DBS2019 powered armrest storage box with flat battery
Discussion
Noobie here so apologies if this is has been answered elsewhere already (I did search extensively...)
DBS Superleggera 2019. Flat battery after suboptimal winter storage.
I'm using the mechanical emergency key to open the door - but how do I open the cover of the powered armrest storage box which houses the emergency ignition slot? With a flat battery, the electric cover does not move...?
Also - can the boot lid be opened when the battery is flat?
The manual offers no help - and AM Recovery refuse to help on the phone, instead suggesting to send a mechanic around at an extortionate cost.
Many thanks in advance
(Note: I know how to open the bonnet and jump start / charge the battery - but the question is relevant for a situation without an alternate power source)
DBS Superleggera 2019. Flat battery after suboptimal winter storage.
I'm using the mechanical emergency key to open the door - but how do I open the cover of the powered armrest storage box which houses the emergency ignition slot? With a flat battery, the electric cover does not move...?
Also - can the boot lid be opened when the battery is flat?
The manual offers no help - and AM Recovery refuse to help on the phone, instead suggesting to send a mechanic around at an extortionate cost.
Many thanks in advance
(Note: I know how to open the bonnet and jump start / charge the battery - but the question is relevant for a situation without an alternate power source)
Edited by Nordicbynature on Thursday 9th March 14:11
Nordicbynature said:
DBS Superleggera 2019. Flat battery after suboptimal winter storage.
I'm using the mechanical emergency key to open the door - but how do I open the cover of the powered armrest storage box which houses the emergency ignition slot? With a flat battery, the electric cover does not move...?
I dont think you can move the cover manually. But with a flat battery you wont be able to start the car anyway, so bit of a moot point.I'm using the mechanical emergency key to open the door - but how do I open the cover of the powered armrest storage box which houses the emergency ignition slot? With a flat battery, the electric cover does not move...?
Nordicbynature said:
Also - can the boot lid be opened when the battery is flat?
Yes, but only from inside the boot itself (Mr White failed to do so)Gotta love modern car tech !
I would call an AM dealer's service department and ask them. Failing that it seems the only option is to put the battery on charge via the engine bay.
pschlute said:
Gotta love modern car tech !
Thank you for the notes - and yes gotta love it indeed...! So I've now recharged the battery to 80-100% but the locks do not respond to the key. When pressing the ignition button, the display is telling me to insert the key - but the armrest storage cover still won't move!
It's like being in a Monty Python sketch.
I wonder if the system has some kind of auto-shutdown function, requiring a "full reset"?
Any suggestions welcome!
I will call the dealership tomorrow but there's something special about asking the AM community for help...
pschlute said:
If you are sure the battery has a good charge then do a battery reset. There should be a button somewhere. I knew where it was in my DB9 but have no idea on my DB11
That's an excellent idea. I don't know if there is such a button but I'll disconnect the battery entirely and see if that "clears" the computer memory. I should have thought of that, it's basically the same as hard resetting a PC.Will report back.
Interim update. I got 90% there.
First off, I'm pretty sure there is no "battery reset" button in the DBS Superleggera. I found references to one in DB9s but nothing after that.
Secondly. The battery sits somewhere behind/under the backseats and having ripped one of the leather panels off, I chickened out and decided that the cosmetic damage I would probably inflict on my midlife crisis toy is not worth incurring for the sake saving the cost of a £318 engineer visit.
i don't give up easily though and having enjoyed a glass of merlot and the midnight hour inching closer, I found the energy to climb back in and look for a way to access the emergency ignition slot in the armrest storage box.
Turns out the heavy leather cover comes off with a forceful yank and a couple of carefully chosen expletives.
Imagine my joy seeing that ignition slot basking in the moonlight right in front of me. And the incremental joy once an old school turn of the key created that all too familiar engine startup roar.
So far so good.
