Do It Yourself (DIY) Guides
DISCLAIMER
As always, follow all safety protocols. Don't undertake this task if you aren't comfortable with it, fully understand it, and are capable of completing it. The information provided may be incomplete or inaccurate. You are ultimately responsible for anything you do. Neither Redpants, LLC or myself is responsible or liable for anything that may occur.
This page is basically an index of all the DIY Guides I have on Redpants. If you’re not sure which jobs you should do, you can use my Maintenance Guide or Repair Guide to help figure out what needs to be done.
There is a list of vehicles for each button leading to a DIY Guide. Generally speaking, “Gaydon Era” includes all Aston Martin vehicles from that generation except for the Cygnet and One-77. For more information about generations, check my Terminology page. Some DIY Guides are based on vehicles other than the ones listed as applicable models, but the DIY Guides can be used as rough guides or approximations for the other vehicles listed.
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Electronics and Infotainment DIY Guides
General DIY Guides
General
This section lists my DIY Guides for jobs that are general in nature or don’t fall into one of the other categories.
Getting the car on jack stands
This is often the first step of any job as many things are done from beneath the car. This isn’t a difficult thing to do, but you need to know how to do it right as it’s very easy to cause catastrophic damage to your car if done incorrectly.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Resetting the “Time for Regular Service” Message
If you work on your modern Aston Martin yourself, you’ll need to know how to clear the service notification message. This is how you do it for a Gaydon-era car.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
All 2nd Century vehicles
Replacing the Key Fob and Battery
Replacing the battery in the key fob is a quick and easy maintenance item. If you want to swap the fob to a new one, that’s quick and easy, too!
Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles with Volvo key fob
Misfire Correction (Coast Down) Procedure
A potential source for quite a few emissions warnings and Check Engine Lights (CELs), the misfire corrections are done through an adaptive learning procedure. This is also commonly referred to as the Coast Down Procedure
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Body and Lighting DIY Guides
Body and Lighting
This section lists my DIY Guides for jobs related to the body of the car, including door struts, tail lights, and other items.
Replacing the Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
It’s the silliest things that make Aston Martins seem unreliable… Here we have the windshield washer fluid reservoir, which very often cracks and causes an annoying warning light. It’s obnoxious, but at least it’s a DIY fix.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Windshield Wipers
This job ranges between frustrating and impossible if you don’t know how to get the windshield wipers positions so the wiper blades can be removed. This DIY Guide shows the process.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Installing the Redpants License Plate Mount
Required to have a front license plate but want to use something less absurd than the big plastic plinth from Aston Martin? The low-profile mount from Redpants will do the trick! This DIY Guide shows how to install it.
Gaydon-era V8/V12 Vantage
Replacing the Front Frille
One of the easiest ways to personalize your Aston Martin is by changing the front grille. There are a few options to choose from and it can make a big difference on how the car looks. This DIY Guide shows how to do swap them out.
Gaydon-era V8/V12 Vantage
Installing a Shorty Antenna
The antenna used on the early V8 Vantage was a terribly silly thing. However, swapping it out for a much shorter one is super cheap and easy, and takes less than a minute.
2005-2007 V8 Vantage coupe
Replacing the Map Light Bulbs
Earlier V8 Vantages and DB9s came with “normal” incandescent interior bulbs that cast a rather un-Aston yellow light. Upgrading to LED map lights drastically improves both the light color and the amount of light in the cabin.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Tail Lights
Replacing the tail lights is a straight-forward job, whether for the fun of changing the looks of the car, or the pain of having to replace a faulty unit. Either way, this DIY Guide shows you how to do it, including the third brake light on many Aston Martins.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Repairing Tail Lights
Aston Martin’s tail lights are notorious for failing, usually due to condensation. They’re pretty expensive to replace, and getting more and more expensive all the time, so it might be worth attempting a repair. This DIY Guide shows how to do that.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Door Struts
The door struts in an Aston Martin tend to wear out over time and need to be replaced. You’ll known when it’s time because the doors will no longer stay open on their own. This DIY Guide shows the easy way to replace them.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Hood and Trunk Struts
If you’ve ever had the trunk lid fall on your head, you know how important this simple job can be. This DIY Guide shows how to replace the hood and trunk struts of your Aston Martin.
All Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Fender Vent Strakes
One of the coolest details of an Aston Martin’s exterior is the “strake” found in each fender vent. The standard ones are chrome but you can also have them in carbon fiber. This DIY Guide shows how easy it is to replace them.
Gaydon-era V8/V12 Vantage
Replacing the Window Trim
I created this DIY Guide based on my experience replacing my standard chrome window trim with black window trim pieces. The DIY Guide can also be used if you want to remove the trim pieces for other reasons.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Resetting the Door Windows
If your windows don’t dip down when opening the door, or if they don’t function at all, it may be as simple as pulling a fuse to get them back in order. This DIY Guide shows where those fuses are.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Brake System DIY Guides
Brakes
This section lists my DIY Guides for braking-related jobs.
Replacing the Brake Pads
Brake pads need to be replaced as needed - the harder you use your brakes, the more often you’ll need to replace your brake pads. But it isn’t much of a problem because it’s actually an easy job. This DIY Guide shows you how to do it.
All Aston Martin vehicles
Bedding in Brake Pads
Installing new brake pads is more than just pulling out old pads and putting in new ones. Completing the job also requires the new pads be bedded in. Each pad type has a different method of bedding-in, even if they’re from the same manufacturer. This DIY Guide has the bed-in procedures from the manufacturers for each pad that I sell.
All Aston Martin vehicles
Flushing the Brake Fluid
Flushing your brake fluid should be done every 2 years or 20,000 miles (whichever comes first). If you track your car, you should do this more often. If you have a manual transmission, the clutch line should be flushed at the same time as the brake lines. This commonly-overlooked maintenance item helps prevent premature clutch wear and improve clutch pedal feel. I explain how to do the clutch line in this DIY Guide as well.
All Aston Martin vehicles
Removing the Brake Calipers
Removing the brake calipers is incredibly easy - each is held on by just two bolts! This DIY Guide shows how to remove the brake calipers when replacing your brake rotors, or when rebuilding or recoloring the calipers themselves.
All Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Brake Rotors
Brake rotors wear out as they’re used and eventually need to be replaced. The front rotors are very easy to do, but the rears are a bit of a pain due to the handbrake calipers.
All Aston Martin vehicles
Electronics and Infotainment DIY Guides
Electronics and Infotainment
This section lists my DIY Guides for jobs related to electronics, including infotainment systems.
Replacing the Navigation Screen Gears
If your navigation screen doesn’t open and close properly, the issue may be the gears in the screen unit. Aston Martin has a repair kit to replace the bad gears, and this DIY Guide shows how it’s done. The process is the same or similar for nearly all Gaydon-era Aston Martins.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the ambient air temperature sensor
A simple little sensor that can cause some rather interesting gremlins when it fails - including preventing your Aston Martin from charging the car battery. Luckily it’s cheap and easy to replace when you figure out it’s gone bad.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Car Battery
The location of the battery in an Aston Martin is ideal for weight distribution and works wonderfully for packaging. But that also means it can be difficult to replace. The job is made even more challenging due to the weight of the battery.
Gaydon-era V8/V12 Vantage
Replacing the Bluetooth Switcher
Do your speakers sometimes cut out on one side? Try stamping on the passenger foot rest. Does that temporarily fix it? If so, chances are the problem is your Bluetooth Switcher. The new, updated unit should fix the problem and this DIY Guide shows how to swap it out.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the convertible roof module
The convertible roof module (CRM) is a common point of failure in a convertible Aston Martin. It’s easy to replace, but may need to be programmed by a dealership before it works.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin convertible vehicles
Installing the Redpants TPMS Defeat
Want to disable the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) of your Aston Martin? The Redpants TPMS Defeat can help! Here’s how to install it.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles with 4-wire TPMS module
Engine, Intake, and Exhaust DIY Guides
Engine, Intake, and Exhaust
This section lists my DIY Guides for engine-related jobs, including oil changes, the intake and exhaust systems, and various other items.
