V8 Vantage dodgy buttons
Discussion
Hi All
After a bit of advice, collected my first Aston on Saturday, a 2007 V8 Vantage Convertible with 44,000 miles on the clock. Not relevant to my query but swapped a 2013 981 Boxster for it.
I'm blown away by the car, great fun, feels so much more of an event than the Porsche, although, as expected dynamically not nearly as good in some respects.
The issue I am having is some of my dash switches are a bit hit and miss. The map reading light switches, particularly the drives side are on about a 30% success rate.
The menu and back switches on the stereo are not as bad but still don't work first time every time and the TP1/TP2 and Read switches on the Nav side are nigh on useless. It took me 20 minutes of fiddling last night to get the display to switch between trip meters and reset them both.
So I suppose my question is, is this a known fault and is there a fix.
After a bit of advice, collected my first Aston on Saturday, a 2007 V8 Vantage Convertible with 44,000 miles on the clock. Not relevant to my query but swapped a 2013 981 Boxster for it.
I'm blown away by the car, great fun, feels so much more of an event than the Porsche, although, as expected dynamically not nearly as good in some respects.
The issue I am having is some of my dash switches are a bit hit and miss. The map reading light switches, particularly the drives side are on about a 30% success rate.
The menu and back switches on the stereo are not as bad but still don't work first time every time and the TP1/TP2 and Read switches on the Nav side are nigh on useless. It took me 20 minutes of fiddling last night to get the display to switch between trip meters and reset them both.
So I suppose my question is, is this a known fault and is there a fix.
Welcome to this forum TONKA2 and to the world of Aston Martin.
Glad that your first overall impressions are positive.
I have not seen mention of those faults on here before, so it cannot be a common problem.
Perhaps someone might be able to comment.
If bought from a motor trader, then expect you will be reporting the faults, otherwise there are quite a few independent specialists who should be able to solve the problem.
Welcome Tonka - FYI, that warm glow of being an Aston owner doesn’t fade, even when the inevitable bill happens….
I agree about the buttons, especially the T1 / T2 toggle. It’s difficult to press in it just the right place to switch between the two, and holding it down for long enough to reset the trip is a pain in thearse finger…..
I agree about the buttons, especially the T1 / T2 toggle. It’s difficult to press in it just the right place to switch between the two, and holding it down for long enough to reset the trip is a pain in the
Nigel_O said:
... the T1 / T2 toggle. ... and holding it down for long enough to reset the trip is a pain ..
My assumption is, the designer decided to make sure the trip mileage was not accidentally lost, through mistakenly pressing the wrong button.
But you all knew that anyway.
Hope everyone is well. Quite lazy getting up this morning and soon it will be time to have a rest, with a cup of coffee and perhaps a nibble treat. Work to do, but that can wait sometimes.
TONKA2 said:
So just a case of "they all do that sir" rather than something I need to be concerned about?
My only suggestion is to meet up with a few other owners and try the buttons in their cars (unless you've already done this). Then make up your mind if it's a TADTS issue.The buttons are quite small and so the perceived force is quite high due to the small area of the finger actually doing the pressing - a triumph of design over function. The "reset" on the trip is always going to be more awkward and long as a momentary push changes from T1 to T2, so the system has been designed to make sure it knows you really do want to reset the trip.
I had part of the centre stack replaced on my '15 V8V as the joystick made intermittent contact in one direction and it became almost impossible to scroll the menus, but the buttons all seem fine on mine.
Don't know if there is any truth to it, but I was told never to spray cleaner on the centre stack, as it can get behind the buttons and affect stuff. I always just use a dry duster or spray a teeny amount of cleaner onto a cloth before wiping. Maybe a valeter just went nuts with the gloop?
andymadmak said:
Don't know if there is any truth to it, but I was told never to spray cleaner on the centre stack, as it can get behind the buttons and affect stuff. I always just use a dry duster or spray a teeny amount of cleaner onto a cloth before wiping. Maybe a valeter just went nuts with the gloop?
I suspect this is what happens over time and with that being the case I decided to buy one of those little compressed aerosols you can get for cleaning computer keyboards and have a bit of a blow around behind the buttons.Its not perfect but it has definitely improved things. Now onto my next dilemma, whilst doing this I have discovered my CD player doesn't work, I also appear to have an autochanger full of discs that I cant get out.
just whip off the top waterfall (5min job) then remove the lower part of the waterfall to get access. The lower bit is a little more involved but still easy enough, you have to remove the stuff in top of the transmission tunnel to pull it out. Start with the trinket tray behind the armrest, lift out the piece of leather trim and remove it’s fixing screw, all else follows from there. You can probably find a ‘how to’ online or in the sticky section.
it’s a 17yr old Aston that you haven’t owned the last 17yr, you should prepare yourself to ‘get to know it’….
Don’t worry, PH will be your friend.
it’s a 17yr old Aston that you haven’t owned the last 17yr, you should prepare yourself to ‘get to know it’….
Don’t worry, PH will be your friend.
Calinours said:
just whip off the top waterfall (5min job) then remove the lower part of the waterfall to get access. The lower bit is a little more involved but still easy enough, you have to remove the stuff in top of the transmission tunnel to pull it out. Start with the trinket tray behind the armrest, lift out the piece of leather trim and remove it’s fixing screw, all else follows from there. You can probably find a ‘how to’ online or in the sticky section.
it’s a 17yr old Aston that you haven’t owned the last 17yr, you should prepare yourself to ‘get to know it’….
Don’t worry, PH will be your friend.
Thanks for the advice. After a succession of "bespoke" (rubbish) British sportscars over the years I am more than prepared to 'get to know' my Vantage!it’s a 17yr old Aston that you haven’t owned the last 17yr, you should prepare yourself to ‘get to know it’….
Don’t worry, PH will be your friend.
More than happy to get my hands grubby, I actually missed not having to do anything in my time with the Porsche,
Im sure it cant be as challenging as a 27 year old M100 Lotus Elan restoration or a sight unseen Pilgrim Sumo Cobra replica. I survived both of those with a smile on my face! Just gives me something interesting to do of an evening again now.
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