I was trying to learn more about the specifics of my DB9, what options it was ordered with and things like that. When I purchased the car used I got almost no paperwork. The Holy Grail would be an original factory window sticker, original dealer invoice or a factory build sheet. I reached out to my local dealer first, but thought I would try the helpful folks at the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) that oversee the records for all the vintage models. Continue reading “Contacting the AMHT for information about your Aston Martin DB9”
Month: May 2016
OBDII P Codes on an Aston Martin DB9
While servicing your DB9 you might run into a situation where your dash display or OBDII reader shows you an error message in the form of a cryptic P code like P1488, setting the stage for an ominous visit to your local dealer and the commensurate drain on your bank account. Without any reference, your tendency might be to stick your head in the sand and just drive on risking damage to the car. In this post I wanted to publish a list of all the P codes I could find so that it might help steer you in the right direction to taking care of the issue yourself.
Some P codes are innocuous. For example, P1488 [Exhaust (muffler) Bypass Control Circuit] is logged if you pull the famous Fuse 22 to uncork your exhaust. The car knows Fuse 22 is pulled, makes a note of it, but doesn’t set off the idiot light (Malfunction Indicator Lamp or MIL). If you find this code and you have pulled your fuse, you can just ignore it.
Aston Martin Diagnostic Manual
I have gathered the list below from a preliminary publication of the Aston Martin Factory “OBD II Diagnostic Manual” published in April 2004. The publication is a great resource, and has a tremendous amount of detail about each P Code, and other theory about the cars operation and diagnostics. 356 pages of technical details and some very helpful diagrams. Being that it was a preliminary publication it’s a good starting point for the early cars (MY 04/05/06), but I am certain that as the DB9 was developed more codes were added and this list is incomplete. The official place to get the P codes explained is on the Aston Martin Technical Information Website (which I have covered in another blog post). What I dislike about the format on the website is that the codes aren’t in a single document anymore, but rather each has its own web page section. This makes a lot of sense for Aston Martin (alleviates the need to keep a large complicated document up to date), but for us DIY repair guys without an expensive $2,600 annual subscription to the website it’s a handicap. So, I would recommend that if you find the P code you are experiencing in the list below just check out the PDF. If the P code you have isn’t listed, perhaps spend the $100 for a one day subscription to the website and look up the code you have (and maybe send me the details or your code and a PDF print of what was on the website about it). Or succumb, and take your car into the dealership. Continue reading “OBDII P Codes on an Aston Martin DB9”
Installing the Glove Box and Surrounding Panel on an Aston Martin DB9
If you’ve had to remove the Glove Box and Surrounding Panel on your DB9 as part of some other service event (such as changing your cabin air filters) you eventually need to reinstall it. The process isn’t difficult and will only take about 5 minutes once you see how, but there is a little finesse required to get it put back together just right, and I wanted to share that with you here. Continue reading “Installing the Glove Box and Surrounding Panel on an Aston Martin DB9”
A Better Replacement Cabin Air Filter for an Aston Martin DB9
As part of my 2 year/20,000 mile service I was performing on my DB9 it was required to replace the cabin air/pollen filters. I instinctively ordered a set of factory replacement filters, but stumbled across a forum post that suggested that the air filters in our beloved DB9 weren’t bespoke items, and were actually filters designed for a Mazda RX-8 and MPV minivan! Continue reading “A Better Replacement Cabin Air Filter for an Aston Martin DB9”
Changing the Cabin Air Filters on an Aston Martin DB9
If you are doing your own 2 year/20,000 mile service on your DB9, one of the required service items is to change your cabin pollen filters. Like anything on a DB9 this isn’t particularly simple, but can be done by just about anyone. The process will take about 5 minutes once you see how.
Parts Needed
You will need a pair of replacement filter elements. You can either purchase new filters from Aston Martin, or consider upgrading to aftermarket ATP Activated Carbon Air Filters that will add the benefit of odor removal as well as being better at pollen and dust removal. I have another blog post on just this topic, and it have all the details on both the factory and aftermarket parts, so check it out. Continue reading “Changing the Cabin Air Filters on an Aston Martin DB9”
Removing the Glove Box and Surrounding Panel on an Aston Martin DB9
There may be a few reasons that you need to remove the Glove Box and surrounding dash panels on your DB9, but the most likely is that you are trying to change the Cabin Air Filters as part of a 2 year / 20,000 mile service and this step is necessary to access the filters.
The process is not difficult once you see how it’s done, and I encourage you to watch the short video below to bolster your confidence before you start reefing on panels willy-nilly. I know I wish there was a video when I started on this. Some of my background came from this AMOC post. Continue reading “Removing the Glove Box and Surrounding Panel on an Aston Martin DB9”
Aston 1936 