I have been thinking about selling my Vantage and getting a DB9. However my main concern and it is a huge concern is engine tick. Does anyone know when the engines stoped having the tick problem? I can’t seem to find a solid answer what year or engine number where the tick stoped having. Please advise if you have an answer. Aston 1936 talked about it with Mike from Bamford Rose but I can’t seem to find an answer.

 

astonowners.com has a huge thread about this. Some of the members there have been creating videos and rebuilding V12s that suffer from the tick. Probably worth signing up for a free account to view the forum.

 

They all have the potential to ’tick’. Inherent in the design of the cylinder liners and retention system.

 

Is that a "problem" only on the DB9? Or does it potentially affect all V12s?

 

from what I've read it's mainly 'early DB9's'. I have a 2007 with a little over 40,000 miles and no tick.

 

I ran my 2006 DB9 up to 60K miles with no tick.

 

The "tick" seems to primarily affect early DB9s, and a very few DB7s and Vanquishes. Most of the research into this is being done by a couple of independent AM shops in the UK. One says the cause is the liner design (which was modified/improved in later engines, but I don't when the change was made), while the other attributes it to cylinder liner ovality and the wrist pin/small end bearing. I think both shops say they have not seen an engine from MY2009 (when the 470 hp engine was introduced and which added an oil channel to the wrist pin/small end) or later with the tick. My overall take is that if you get a MY2009 or later car you are extremely unlikely to have the tick.

 

Go for the Virage or newer to play it safe.

 

Is there a cure for that tick?

 

Thanks. I figured the new the car the less likely of the problem. Also heard the 470 hp cars or later did not have the problem.