Aston Martin DB11 Poor Design
Discussion
I am the unfortunate owner of an Aston Martin DB11 that is now a year over its warranty period. Having Jaguars cars as well I think I’m in a position to say the only real benefit of the DB11 is its ability to turn heads. All cars have their problems but the DB11’s poor attention to detail by the designers added to, by the Mercedes retched menu driven systems leaves a great deal to be desired from such a famous, expensive and revered marque. The subject of a soon to be released YouTube video I’m making is the lamentable exclusion of an emergency boot opening mechanism in the car interior. On imminent departure on holiday, I was surprised that the boot would not open off the key fob even more disconcerting and annoying was that the boot would not open with the driver’s door button alternative. On telephoning the A.M dealership I was told that I would have to take the car in as the faulty boot latch could only be released from inside the boot and that required the rear leather seats, interiors and stereo removing which was as they put it ‘’very time consuming and required special tools’’. On asking which fuse controlled the latch I was informed that it was doubtful that was the problem but I insisted in knowing the fuse location and number and was told it was in the owner’s handbook which (are you ready?!) was in the boot together with the towing hook, tyre pump etc. I asked what would be the situation if I was at an international airport ready for departure with luggage and documents in the boot. Same answer BRING IT IN! Whilst on holiday I removed all the rear interiors taking necessary videos of the events and managed to pull the emergency lever with the aid of a wire coat hanger , torch and an old plastic bottle to hold the parcel shelf up sufficiently for me to get my arm under.
I have now modified the car making a slit in the boot roof under the parcel shelf and attaching a tape to the emergency boot release handle exiting inside the vehicle through the rear seat restraint pocket. Not pretty but practical should the mechanism fail again. I managed to open the offending boot catch and mend the electronics which at least save many hundreds of pounds.
I have now modified the car making a slit in the boot roof under the parcel shelf and attaching a tape to the emergency boot release handle exiting inside the vehicle through the rear seat restraint pocket. Not pretty but practical should the mechanism fail again. I managed to open the offending boot catch and mend the electronics which at least save many hundreds of pounds.
Foundryman said:
On asking which fuse controlled the latch I was informed that it was doubtful that was the problem but I insisted in knowing the fuse location and number and was told it was in the owner’s handbook...
I note that they didn't tell you the fuse location or number, which they must have known.It sounds like a fine cock-up of design, not thought through, and well done for persevering and finding a DIY fix.
Jon39 said:
Just had a thought.
Could we attach a cord to the emergency release and route it through to the car interior.
If later the boot will not open, then seek the end of the cord and pull.
Would that work ?
Depending on the angle of pull, I don't see why not. A bellcrank will change angle of pull if needed.Could we attach a cord to the emergency release and route it through to the car interior.
If later the boot will not open, then seek the end of the cord and pull.
Would that work ?
But that's old tech and far too simple. You should use a Raspberry Pi, a 5G internet connection, some apps, a doppler shift inverter and solder.
Very annoying and worrying especially if you were at the airport, as you say!
But that's old tech and far too simple. You should use a Raspberry Pi, a 5G internet connection, some apps, a doppler shift inverter and solder.
Just a thought - where's the battery located that supports the electronics for this emergency access?
But yes, there should be an emergency release elsewhere in the car. Seems like an oversight. I've discovered there's a cable in the Sheddy TT hidden inside the "transmission tunnel" (there's a hatch you can lift) which is handy as there's no other way to open the boot if the electronics fail (no lock, no button on the outside).
Simpo Two said:
Jon39 said:
Just had a thought.
Could we attach a cord to the emergency release and route it through to the car interior.
If later the boot will not open, then seek the end of the cord and pull.
Would that work ?
Depending on the angle of pull, I don't see why not. A bellcrank will change angle of pull if needed.Could we attach a cord to the emergency release and route it through to the car interior.
If later the boot will not open, then seek the end of the cord and pull.
Would that work ?
But that's old tech and far too simple. You should use a Raspberry Pi, a 5G internet connection, some apps, a doppler shift inverter and solder.
Just a thought - where's the battery located that supports the electronics for this emergency access?
But yes, there should be an emergency release elsewhere in the car. Seems like an oversight. I've discovered there's a cable in the Sheddy TT hidden inside the "transmission tunnel" (there's a hatch you can lift) which is handy as there's no other way to open the boot if the electronics fail (no lock, no button on the outside).
Edited by Hoofy on Friday 6th October 10:29
Hoofy said:
Just a thought - where's the battery located that supports the electronics for this emergency access?
In the trailer behind, of course.pschlute said:
You should all do what I do and make your butler sleep in the boot.
Sorted.
The problem is that my butler, Diddit, is 6'6" and won't fit.Sorted.
