Scraping noise when shifting cold from 1st to 2nd gear
Discussion
When shifting from 1st to 2nd gear after cold start in my 17MY V8 Vantage S Manual I get a scraping or grinding noise from the gearbox – and this is by pulling the gearlever very gently and slowly backwards. If I didn´t handle it gently and slowly, I would even get a loud crunching shift noise that startled me when I first experienced it.
It takes about 15 minutes or so until the gearbox has warmed up and shifting from 1st to 2nd gear can be handled swiftly and without ugly noises.
The scraping noise/feel had only been a light one during the first drives, but after the position of the gearlever had been optimized during the first service in August to better find the 3rd gear slot when upshifting from 2nd, I have the impression that the cold shifting problem from 1st to 2nd has deteriorated correspondingly. Is this technically possible or am I making this up?
Do I need to accept these gearbox noises in general or what could/should be done under warranty when the car will be in service again next summer? Is it a case of “They all do that, Sir!”? I hadn´t spoken to my main dealer about it as we had other issues to discuss (eg. grinding transmission noise from the propshaft).
I would appreciate your experiences!
It takes about 15 minutes or so until the gearbox has warmed up and shifting from 1st to 2nd gear can be handled swiftly and without ugly noises.
The scraping noise/feel had only been a light one during the first drives, but after the position of the gearlever had been optimized during the first service in August to better find the 3rd gear slot when upshifting from 2nd, I have the impression that the cold shifting problem from 1st to 2nd has deteriorated correspondingly. Is this technically possible or am I making this up?
Do I need to accept these gearbox noises in general or what could/should be done under warranty when the car will be in service again next summer? Is it a case of “They all do that, Sir!”? I hadn´t spoken to my main dealer about it as we had other issues to discuss (eg. grinding transmission noise from the propshaft).
I would appreciate your experiences!
Current mileage: 369km (hibernated now).
Yes, I am aware that on early modelyear Vantage cars it seems to have been difficult to get into 2nd gear when cold. As far as I am informed there had been a service bulletin about this problem consisting of transaxle oil change and a hardware modification (different shift-fork).
But I hadn´t read about scraping/crunching noises on such cars and I should think that the old service bulletin had long become part of the permanent model upgrading. So I cannot imagine that the solution on my much younger car will be a mere transaxle oil change?
Indeed I am very much afraid that the whole gearbox might have to be swapped.
When I first experienced an audible shift crunch my first thought was that I hadn´t fully depressed the clutch pedal. But ever since I really concentrated on the clutch pedal action in cold condition but that obviously isn´t the cause.
Yes, I am aware that on early modelyear Vantage cars it seems to have been difficult to get into 2nd gear when cold. As far as I am informed there had been a service bulletin about this problem consisting of transaxle oil change and a hardware modification (different shift-fork).
But I hadn´t read about scraping/crunching noises on such cars and I should think that the old service bulletin had long become part of the permanent model upgrading. So I cannot imagine that the solution on my much younger car will be a mere transaxle oil change?
Indeed I am very much afraid that the whole gearbox might have to be swapped.
When I first experienced an audible shift crunch my first thought was that I hadn´t fully depressed the clutch pedal. But ever since I really concentrated on the clutch pedal action in cold condition but that obviously isn´t the cause.
Thanks for the answers so far.
@ripley500 and bogie: At least it seems I am not the ONLY one experiencing this problem. But I am astonished that not more owners speak out? Is it that rare?
When I got the car I used to think the scraping noise might be normal since I had read about the cold start shifting problems on early cars. But now it becomes clear to me that my problem is like the other way round: When cold I have little trouble upshifting into 2nd gear; I dont´t need much force. But I do have to be VERY careful with the gearlever not to produce a loud crunching noise.
I am anticipating another long workshop stay next summer. I wonder how AML will react.
@ripley500 and bogie: At least it seems I am not the ONLY one experiencing this problem. But I am astonished that not more owners speak out? Is it that rare?