I then proceeded to ponder the pros and cons of driving at speed with the passenger door open - since for some inexplicable reason the window would not move down (I originally got into the car using the emergency door lock and the window did not move down by the half inch it usual does) and therefore the door would not shut. A "window reset" (various references online) did not work either. Oddly enough, the driver door and window worked perfectly well so I suspected a fuse problem. But again, the fuse box is hidden behind some leather panels so I opted for a dilbertesque rebooting solution.
After three restarts and five minutes of listening to the beautiful hum of the V12, the passenger door came back online and worked as if nothing had happened.
That's the 90%. From what I can tell, the car is now in driveable condition. However. The keyless entry and ignition fail to operate. Dashboard displays a bright re "Key not detected" and none of the buttons on the key respond. It's as if the car has travelled back in time into the 00s (say, October 26th 2005) and become even more of a "driver's car". I have changed the battery on the key, tried the reserve key, stared at the key in an attempt to hypnotise it into submission...
I'm continuing my search for the truth.
(And for those who are concerned, the leather cover of the armrest storage box reattached quite nicely - it's a little loose now but that's barely noticeable.)
First off, I'm pretty sure there is no "battery reset" button in the DBS Superleggera. I found references to one in DB9s but nothing after that.
Secondly. The battery sits somewhere behind/under the backseats and having ripped one of the leather panels off, I chickened out and decided that the cosmetic damage I would probably inflict on my midlife crisis toy is not worth incurring for the sake saving the cost of a £318 engineer visit.
i don't give up easily though and having enjoyed a glass of merlot and the midnight hour inching closer, I found the energy to climb back in and look for a way to access the emergency ignition slot in the armrest storage box.
Turns out the heavy leather cover comes off with a forceful yank and a couple of carefully chosen expletives.
Imagine my joy seeing that ignition slot basking in the moonlight right in front of me. And the incremental joy once an old school turn of the key created that all too familiar engine startup roar.
So far so good.
I then proceeded to ponder the pros and cons of driving at speed with the passenger door open - since for some inexplicable reason the window would not move down (I originally got into the car using the emergency door lock and the window did not move down by the half inch it usual does) and therefore the door would not shut. A "window reset" (various references online) did not work either. Oddly enough, the driver door and window worked perfectly well so I suspected a fuse problem. But again, the fuse box is hidden behind some leather panels so I opted for a dilbertesque rebooting solution.
After three restarts and five minutes of listening to the beautiful hum of the V12, the passenger door came back online and worked as if nothing had happened.
That's the 90%. From what I can tell, the car is now in driveable condition. However. The keyless entry and ignition fail to operate. Dashboard displays a bright re "Key not detected" and none of the buttons on the key respond. It's as if the car has travelled back in time into the 00s (say, October 26th 2005) and become even more of a "driver's car". I have changed the battery on the key, tried the reserve key, stared at the key in an attempt to hypnotise it into submission...
I'm continuing my search for the truth.
(And for those who are concerned, the leather cover of the armrest storage box reattached quite nicely - it's a little loose now but that's barely noticeable.)
As a DB9 (2008MY) owner, can relate to your experience as I never understood why gloveboxes or armrests need to be electrically operated. I am sure a manual usage would not be considered by potential buyers as a definite nono for a purchase....
Same can be said about all the unnecessary digital functions now in 2023 launched cars of most brands... . For good practices, go back to the drawing board and use a dacia as example of functionality... :-)
Same can be said about all the unnecessary digital functions now in 2023 launched cars of most brands... . For good practices, go back to the drawing board and use a dacia as example of functionality... :-)
kevin_cambs_uk said:
I don’t have the answer but what a mess for such an
expensive car
But good on you for getting this far, I think I would have given up!!!
Hopefully it will sort itself out
Best wishes
Kev
Cheers Kev,expensive car
But good on you for getting this far, I think I would have given up!!!
Hopefully it will sort itself out
Best wishes
Kev
Agreed, there should be an easier way to sort this out... Admittedly, I could just pay AM to come and fix it or call my dealer and get some help but the caveman in me insists on fixing it myself!
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