Though more seriously, it seems the DB9 has exactly the same issue
WhiskyDisco said:
Jaguar, with the XK hid a boot lock behind the rear number plate. Essential to gain access to the flat battery also in the boot. A simple solution - why didn't Aston go for it?
Perhaps Aston didn't do it because the battery is under the back seat, but it's still a bad oversight.Foundryman said:
I am the unfortunate owner of an Aston Martin DB11 that is now a year over its warranty period. Having Jaguars cars as well I think I’m in a position to say the only real benefit of the DB11 is its ability to turn heads. All cars have their problems but the DB11’s poor attention to detail by the designers added to, by the Mercedes retched menu driven systems leaves a great deal to be desired from such a famous, expensive and revered marque. The subject of a soon to be released YouTube video I’m making is the lamentable exclusion of an emergency boot opening mechanism in the car interior. On imminent departure on holiday, I was surprised that the boot would not open off the key fob even more disconcerting and annoying was that the boot would not open with the driver’s door button alternative. On telephoning the A.M dealership I was told that I would have to take the car in as the faulty boot latch could only be released from inside the boot and that required the rear leather seats, interiors and stereo removing which was as they put it ‘’very time consuming and required special tools’’. On asking which fuse controlled the latch I was informed that it was doubtful that was the problem but I insisted in knowing the fuse location and number and was told it was in the owner’s handbook which (are you ready?!) was in the boot together with the towing hook, tyre pump etc. I asked what would be the situation if I was at an international airport ready for departure with luggage and documents in the boot. Same answer BRING IT IN! Whilst on holiday I removed all the rear interiors taking necessary videos of the events and managed to pull the emergency lever with the aid of a wire coat hanger , torch and an old plastic bottle to hold the parcel shelf up sufficiently for me to get my arm under.
I have now modified the car making a slit in the boot roof under the parcel shelf and attaching a tape to the emergency boot release handle exiting inside the vehicle through the rear seat restraint pocket. Not pretty but practical should the mechanism fail again. I managed to open the offending boot catch and mend the electronics which at least save many hundreds of pounds.
There is a known condition for Vanquish, that I suspect may be relevant here, in which the emergency boot release handle can be slightly pulled by luggage (but not enough to actually unlock the boot) and prevent the operation of the electronic releases. It happened to mine. I have now modified the car making a slit in the boot roof under the parcel shelf and attaching a tape to the emergency boot release handle exiting inside the vehicle through the rear seat restraint pocket. Not pretty but practical should the mechanism fail again. I managed to open the offending boot catch and mend the electronics which at least save many hundreds of pounds.
The solution is often simple: drive enthusiastically for a short distance to slightly reposition the luggage, the handle returns to normal. and the boot can be unlocked from the button.
The long term fix is even simpler: gaffer tape the handle down so that it cannot be accidentally pulled by (or when loading) luggage.
Out of interest, what did you need to do to fix the electronics of the DB11 boot release?
Jon39 said:
LooneyTunes said:
Out of interest, what did you need to do to fix the electronics of the DB11 boot release?
Could there be a parallel here, with the infamous fuel filler cover problem?
Nothing wrong with the electronics, but a mechanical malady stops the filler cover rising up.
embdenb said:
Just as an FYI, the emergency release in the trunk is not designed to open the trunk if the trunk release does not work. It’s designed for someone trapped in the trunk to be able to get out.
Any self-respecting villain would disable the release before putting his hostage in the boot. And what kind of hostage would fit in an Aston boot? Ah yes, a very small one. So it's really only any use for pygmies in a high kidnap area.For every person that gets shut in an Aston boot there will be 1,000 who need to open the boot after the electrics have failed, so that's what should be planned for IMHO.
Simpo Two said:
Any self-respecting villain would disable the release before putting his hostage in the boot. And what kind of hostage would fit in an Aston boot? Ah yes, a very small one. So it's really only any use for pygmies in a high kidnap area.
For every person that gets shut in an Aston boot there will be 1,000 who need to open the boot after the electrics have failed, so that's what should be planned for IMHO.
For every person that gets shut in an Aston boot there will be 1,000 who need to open the boot after the electrics have failed, so that's what should be planned for IMHO.
Was there a regulation introduced in the early 2000s, requiring manufacturers to fit those internal boot releases?
My trusty 23 year old Mercedes Coupe does not have an internal boot release.
It can be opened electronically, or with a conventional manual external release button.
If there were to be a hostage in the boot, they would be able to pull the levers to release the fold down rear seat backs and escape.
If for some reason the boot lid would not open, a hostage already in the boot would be handy, because the folding rear seat backs can only be released from within the boot.
The boot release has never yet failed though, so no problem anyway after 23 years of use.
Wonder why the AM failures occur ?
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