier to do it with access to the battery compartment from both inside the cockpit and from the boot.

Thanks!

[Jon39]

I don't know which model you have Lee, but I am afraid that my own knowledge is only about the 4.7 Vantage.

If your car happens to be that one, then you should have been given two remote keys (ECU) one glass, one plastic, plus a conventional metal key, which can be used to open one of the doors when there is no electrical power.
Perhaps you do not have the metal key.

[Slidefighter]

Jon: Sorry to not be more specific. Mine is a 2007 V8 Vantage (4.3). I can get in the doors, but the rear boot won't open, either with the (electronic) key or with the boot push-button. On my Jaguar XKR, there is an additional means of getting in---a little semi-hidden keyhole in the right lower side of the trunk/boot lid. It will open the boot mechanically regardless of the status of the battery.

I'm hoping there is a similar feature somewhere on my Vantage. To be honest I've already looked for one unsuccessfully but perhaps I've overlooked it. Sure hope so!



Lee...

Edited by Slidefighter on Tuesday 1st January 16:35

[Westlondondriver]

I used to have this problem with my DB9. If you pop the bonnet (manual on my car) and attach. a charger to the charging point - 1 clip on the charging point and one on the alternator clamp. Leave it to charge for a few minutes and then even if the battery wasn’t holding a charge you could open the boot with the power the charger was supplying. Not sure if the same would work on the Vantage but I expect so.

[Slidefighter]

Jon: Got in using a small garden rake to pull down on the interior trunk release tab. Sweet. I'll change the battery this afternoon after New Years dinner (where I come from, it's breakfast, dinner, and supper!).

Still would like to know if there is an external, mechanical trunk release if anyone can tell me.

Thanks again,


Lee...

[Slidefighter]

Westlondon: Yes! And that would have worked for me too, if I hadn't already killed the battery with a week of charging attempts. Right now that battery is strictly a boat anchor, I'm afraid. I have a new, correct size Odyssey 925 with correct battery post positioning now ready to go.

And yes, the Vantage V8 has a mechanical hood latch too.

Thanks for the help...


Lee...

[Jon39]

Glad that you are now making progress, Lee.

I have never tried, but if you found it possible to remove the rear parcel shelf from inside the car with the tailate closed, there would not need to be a another emergency tailgate release.

With the battery situated behind a seat, I am not sure why you would need to open the tailgate, but there must be a good reason that I am unaware of.

Enjoy your Aston Martin motoring in 2019.

Jon.

[Slidefighter]

Jon: Good points. I'm guessing though, that I'm going to find manhandling a 50+ pound AGM battery through the cabin, between the seats, over the ledge, and into the space behind the passenger seat (U.S.) would be much easier as a two-person event. In fact, my plan is to load the battery in the boot first and then for two of us to try to lift it (fore and aft) into the battery space. There is a fair amount of maneuvering the battery even after that as I understand it, in order to get it fully clamped down with both the forward sliding clamps and the over the top "u-clamp".

I've only seen this on YouTube, but that's what I understand. For that matter, it doesn't appear from the video and physical descriptions on the web, that getting the old battery itself out is any more of a picnic than putting the new one in either.

If I run into anything in "real life" that wasn't covered in Richard's helpful "Repants" video, I'll sound off.

Regards,


Lee...

[Slidefighter]

Said I would check back with the results when I worked out my electrical power problem. As a reminder, mine is a 2007 Vantage V8: My battery turned out to be completely dead. I removed it (not the car's original battery) using the guidance I found on Richard Seidlitz' Aston Martin site (https://www.redpants.lol/battery-change/). One thing to note, his 'tool guide' includes the use of a T-27 Torx bit to loosen the four screws on the forward/lower clamps at the base of the battery. I found that the screws on mine required at T-30. YRMV.

I installed a new battery which got me back on the road immediately; here is its specific description from Amazon: Odyssey Battery 49-950 Performance Automotive Battery Group 49 1700 PHCA 950 CCA 1150 MCA RC Min. 160 L-13.87 in. W-6.85 in. H-7.47 in. w/SAE Terminal.

The terminals on this monster are in the correct location and are the correct type for the existing battery leads. Also, it is the same dimensions as the Interstate I removed. To be honest, it is a tight fit though. If I had it to do over, I would buy the Redpants lightweight battery replacement kit from Richard. You only have to change one of these once and you'll be looking for a better system. Unfortunately, I'm unlikely to keep this car long enough to need a new battery---Odyssey's last a long time! I use Odyssey's on many of my vehicles including motorcycles and even on the 540 cu.in. Lycoming on my sport plane. It turns the six 90 cu.in. cylinders on the Lycoming over through 12' long battery cables and never misses a beat.

Installed a set of trickle charger leads on it while I was at it.

Hope this helps a bit if any of you have the same problem and are as new to the Vantage as I am.

Regards,


Lee...