If this Workshop Diary has a theme then you could say it’s about the passing of time and how, if you’ve got the chance to enjoy owning something as beautiful as an Aston Martin then you should take every opportunity to do so.
It’s easy to forget, when you’re up to your elbows in brake fluid and dismantled starter motors, that every vehicle has a personal story behind it, whether that’s the story of the person who owns it, the people who have, or who are, working on it or (as in this edition) the person who used to own it. That’s especially true when you’re dealing with a car like the Aston Martin which, let’s face it, isn’t your everyday run-around. If you’ve taken the time and trouble and the expense, to get hold of one, especially an older model that needs some loving restoration work, then it’s well worth digging into the vehicle’s back story. What tales could your Aston Martin tell?
One Thing Can Lead To Another
Having said all of the above, the first car we’re going to mention is a DB5 that’s come in because the clutch has gone. We looked at it and could see that it needed a replacement slave cylinder – a slave cylinder being a part which helps with the operation of the clutch.
Unlike some jobs, this appeared to be a relatively simple one – replace the slave cylinder and the clutch will be operating smoothly again. We changed the slave, but then found out it was more than that and we ended up having to remove the gearbox to rectify an issue with the release bearing.
Whilst the car was here, our customer decided to opt for our upgraded telescopic rear dampers. These are designed to replace the standard lever arms system to aid with better ride and road handling. Job done!
Getting Out Of Limp Mode
About a month ago we did the clutch on another Aston – a modern V8 Vantage dating from 2007, and recently the customer brought it back to us because it was running unevenly. And before you even think it - no, it wasn’t the clutch. On the contrary, the clutch was in perfect working order – but this is an owner who drives his car every day, and he knew something was wrong when he noticed the engine wasn’t revving.
This is a modern car we’re talking about, and in a modern car you can experience something called limp mode. Most drivers will know this feature kicks in to protect the engine when something’s wrong. It was easy to figure out the car was in limp mode because of the reduced revs but it takes some auto-detective work to investigate and diagnose the issue. Here it turned out the problem was electrical in nature. We’ve ordered the new part and as soon as that arrives and is replaced, we’ll carry out a service and MOT and have it running smoothly and efficiently again for his daily drive.
Beautiful Inside And Out
Having dealt with the performance of one car, we’ve spent quite a lot of time revamping the appearance of a V8 Volante that you may recall started life as a red car. We sent it to the paint shop and it came back a beautiful shade of green. Next was a trip to the trimmers to have the trim revamped – which is to say all those fancy interior and exterior touches that make Astons stand out from the crowd. This particular car has been treated to a new roof, new leather trim on all the seats and new carpets, as well as spruced up wheels and the afore-mentioned paint job. The customer came in to take a look and was delighted, but we didn't stop there. Next up was a refit of the bumpers and boot carpets and finally we’re going to lift the bonnet and clean the engine itself, and the engine bay, until they’re as pristine and visually pleasing as the rest of the car, leaving it transformed inside and out.
Finely Tuned Listening Skills Required
As ever with Aston Martins it’s as much about the little details as anything else, and that’s also the case with a black Vantage we’ve been working on, which had to have the cylinder heads taken off, taken apart and put back together again. Even if you don’t know much about car engines you might assume that’s an extremely tricky job and you’d be right. Luckily, we’ve got Tim who, if you’re not already aware, is the Lewis half of the Pugsley and Lewis duo. Tim specialises in this kind of work. And ‘specialise’ is the word because it can take hours of finessing and multiple test drives to fine tune the engine on an Aston Martin until you’re certain it’s running as smoothly as possible. The good news is that Tim’s got just the right attributes - patience, skill and an ear that can pick up when an engine needs just a little tweak here or there. It’s no accident that we talk about ‘tuning’ carburettors because it’s like getting a delicate musical instrument playing just right, and that’s the kind of poetry we promised at the start of this article.
Respectful Nod To An Enthusiast’s Skill And Dedication
We also carried out a service on a 1980’s V8 Volante, which was restored in the last decade or so and had done very low mileage. As well as the service we were sorting out a fault with the starter motor, all of which is pretty straightforward. Even so, once we had it up on the ramp – changing the oils and so on – we noticed a minor leak in the radiator. It was the kind of little leak that was only going to get worse over time, and that could ultimately cause a complete failure, particularly since the owner was planning on driving the car overseas, so was presumably going to be racking up the miles.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this particular car, and the thing that brings us back to this month’s theme of really appreciating your Aston Martin, was that the owner had bought the car and then had it restored over time by a number of individuals. One of those individuals sadly passed away before the restoration was completed, but what we found really touching was that the owner then chose to have a commemorative plaque mounted in the doorframe of the car. It mentioned the individual in question, and thanked them for the work they’d done.
Now, every car – especially every restored Aston Martin – has got a story or two behind it, but in this case the story had been marked in a very special way, which shows just how much the owners of cars appreciate the expertise and work that goes into keeping them in the kind of condition they deserve to be in. It’s not just about owning an investment or a valuable piece of machinery, it’s about understanding the effort and expertise behind the polished metal and smooth handling, and enjoying the results.
Blast From The Past
Finally, as if to prove that very point, Winston’s own old car came in recently. The gentleman who bought it off him 24 years – yes, nearly a quarter of a century – ago, wanted us to give it a look over and service as well as carry out some work on the brakes. He also asked us to give it a bit of a spruce up so it was looking as nice as possible. All this to ensure he gets maximum enjoyment out of driving it because really, what’s the point of having an Aston Martin if you’re not going to enjoy taking it out on the road?
So that’s six cars and six different stories, a couple of them going to show that there’s much more to some cars than four wheels and an engine. If you’ve got a car that means something to you, why not pop out and give it a quick polish, then take it for a spin to make sure it’s looking, driving and sounding its absolute best.
