Emission System message on V12 Vantage S
Discussion
I have just got the 'emission system service' message and warning light come on. It's the 3rd time this has happened since I got the car last August. It seems to be triggered by the battery charge dropping when the car's not used for 8-9 days.
Is this normal?
Also, the message doesn't clear when I charge the battery up to its optimum level, so I have to take the car back to the dealer each time. Again, is it normal for it not to clear whatever error it has?
The routine is getting a bit tiresome now. I can't always guarantee that I'll use the car every 7 days, and it's outside so can't be sat on a charger 24/7. Love the car, but starting to think it might not be a good fit for my usage.
Is this normal?
Also, the message doesn't clear when I charge the battery up to its optimum level, so I have to take the car back to the dealer each time. Again, is it normal for it not to clear whatever error it has?
The routine is getting a bit tiresome now. I can't always guarantee that I'll use the car every 7 days, and it's outside so can't be sat on a charger 24/7. Love the car, but starting to think it might not be a good fit for my usage.
Skrambles said:
I have just got the 'emission system service' message and warning light come on. It's the 3rd time this has happened since I got the car last August. It seems to be triggered by the battery charge dropping when the car's not used for 8-9 days.
Is this normal?
Also, the message doesn't clear when I charge the battery up to its optimum level, so I have to take the car back to the dealer each time. Again, is it normal for it not to clear whatever error it has?
The routine is getting a bit tiresome now. I can't always guarantee that I'll use the car every 7 days, and it's outside so can't be sat on a charger 24/7. Love the car, but starting to think it might not be a good fit for my usage.
Never experienced this with my V12 (2011 model) it often sat in the garage for a week or two! However, my first Vantage V8 (2006 model) had the issue a few times but always cleared itself. I now own a 2016 N430 and during last Septembers trip and this months trip to Scotland I experienced the issue a few times and in all cases it cleared itself and I put it down to possible bad/old batch of fuel! The general advice I’ve seen is to go have a spirited drive and it’ll clear!Is this normal?
Also, the message doesn't clear when I charge the battery up to its optimum level, so I have to take the car back to the dealer each time. Again, is it normal for it not to clear whatever error it has?
The routine is getting a bit tiresome now. I can't always guarantee that I'll use the car every 7 days, and it's outside so can't be sat on a charger 24/7. Love the car, but starting to think it might not be a good fit for my usage.
I would either get an OBD reader (Amazon sell them) and check the error code or maybe have the dealer read the faults. It seems” emission service required” which does rather seem to be what could be called a “characteristic of owning an Aston!”
There’s lots about in various threads on here I expect.
No, it's not normal.
When you say "dealer", I assume you mean a main AML dealer? Because it seems to be odd to me that they'd keep handing the car back to you without at least analysing the fault.
Equally, I'd expect a VH Vantage to sit happily for at least a couple of weeks without a low battery causing fault codes - as long as the battery is healthy and the car doesn't have any electrical faults causing a higher-than-normal quiescent current drain. These cars were engineered to Ford standards and sold as cars suitable for day-to-day driving and living, not a fragile automotive confection that has to be wrapped in cotton wool and kept on a battery conditioner - even though that's how many owners treat them.
Do you know how old the battery is? I swapped my original battery for a new one at about 7 years old. The battery still started the car, never failed to crank and the car never threw spurious codes (although it did live on a battery conditioner when in the garage). But, knowing how sensitive these cars can be to a low battery voltage I had my dealer replace it as a precautionary measure. I can tell from the "condition" lights on my conditioner that, three years on, this new battery is much healthier than the old one was.
I believe one of the standard reasons for the emissions light is an O2 sensor failing. If you have one that's marginal, and the battery is also ailing, then a low battery voltage could cause the O2 sensor to throw a fault, which it doesn't when the battery is at full charge. Again, I'd expect an AML dealer with AMDS to be able to identify a faulty O2 sensor.
Assuming your battery is now a few years old, were I in your shoes the first thing I'd do is replace it. Then if the problem persists, take it to another dealer or specialist who has AMDS and have the emission system checked for poor O2 sensors - I think they are quite cheap (comparatively) and easy to swap.
When you say "dealer", I assume you mean a main AML dealer? Because it seems to be odd to me that they'd keep handing the car back to you without at least analysing the fault.
Equally, I'd expect a VH Vantage to sit happily for at least a couple of weeks without a low battery causing fault codes - as long as the battery is healthy and the car doesn't have any electrical faults causing a higher-than-normal quiescent current drain. These cars were engineered to Ford standards and sold as cars suitable for day-to-day driving and living, not a fragile automotive confection that has to be wrapped in cotton wool and kept on a battery conditioner - even though that's how many owners treat them.
Do you know how old the battery is? I swapped my original battery for a new one at about 7 years old. The battery still started the car, never failed to crank and the car never threw spurious codes (although it did live on a battery conditioner when in the garage). But, knowing how sensitive these cars can be to a low battery voltage I had my dealer replace it as a precautionary measure. I can tell from the "condition" lights on my conditioner that, three years on, this new battery is much healthier than the old one was.
I believe one of the standard reasons for the emissions light is an O2 sensor failing. If you have one that's marginal, and the battery is also ailing, then a low battery voltage could cause the O2 sensor to throw a fault, which it doesn't when the battery is at full charge. Again, I'd expect an AML dealer with AMDS to be able to identify a faulty O2 sensor.
