Ive seen where the crystal key has been dropped and the glass potion of the key moved every so slightly and wasnt completely flush to the body and that caused the issue... but you said your plastic key does the same. I would pull the veneer and inspect the key docking station. More than likely its failing and the spring is weakening and probably dirty internally. Remove the center veneer can be tricky if you've never done it before, tape off everything to reduce risk of damaging the leather! Good luck!

 

Ignition module on my 13 Vantage died. Car wouldn’t start, after 42 sometimes 43 attempts it would eventually start up.

$2500 later with a new module, works flawlessly. Just get it replaced so you can forget about it.

 

@papigko , thanks for the information and the offer. I'm at the north end of MA (southwest of Nashua) so would be a bit of a drive but would be good to meet up and compare notes! Sounds like your experience removing the waterfall was fairly straightforward, and with just 4 clips it should be.

@thisistcab7 , I pretty much agree. There's nothing worse than being stuck at the side of the road waiting for a flatbed. Especially in an Aston. I'm sure you can imagine the thoughts going through every drivers head as they drive by you!

Cheers

 

So, it's taken me over two years to get back to this. In the interim had the car shipped cross country and drove it back through the Rockies and across the prairies (a bit over 6,000 KMS) - all with a sticking key.


Rockies Drive

Given all the extra time in lock-down this year thought I'd see what could be done at home (also, now that the car's 6 years old I'm less concerned about doing my own work).


Waterfall - Easy to pop out using the recommended $5 trim tool

Waterfall - 2014 model is cast aluminum and comes out with the entire nav assembly attached. 4 wiring connectors to detach but that's all. Arrow indicates key module

Key module removed from waterfall (4 torx screws) - Lithium grease applied at the locations shown. There's a small spring wire (indicated by the arrows - above) It moves through a set of channels in the internal key carrier (my term) which acts to hold or release the key at two different levels (release, accessory and on positions). I tried greasing the carrier channels (shown below) but that didn't do much. Then started playing around with the spring wire and determined that it was getting stuck in a small supporting v-shaped channel (front arrow above). Put grease there (and other locations just for good measure). Sticking stopped!!

Key module front view- Key carrier assembly just slides out

Key Carrier Assembly - A bit more grease here.

Total cost of repair $5.02 - $5.00 for the trim tool + 0.02 for the grease. Definitely better than the $1500 replacement cost - and zero travel time to the dealer. Total repair time < 1 hour.

Thanks to everyone here for their suggestions and a special shout-out to Richard Seidlitz at Redpants for his excellent video on removing the waterfall...

 

@AMCan

I’ve been scouring the web for weeks trying to find a solution to this and seems to be it! Thank you so much for posting this!!!!

12’ V8VS gives me a “key in ignition” message when the glass key is removed. I was told to try applying a little more pressure entering and pulling out the key and it got stuck exactly like the images at the start of this thread but thankfully was able to remove it with a long flat blade above and below.

My AM dealer doesn’t ever fix anything and it’s likely I’m looking at a $2k bill for what you solved with <$10 in parts.

So I want to do what you did but the only thing is I’m TERRIFIED of removing my piano black waterfall and cracking is my car is mint and it’s likely never been removed.

There’s also the issue that the Redpants video you mentioned doesn’t match my (or your) car - the nav screen is different and doesn’t unclip like his 2008.

Can you give me any detailed pointers? Did you crack your waterfall doing it? I’d really appreciate any further advice you can give.

 

a description of your car would help....
and FWIW, i have a 2007 v8 vantage and have had the waterfall off numerous times. i pry it off with one of those plastic tools made for removing interior parts and have not damaged it at all.

 

Thanks - I posted all the info above but again it’s a ‘12 V8VS with piano black waterfall. Let me know what else you need?

 

As I mentioned a while back, my piano black waterfall was cracked from top right corner of the nav screen opening. No idea when that happened. Could have been when the dealer replaced the dock. Earlier this year, I noticed a new identical crack from the top left corner of the nav screen opening. You can’t see either crack unless you look for them and I’ve kinda resigned myself to living with them. When I sell the car, the new owner can decide what to do about it. In the meantime, love driving the car! 👍

 

So I was about to pull the trigger on and trim tool but apparently there’s a specific AM tool that inserts in to the vent (3rd louvre down) that hooks in to the underside of the vent surround and pops the waterfall fascia out.

Here’s the thread:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...neer-tool.html

They reckon that’s the correct way to remove the fascia NOT the trim tool, which will crack it.

Anyone got an opinion?

 

Looks like that would help to exert a pull on the whole waterfall, but I have to think that there would be lots of stress across the whole waterfall body that would be needed to pop the clips free. Maybe best to use this tool, plus a trim tool close to each clip?

