Aston Martin V8 Vantage Help with VVT solenoid clatter
Discussion
Hello fellow enthusiasts,
I am in a bit of a pickle trying to diagnose an issue with my 2007 Vantage with 46k miles. Here is my observation and hopefully I can get some help from the experts.
In general the car is very smooth, Cold starts are a little normal, the engine drives flawlessly and has good performance without any throttle lag or power loss. No abnormal sounds during operation. At higher RPMs it does what it needs to do. However, Once the engine heats up and the car is at Idle, It starts giving a rattling sound from around the VVT solenoid on Bank2 which goes away as soon as the RPM is raised over 1000. If i disconnect the VVT solenoid, the sound goes away, but comes back as soon as i plug it back in. My first assumption was that it is a bad solenoid and i went ahead and replaced it, However, the Issue persisted. The ECU does throw the P00022 code even with the new solenoid. (While replacing the solenoid, I visually inspected the condition of the Cams and the upper chains and nothing stood out, however i did not check the tensioner on the cam)
Other issues to note is that I have been getting the Catalyst efficiency below threshold error on both banks, I assumed that it had bad O2 Sensors and replaced them with new sensors, Here is the kicker.. The codes for the O2 sensors popped up with the new sensors as well.
My thought is that it has something to do with the EGR valve, either it is stuck or malfunctioning. Or it could be the timing chain tensioners. I am dreading the possibility of a head rebuild but i need to check the pistons using a scope yet.
I would really appreciate some insight on this topic.
Regards and Thanks in Advance.
I am in a bit of a pickle trying to diagnose an issue with my 2007 Vantage with 46k miles. Here is my observation and hopefully I can get some help from the experts.
In general the car is very smooth, Cold starts are a little normal, the engine drives flawlessly and has good performance without any throttle lag or power loss. No abnormal sounds during operation. At higher RPMs it does what it needs to do. However, Once the engine heats up and the car is at Idle, It starts giving a rattling sound from around the VVT solenoid on Bank2 which goes away as soon as the RPM is raised over 1000. If i disconnect the VVT solenoid, the sound goes away, but comes back as soon as i plug it back in. My first assumption was that it is a bad solenoid and i went ahead and replaced it, However, the Issue persisted. The ECU does throw the P00022 code even with the new solenoid. (While replacing the solenoid, I visually inspected the condition of the Cams and the upper chains and nothing stood out, however i did not check the tensioner on the cam)
Other issues to note is that I have been getting the Catalyst efficiency below threshold error on both banks, I assumed that it had bad O2 Sensors and replaced them with new sensors, Here is the kicker.. The codes for the O2 sensors popped up with the new sensors as well.
My thought is that it has something to do with the EGR valve, either it is stuck or malfunctioning. Or it could be the timing chain tensioners. I am dreading the possibility of a head rebuild but i need to check the pistons using a scope yet.
I would really appreciate some insight on this topic.
Regards and Thanks in Advance.
Sorry that you are having trouble.
After reading your post, I was amused that you had asked for help from the experts. You seem to be far more of an expert than many of us here.
All very technical. There are some here with very detailed knowledge, so hopefully you will receive some guidance.
Are you based in the UK? We are fortunate here to have several experienced independent specialists, who have a reputation for solving obscure faults.
Jon39 said:
Sorry that you are having trouble.
After reading your post, I was amused that you had asked for help from the experts. You seem to be far more of an expert than many of us here.
All very technical. There are some here with very detailed knowledge, so hopefully you will receive some guidance.
Are you based in the UK? We are fortunate here to have several experienced independent specialists, who have a reputation for solving obscure faults.
Unfortunately i am not based in UK. USA has a pretty bad mechanic network for these cars and i refuse to go to the dealerships because they really don't know what they are doing. My friend was quoted $7000 for fixing the timing cover leak.
Has the car been recently serviced etc. Oil quality/viscosity up to par?
Not serviced or poorly serviced with wrong oil.
At the point you describe with slack in the drive and cam timing sensor issues it does sound a little timing chain like but I'd defo do an oil and filter change for starters.
Any more clues how it started etc
Good luck to you.
Not serviced or poorly serviced with wrong oil.
At the point you describe with slack in the drive and cam timing sensor issues it does sound a little timing chain like but I'd defo do an oil and filter change for starters.
Any more clues how it started etc
Good luck to you.
leman600 said:
Has the car been recently serviced etc. Oil quality/viscosity up to par?
Not serviced or poorly serviced with wrong oil.
At the point you describe with slack in the drive and cam timing sensor issues it does sound a little timing chain like but I'd defo do an oil and filter change for starters.
Any more clues how it started etc
Good luck to you.
Thank you for the response, The oil and service were done correctly about 2000 miles ago. I just spoke to a shop here in chicago and they suspect that it could be the timing chain tensioner as well, The only kicker here is that they quoted me about $10,000 for the repair. I am looking at more options close by.Not serviced or poorly serviced with wrong oil.
At the point you describe with slack in the drive and cam timing sensor issues it does sound a little timing chain like but I'd defo do an oil and filter change for starters.
Any more clues how it started etc
Good luck to you.
aadil.1788 said:
Makes me wish I was living in UK, unfortunately i am located in USA.
I would still try a phone call/email. I live in Italy and couple years back I had a question on a weird rattle coming from the exhaust. I sent them an audio clip and they gladly & quickly gave me their opinion even if it was pretty clear I would have never brought the car to them. Little did you know, they were also right, the exhaust was touching a heat shield under the car.Edited by EVR on Thursday 2nd September 16:31
P0022 is fully explained here in not too complicated jargon.
https://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/18/p0022-obd-ii-t...
https://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/18/p0022-obd-ii-t...
Thanks for all the responses, i will send out an email to Appleby's and hope they get back to me with an answer.
I did change the solenoid so it could very well be the cam phaser or the timing chain tensioner. However, with 46k miles on the clock i have my doubts that it could be the phaser. I think i read somewhere that AM used plastic tensioners on the 4.3 engine.
I am planning on working on it myself so that should be a fun project during the winter months here in Chicago.
I did change the solenoid so it could very well be the cam phaser or the timing chain tensioner. However, with 46k miles on the clock i have my doubts that it could be the phaser. I think i read somewhere that AM used plastic tensioners on the 4.3 engine.
I am planning on working on it myself so that should be a fun project during the winter months here in Chicago.
leman600 said:
Has anyone on here had a timing chain fitted and if so how much?
I think it's engine out but the figure quoted seems excessive.
It can be done with the engine in the car but the subframe needs to be removed. I found this article i plan on using for reference.I think it's engine out but the figure quoted seems excessive.
https://bernardembden.com/am/timingcover/index.htm
Hi there, @aadil.1788, I seem to be experiencing a very similar issue with my vantage v8. Have a bunch of CELs: P0016, P0018, P0022, P0300, P0302, P0308, P0316. Were you able to solve your issue? If so, could you share your knowledge as I’ve seem to have hit a roadblock here. Thank you!
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