Category: How To

Repairing the Failed Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9 or DBS

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To6 Comments
Sagging Headliner – Unhappy Owner

After 12 years of California sun and heat the headliner in my DB9 started to sag.   Specifically the glue between the beautiful Alcantara fabric and the molded headliner form failed, and this caused the fabric to release and sag down on the passengers heads.  I have an entire series of articles and videos dedicated to the steps to repair this issue (check it out here).  In this article I am going to focus on the actual repair of the headliner material, getting it glued back on to the form already removed from the car.
Continue reading “Repairing the Failed Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9 or DBS” →

Removing the Headliner from an Aston Martin DB9 or DBS

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To5 Comments

My DB9 developed a sagging headliner one hot summer California day.   The glue holding the beautiful Alcantara fabric to the Headliner form below let go, and the whole thing hangs sitting on your head.  Determined to fix it myself, I have put together a series of articles showing all the steps, and you can read that here.   This article is going to cover the satisfying step of finally removing the actual Headliner from the car. Continue reading “Removing the Headliner from an Aston Martin DB9 or DBS” →

Removing the A Pillar Interior Trim Cover (Cant Rail) from an Aston Martin DB9 or DBS

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To9 Comments

What the heck is an “A Pillar Interior Trim Cover”?   Aston Martin actually calls it the “Cant Rail”.  It’s that long sweeping Alcantara covered trim piece that stretches up from the dash panel along the side of the windshield (the A pillar) and runs along above the door opening all the way to the rear window.  It covers all the fixings that hold the headliner in place.   This article covers how to remove this trim piece.  I am trying to remove it so I can get to some clips hidden underneath in order to remove my sagging headliner panel.  You can read all about my Sagging Headliner is the main article here. Continue reading “Removing the A Pillar Interior Trim Cover (Cant Rail) from an Aston Martin DB9 or DBS” →

How to Remove the Passenger Side Dash Panels from an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To5 Comments

I repeat, are you crazy?  Why would you want to take out the Dash Panels of your DB9?  As I mentioned in my other article on Removing the Drivers Side Dash Panels, there could be lots of reasons:

  • There is a squeak or rattle driving you nuts and you want to see what’s loose under there
  • The glue is failing and the leather is popping up on one of the panels and you need to get it off to take to the upholsterer
  • You are trying to access or remove the A-Pillar cover perhaps to have it re-trimmed or to remove your headliner

For me, I was working on removing my Sagging Headliner (as it turns out you don’t have to remove the A-pillar trim cover so this was a bit of a lark for me).  Whatever your reasons, I can show you how to do it below.

The process on the Passengers side is similar to the Drivers side, but is more difficult.  You have more challenges to deal with, namely the Airbag and Glove box.   In this article I will share the tips you’ll need to tackle this. Continue reading “How to Remove the Passenger Side Dash Panels from an Aston Martin DB9” →

How to Remove the Drivers Side Dash Panels from an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To5 Comments

Are you psychotic?  Why would you want to remove the Drivers side dash panels from your DB9?   I can think of a few reasons:

  • There is a squeak or rattle driving you nuts and you want to see what’s loose under there
  • The glue is failing and the leather is popping up on one of the panels and you need to get it off to take to the upholsterer
  • You are trying to access or remove the A-Pillar cover perhaps to have it re-trimmed or to remove your headliner

For me, I was working on removing my Sagging Headliner (as it turns out you don’t have to remove the A-pillar trim cover so this was a bit of a lark for me).  Whatever your reasons, I can show you how to do it below. Continue reading “How to Remove the Drivers Side Dash Panels from an Aston Martin DB9” →

Parts needed to Reinstall the Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To2 Comments

The headliner started to sag in my Aston Martin DB9 when the glue failed that bonded it to the shell underneath.  I’ve covered the details of this in another article you can read here.   Determined to fix it, I went about figuring out what parts I would need to accomplish the task.

As with most automotive interiors, many of the DB9 panels are held on with hidden plastic clips.  These clips are often fragile, and are usually ‘One Time Use’ meaning that even if they don’t break when you remove them, their function may be degraded when you try to reinstall them since they are stretched or mangled in some way.  As you remove your headliner you will actually encounter about 18 of these types of clips, which Aston Martin calls “Fir Trees” since they resemble a Fir tree in the woods. Continue reading “Parts needed to Reinstall the Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Tools Required to Remove the Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To3 Comments

The 11 year old glue failed between the Alcantara fabric and the headliner shell in my Aston Martin DB9 causing the headliner to sag (you can read about the details here).   If this has happened to you and you are about to embark on repairing or replacing it, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have the right tools on hand before you start. Continue reading “Tools Required to Remove the Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Sagging Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, Commentary, How To15 Comments
Difficult to ignore

It all started on hot sunny California summer day when I got into my DB9 after work.  Open the beautiful swan wing door, slide butt into supple sculpted leather seat, and then WTF?!  Why is there fabric on my head?   As you can see in my happy owner photo here my headliner sagged and was draping across my head.  Crap – something else to fix and I am not an upholsterer.

You can’t ignore this problem and it needs immediate attention else it will drive you completely insane as it flaps in the wind with the windows open, or just lays on you and your passengers head when you sit in the car. Continue reading “Sagging Headliner in an Aston Martin DB9” →

How to Replace the PCV Valves in an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How To7 Comments

In previous articles I’ve described how engine oil can build up in your intake manifolds of your Aston Martin DB9 due to malfunctioning PCV valves (made by Ford of course) and how the PCV system is supposed to work.  In another article, I have covered what parts you would need to order to deal with this, and it included two (2) options; Option 1 is the lowest cost and just swaps the PCV valves themselves, and; Option 2 is my recommended option that swaps the Vacuum Harness Assembly, which happens to also contain the PCV valves.   This article will cover both options. Continue reading “How to Replace the PCV Valves in an Aston Martin DB9” →

Removing the PCV Valve Assembly Harness from an Aston Martin DB9

On By Steve McEvoyIn Advice, How ToLeave a comment
Oil build up in the intake manifold

I’ve already explained why you might need to change the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valves in an Aston Martin DB9 in a previous article (usually because engine oil is showing up in your intake manifolds), and what parts you might need (check out this article).  In this article I will explain the process of how to remove the existing PCV Valves along with their harness assemblies. Continue reading “Removing the PCV Valve Assembly Harness from an Aston Martin DB9” →