FWIW, I personally have never removed my waterfall. I first noticed the first crack a few weeks after the dealer had replaced the dock (presumably using the official Aston tools and process!) not long after I purchased the car back in 2019. I noticed the second crack about 6 months ago, and no one has been near the waterfall since 2019, so the crack happened without any external assistance. Are they really that fragile?

 

Thanks everyone for the help @AMCan @CardiffArms

I’m attempting to fix my key in ignition error (when there’s no key in the ignition) over the next couple of days but I want to settle debate on two points:

1.Method of removal of waterfall?

Richard at Redpants says to use the trim tools on the sides to pop it near each clip. One person commented (who is on here) said it killed his nav screen eyelets and others have said it damages the leather when using the trim tools.

However, Aston Martin state to use this hook tool (which I now have) through vent, third grill down.

But piston heads show a technique of popping the waterfall by starting at the bottom, at the seam where the waterfall meet the next panel below, then once that is popped open, pop it at the top near the windshield, using the play created by having popped the bottom clips to get a trim tool in the top/back and op those clips.

Finally someone else (on here) swears by using a nylon flat ribbon (like that on a lanyard) to slide it under each corner.

my main concern is cracking my perfect piano black fascia.

2. It seems there is conflicting information about whether the nav screen is attached to the whole fascia or whether it has the clips.

richard at Redpants says the latter (all in one unit) says that only happened from 2916 onwards.

however I’ve seen at least cars from 2013 that have the all in one and I need to know whether my 2012 V8VS should be unclipped or whether the nav screen comes out with the waterfall?

 

The Redpants technique seems to get a bit of criticism and I found on my '11 Virage (also with piano black veneer) that if I put my hand into the hole for the nav screen and tugged gently the bottom of the waterfall started to come loose.

The first time I did it I used a plastic trim tool on the bottom to help pop the first fastener while I tugged but since then I just find tugging gently does it and use my fingers for assistance if it needs it.

My nav unit came out with the waterfall but I think the Virages were the first model to use the Garmin unit. If yours has one of those then I think it will be the same.

 

2012 with Garmin system is all in one for removing. Removing it doesn't Crack the veneer it's heat and 2 dissimilar material. All the aluminum backed panels are subject to crack as most start at the corners of the screen cut-out.
-JW

 

Thanks so much @a102768 & @J doubleU

This is really helpful - yes I have the garmin unit so it’s an all in one.

I’m going to try the gentle pull from the nav hole with a trim tool at the bottom- seems the most logical way to do it given all the info.

Thanks again and I’d you have any other tips, please feel free to share!

 

@AMCan @CardiffArms

Hi all, bumping this thread and wanted to say thanks for the advice. I was able to safely remove my piano black waterfall and then attempted to fix my “key in ignition error” (Key not physically in ignition, also not sticking but car thinks the key is still in there etc).

I cleaned and greased all the parts shown and reassembled but still getting the error.

I stopped short of dismantling the actual ignition itself for fear that something is broken, and it’ll get worse if it take it apart but has anyone gone that far? And does anyone know where the sensor that would cause this error is within the ignition?


————————

As an FYI to anyone who needs to remove the fascia / waterfall, the way I did it:

Got trim removals tool set from Harbor Freight. The blue one that has 5 different tools.

Put the key in the ignition so the nav screen opens.

Grip the opening where the nav screen is and very gently do a little tug - you are not trying to remove right now, this is purely to show you that at the bottom of the waterfall, beneath the drive buttons and ignition, you’ll see a little gap open between the waterfall and the next panel below when you tug.

Use that gap to insert one of the spudgers / trim tools on each side.

use them in the gap, while pulling on the nav screen opening towards you and slightly up to pop the left then right clips.

Now take a spudger / trim tool and insert it under the top edge of the waterfall, again one at each side and pop it out of the clips. If your tool is long and the windscreen a too close, insert the tool at an angle so it’s pointing towards the headlight of each correspond side. Again, pull up and towards you as you pop the clips with the trim tool.

You can then lift the waterfall, tilting the bottom up towards the windscreen. Take a photo so you can see where every cable goes, then unplug everything - every single connector has a push button in some form that releases it.

Now using a torx bit undo the ribbons that are connected at the top of the dash to hold the waterfall in place.

To reinstall, do the reverse order.

This method ( and NOT inserting trim tools at the sides where the leather is) is the way to go and will not damage your leather or waterfall.

And as I couldn’t find out online, I can confirm the 2012 V8VS has the alu backing for the piano black waterfall - not the plastic one.