When I got the car I used to think the scraping noise might be normal since I had read about the cold start shifting problems on early cars. But now it becomes clear to me that my problem is like the other way round: When cold I have little trouble upshifting into 2nd gear; I dont´t need much force. But I do have to be VERY careful with the gearlever not to produce a loud crunching noise.
4x4sche said:
The solution is that once you have started the car (with the clutch depressed) before you set off, place the gearbox in neutral (if not already) and let the clutch out. Just let the engine idle for 15 to 30 seconds and the gears will splash the oil around and the oil will be distributed to all the right places.
Sorry, but this is standard operating procedure with a leisure car, isn´t it? I am simply not able to drive off straight away like with my everyday car as the Aston is stored in a special garage and needs to wait for the car lift and will be checked etc. So there is plenty of engine idling anyway - five minutes minimum. This obviously is not the answer.I am anticipating another long workshop stay next summer. I wonder how AML will react.
hueyhoolihan said:
i've got the same problem on my 2007 AM vantage v8 with 14,000 miles. the gears grind on 1st to 2nd gear shift on a cold engine (even with a bit of idling beforehand). it goes away in about a five miles of driving. ambient temps anywhere from 40 to 60 degrees F.
think i'll have the gear oil changed.
Worth trying. In case the car hadn´t got the Service Bulletin 0236 (Castrol BOT270A and/or revised gear selector bell crank lever) the transaxle oil should certainly be changed, but you probably know this already. If not: http://bernardembden.com/am/transaxle/index.htmthink i'll have the gear oil changed.
There is another workaround "makeshift solution" that might perhaps help (needed some very long digging in the PH vaults to find out about this): Before rolling off shift through all the gears 1-2-3-4-5-6 and back a few times thus shearing the cold transmission oil. Worked 100% in my case when I tried it - astonishing. "Aston"-ishing also that the crunching noise in my case suddenly disappeared out of nowhere just before last year´s annual service date at the main dealer
leaving no ground to demand a gearbox change under warranty. I just hope it will stay away in the future, too (if the car ever drives again, that is, facing the current crisis and the looming financial consequences).
Embarrassing to own a performance car and not to know basic driving techniques. 
First short drive today after almost seven months and indeed: No scraping or crunching at all on first (slow) shift into 2nd gear (as a precaution I had shifted through all gears before rolling off). The problem seems to have vanished. Still not the best gearbox/transmission in the world I would say, but probably as nice and smooth now as the six speed manual gets. Happy owner 
Astounding how well the car seems to take the long standing time. Nothing to report but instant and smooth re-awakening and drive. Beautiful.
Astounding how well the car seems to take the long standing time. Nothing to report but instant and smooth re-awakening and drive. Beautiful.
Thread revival out of interest because of the latest Bamford Rose video exhibiting the exact problem that I had described:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urUgNXOUeVw
Interestingly the car in the video is also a MY16 onwards Manual with no trouble at all getting into second gear when cold - but sadly with a scraping noise.
After ca. 1,000 km the problem had vanished on mine (if shifting slowly) and my personal advice for this owner would be to try to shift forwards and backwards through all the gears before rolling off cold. Worked wonders on mine (although I don´t really need to do it anymore). Good luck to him and thanks for making this public!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urUgNXOUeVw
Interestingly the car in the video is also a MY16 onwards Manual with no trouble at all getting into second gear when cold - but sadly with a scraping noise.
After ca. 1,000 km the problem had vanished on mine (if shifting slowly) and my personal advice for this owner would be to try to shift forwards and backwards through all the gears before rolling off cold. Worked wonders on mine (although I don´t really need to do it anymore). Good luck to him and thanks for making this public!
Additional and summarizing comment from Mike Beake on how common or uncommon the 2nd gear crunch is from 14.01 min. onwards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfm-AOqC8zg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfm-AOqC8zg
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