DB9 Manual Gearbox Whine

[matthewjeans]

Evening everyone,

I’ve just picked up my 2006 DB9 Volante manual (62k miles) and stupidly I’d never driven it with the roof up on the test drive.

Once I put the roof up today I noticed that there is quite an obvious whine from the gearbox. It’s only there in 6th gear and disappears when the throttle is pressed hard. Apart from that the gearbox is beautiful to use and the car drives well in every way.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I’m told a new gearbox is £11,000 without fitting so I’m currently in a very sad mood with my “new” pride and joy.

Any experience or thoughts very welcome. Ultimately I can take it back to the dealer and get a full refund but I love the car apart from this.

Thanks very much in advance,

Matt

[LPH]

If it's from a dealer then you have the right to offer them the opportunity to fix it (at their cost). Don't have to give it back.

I'd be on to them ASAP to register the possible fault and see what they say.

[Superleg48]

You’ll be able to get the gearbox rebuilt for far less than 11k if it is that terminal. Could be low fluid or old fluid due a change, which will be pennies in comparison.

Register fault with Dealer, get them to check it out.

[matthewjeans]

Thanks guys - I had a gearbox oil change done today at an Aston Heritage Centre in case that would help. Old oil was very dirty but noise is still there.

The main technician said he didn’t think it was possible to have the gearbox rebuilt - if anyone knows a company that can do this, please advise!

I’m hoping it’s one of those “they all do that” scenarios as it all feels perfect apart from the whine!

[Superleg48]

Two minutes on Google:

http://www.astonmartingearboxes.co.uk/

[matthewjeans]

Thank you - I have spoken to this company this morning and they will hopefully be able to fit a new 6th gear to the gearbox which should sort out the noise.

I will keep you updated as may be useful to otter forum members.

[LPH]

As this is a fault on a car bought from a dealer you shouldn't have to pay for the repair. Have you spoken to the dealer yet?

[matthewjeans]

Hi - yes the dealer will be paying for this or I will send the car back to him for a full refund.

Any more advice very welcome!

[LPH]

Good stuff. Hope it all works out at solves the noise issue.

[matthewjeans]

So update - my car went to PW Engineering in Letchworth (web link above) today to have this noise sorted. Lovely drive up there with the roof down and fuse 22 permanently removed!

Owner Graham White has been a gearbox engineer for over 40 years and they have a wonderful workshop full of all sorts of Aston gearboxes. He drives a DB6 manual which was reassuring!

I’ll update when the problem has been fixed but he intends to take out the gearbox and replace 6th gear with 2 new cogs which he showed me.

The seller of the car is footing the bill.

[dbs2000]

Great to hear you've got the fault resolved, hopefully you'll get the weather for some good roof down motoring.

[Green9]

As an update to this which may be useful for other DB9 manual owners:

I was driving along (relatively enthusiastically) on the way to Heathrow when the gearlever suddenly went completely floppy whilst changing from 4th to 3rd. No way to get back into gear so I coasted into a lay-by and, hoping the gear cable had parted from the bottom of the gearstick, I took apart the interior panels. Sadly it was firmly connected so I knew the cable had parted where it joins the gearbox at the rear of the car.

So - car onto low-loader (not easy) and off to local AM garage (Davron in Dinton Wiltshire who are excellent) who confirmed the cable connector on top of the gearbox had snapped (old and brittle and should have been replaced when gearbox had come out recently). Anyway, no cables available in the UK and on back-order from factory... So I did lots of digging around and eventually found I could buy the cable along with the gear-lever and gate as a total unit for around £550. Gearbox has to be lowered to fit the cable so not a cheap/easy job.

So, cable fitted, gear-gate and gear lever now on eBay and some glorious roof-down manual V12 driving since but WHAT A SAGA and not helped by Aston's ridiculous lack of parts supply.

Hopefully it's been worth it - love the car so much but have decided that if there's another major (non-maintenance) issue, it's gone...