Category: Commentary

Thank You!

On By Steve McEvoyIn Commentary1 Comment

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you out there, the readers of this website.   There is an overwhelming positive feedback that comes from you in comments on articles, YouTube videos and via the Contact page.  I try to respond when I can.   I always love to see pics of your cars and hear about your own repair adventures.

I’d like to send out a special thanks to Michael Crowther that was kind enough to buy me a Whiskey.   Mike used the ‘Donate’ page on the site and got me a bottle of MacAllan 18.   Yum!   Although Mike wasn’t here to share a dram with me, it was a good chance for me to also thank my cameraman Rob. Continue reading “Thank You!” →

Understanding the SmarTire TPMS System in an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary13 Comments
SmarTire Controller

When I purchased my DB9 used and was doing the initial walkaround, I opened the trunk and asked the sales rep “What’s this thing with all the LEDs?”.   It wasn’t a main dealer, and the rep didn’t know.    I figure there might be other owners out there that don’t know what it is, or what all the LEDs mean.  Let me explain…. Continue reading “Understanding the SmarTire TPMS System in an Aston Martin DB9 or Vantage” →

Dyno Testing Results After Installing a Airbox Delete Kit in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary1 Comment
Airbox Delete Kit Installed

I am in the process of evaluating several ‘bolt on’ performance changes for my DB9.  Ultimately I am hoping to achieve power levels similar to a DBS (they are essentially just the same engine).  In this article I am testing the changes that come with fitting a Velocity AP GT4 Airbox Delete Kit (check out my other article on how to fit one).  This is a popular modification that promises less weight and better breathing to make more power.  Its that last claim we are testing here. Continue reading “Dyno Testing Results After Installing a Airbox Delete Kit in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Dyno Testing a Stock Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, CommentaryLeave a comment

How much power does my 2005 Aston Martin DB9 really make?   It certainly makes ‘enough’ – the car is not lacking for performance.  Lately I’ve been curious about a few ‘bolt on’ performance upgrades that I want to try out.  To know if they make any difference, I want to know the actual power my car make now that its 15 years old and has 44,000 miles on it.   I need a Baseline performance test. Continue reading “Dyno Testing a Stock Aston Martin DB9” →

Dyno Testing Results After Installing a Secondary CAT Delete Kits in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary1 Comment
Secondary CAT Delete Kit Installed

Power is like chocolate.  You could always use more even though you don’t need it.   I’ve been evaluating several ‘bolt on’ performance changes for my DB9, ultimately hoping to achieve power levels similar to a DBS (they are essentially just the same engine).  In this article I am testing the changes that come with fitting a Secondary CAT Delete Kit (SCDK or decat).  This is a popular modification that promises less weight, better sound and more performance.  Its that last claim we are testing here. Continue reading “Dyno Testing Results After Installing a Secondary CAT Delete Kits in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Exhaust Sound Change after Installing a Secondary CAT Delete Kit in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Commentary7 Comments
Secondary CAT in an Aston Martin DB9

I’ve been fiddling with my DB9 trying out several ‘Bolt On’ performance improvements.  One of them is a ‘Secondary Catalytic Converter Delete Kit’ (SCDK) which promises to:

  • Reduce weight (it does by about 8 pounds)
  • Increase Power (yet to be seen- Dyno test coming soon)
  • Improve the Sound

This article is all about the sound, and how it changes. Continue reading “Exhaust Sound Change after Installing a Secondary CAT Delete Kit in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Will an Aston Martin DB9 Pass California Emissions Testing After Installing a Secondary CAT Delete Kit?

On By Steve McEvoyIn Commentary6 Comments
Secondary Catalytic Converter

If you’ve been following this Blog recently you know I’ve been interested in testing several bolt on performance upgrades for my DB9.  One of those upgrades was a Secondary Cat Delete Kit (SCDK).   You can learn about how I installed it by checking out my other article here.   I wanted to learn if my car would still pass a stringent California Emissions SMOG test with an SCDK fitted.  Read on to find out if it did. Continue reading “Will an Aston Martin DB9 Pass California Emissions Testing After Installing a Secondary CAT Delete Kit?” →

Skid Plate Options for an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary, How To8 Comments

Creeping into driveways on the Diagonal

I’ve jacked up the paint on my Aston Martin DB9’s nose more times than I can remember.   Scraaaaaaape.   Speed bumps, drive way curbs, parking curbs, they are everywhere trying to scratch up the nose on my car.  After 6 years of year round daily driving, it didn’t look pretty.

At a visit a to my dealer I was talking to the Tim Lyons (master mechanic) and he told me he had NEVER seen a customer car that wasn’t scraped up underneath.   Made me feel a little better that is wasn’t just me.

My car was recently completely repainted and I now had the opportunity to do something to protect my perfect and virgin paint.  I set about finding a ‘skid plate’ solution to shield the nose of my car. Continue reading “Skid Plate Options for an Aston Martin DB9” →