Assuming your battery is now a few years old, were I in your shoes the first thing I'd do is replace it. Then if the problem persists, take it to another dealer or specialist who has AMDS and have the emission system checked for poor O2 sensors - I think they are quite cheap (comparatively) and easy to swap.
Mine does this from time to time. Less frequently since I changed the battery, but it still does it occasionally.
Views on what to do vary from nothing to something. The something varies considerably though and AFAIK no one has identified the true, repeatable cause.
For me (and others) the fault clears itself over a relatively short period.
Views on what to do vary from nothing to something. The something varies considerably though and AFAIK no one has identified the true, repeatable cause.
For me (and others) the fault clears itself over a relatively short period.
If the car is on a drive you can latch the boot and still plug the charger in or get an external magnetic charger connection especially if it s under a cover.
For the moment Iv been leaving my charger in the boot stored until the car is stored in a garage.
Also once the battery has been charged fully using a charger the car will usually last at least 2-3 weeks without needing a charge.
For the moment Iv been leaving my charger in the boot stored until the car is stored in a garage.
Also once the battery has been charged fully using a charger the car will usually last at least 2-3 weeks without needing a charge.
LTP said:
No, it's not normal.
When you say "dealer", I assume you mean a main AML dealer? Because it seems to be odd to me that they'd keep handing the car back to you without at least analysing the fault.
Equally, I'd expect a VH Vantage to sit happily for at least a couple of weeks without a low battery causing fault codes - as long as the battery is healthy and the car doesn't have any electrical faults causing a higher-than-normal quiescent current drain. These cars were engineered to Ford standards and sold as cars suitable for day-to-day driving and living, not a fragile automotive confection that has to be wrapped in cotton wool and kept on a battery conditioner - even though that's how many owners treat them.
Do you know how old the battery is? I swapped my original battery for a new one at about 7 years old. The battery still started the car, never failed to crank and the car never threw spurious codes (although it did live on a battery conditioner when in the garage). But, knowing how sensitive these cars can be to a low battery voltage I had my dealer replace it as a precautionary measure. I can tell from the "condition" lights on my conditioner that, three years on, this new battery is much healthier than the old one was.
I believe one of the standard reasons for the emissions light is an O2 sensor failing. If you have one that's marginal, and the battery is also ailing, then a low battery voltage could cause the O2 sensor to throw a fault, which it doesn't when the battery is at full charge. Again, I'd expect an AML dealer with AMDS to be able to identify a faulty O2 sensor.
Assuming your battery is now a few years old, were I in your shoes the first thing I'd do is replace it. Then if the problem persists, take it to another dealer or specialist who has AMDS and have the emission system checked for poor O2 sensors - I think they are quite cheap (comparatively) and easy to swap.
Thanks all for your replies.When you say "dealer", I assume you mean a main AML dealer? Because it seems to be odd to me that they'd keep handing the car back to you without at least analysing the fault.
Equally, I'd expect a VH Vantage to sit happily for at least a couple of weeks without a low battery causing fault codes - as long as the battery is healthy and the car doesn't have any electrical faults causing a higher-than-normal quiescent current drain. These cars were engineered to Ford standards and sold as cars suitable for day-to-day driving and living, not a fragile automotive confection that has to be wrapped in cotton wool and kept on a battery conditioner - even though that's how many owners treat them.
Do you know how old the battery is? I swapped my original battery for a new one at about 7 years old. The battery still started the car, never failed to crank and the car never threw spurious codes (although it did live on a battery conditioner when in the garage). But, knowing how sensitive these cars can be to a low battery voltage I had my dealer replace it as a precautionary measure. I can tell from the "condition" lights on my conditioner that, three years on, this new battery is much healthier than the old one was.
I believe one of the standard reasons for the emissions light is an O2 sensor failing. If you have one that's marginal, and the battery is also ailing, then a low battery voltage could cause the O2 sensor to throw a fault, which it doesn't when the battery is at full charge. Again, I'd expect an AML dealer with AMDS to be able to identify a faulty O2 sensor.
Assuming your battery is now a few years old, were I in your shoes the first thing I'd do is replace it. Then if the problem persists, take it to another dealer or specialist who has AMDS and have the emission system checked for poor O2 sensors - I think they are quite cheap (comparatively) and easy to swap.
Yes, I meant to say that I've taken it back to the service dept at the AM dealership that sold me the car. Very nice people to deal with, and they've told me it's probably just the battery charge dropping.
I don't know how old the battery is, but will ask about having it replaced and O2 sensors changed.
On one of the 3 occasions this has happened, I had left it connected to my Ctek (not something I'm keen on when it's sat outside)! Quite bizarre.
Will update when I know more about the issue with my car. Thanks again!
Skrambles said:
I don't know how old the battery is, but will ask about having it replaced and O2 sensors changed.
I wouldn't ask for the O2 sensors to be changed unless AMDS says they need it. If the MD says it may be battery charge then I'd definitely change that. Or, unless you're a contortionist dwarf with incredible upper body strength, get the MD to do it 
LTP said:
I wouldn't ask for the O2 sensors to be changed unless AMDS says they need it. If the MD says it may be battery charge then I'd definitely change that. Or, unless you're a contortionist dwarf with incredible upper body strength, get the MD to do it
I'll see what they say, and, I'm no contortionist, so definitely one for the service techs!Thanks again
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