Engine Oil Change
The engine oil in most Aston Martins should be changed every year or every 10,000 miles (whichever comes first). All the parts you need are included in my oil change packages, which I sell in my Online Store, and I sell Motul engine oil there as well.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
All Gaydon-era models with 6.0L V12 engine
All 2nd Century models with 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine
All 2nd Century models with 5.2L twin-turbo V12 engine
Replacing the intake filters
Intake filters should be replaced every 2 years or 20,000 miles (whichever comes first). If you live in a harsh climate, you may want to change them every year.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
All 2nd Century Aston Martin vehicles
How to remove and clean the throttle body
Having to clean a throttle body may seem like an odd thing, but it can make a difference over time. This quick and easy job removes the buildup that can occur at the butterfly valve inside the throttle body, helping ensure the throttle responds as smoothly as possible.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the MAF sensors
Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors measure the amount of air entering your intake system. If the sensors get too dirty, or somehow get damaged, they need to be replaced.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
All 2nd Century Aston Martin vehicles
Removing the air boxes
Air boxes are a safety measure to protect the intake air filters, but there may come a need to remove them. It’s not hard to do, and this DIY Guide shows how to do it, as well as how to replace them with a set of Redpants Air Box Deletes.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
All 2nd Century Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the thermostat in a V8 Vantage
The thermostat in the V8 Vantage has something of an issue wherein the rubber gasket molded onto it can break apart or otherwise come loose. I also recommend doing this as preventative maintenance at the same time as replacing the engine coolant.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Replacing the Spark Plugs
Spark plugs should be replaced every 6 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first). This also happens to be around the same time the coil packs start to fail. They all have to be removed together so I recommend replacing your spark plugs and coil packs at the same time.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
All Gaydon-era models with 6.0L V12 engine
Replacing the Radiator Fans
Not a common thing to do, but it can come up. In my case, it was because mine was damaged when I was viciously attacked by a tire wall with no provocation and I stand by my story.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Replacing the FEAD Belt (and Idler Assembly)
The Front Engine Accessory Drive (FEAD) belt (aka serpentine belt) is a maintenance item on every car, and on an Aston Martin it should be replaced every 150,000 miles or 15 years, whichever comes first.
Additionally, the one on the V8 Vantage has been updated a few times, as has one of the idler assembly pulleys that’s part of that system. If you have earlier versions of either part, it may cause a “chirp” sound when cold..
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
All Gaydon-era models with 6.0L V12 engine
Replacing the PCV Valve
I knew the PCV valve on the V8 Vantage could go bad but a Master Technician I know told me he thinks they should be done as often as every 40,000 miles as preventative maintenance. Whether you do it preemptively or wait until it fails, this DIY Guide shows how to do it.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Installing a Redpants Oil Catch Can Kit
A Redpants Oil Catch Can Kit will safely and easily prevent oil vapors from going into your intake manifold. This DIY Guide shows how to install it.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Fixing a Leaking Factory Air-Oil Separator
The factory air-oil separator (AOS) in the V8 Vantage has a badly flawed design that makes it prone to leaking. It’s easy enough to manage and this DIY Guide shows how to take care of it.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Fuel Vapor Recirculation Hose Repair
If your car is stalling when you coast to a stop, it could be caused by a few different things. One of the potential issues is a hose in the fuel tank. This DIY Guide shows you what to look for and how to fix it! Quick note that I’ve never heard of this happening on any car other than a V8 Vantage, so it may or may not be applicable to other Aston Martins.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Replacing the Exhaust Manifolds
Want to replace your exhaust manifolds (AKA headers) with a set that flow better? Or, do you need to pull one out to replace your clutch in a V8 Vantage? Either way, here’s how to do it.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Installing High-Flow Cats (or Cat-Delete Pipes)
A set of high-flow cats or cat-delete pipes can free up some extra power from your Aston Martin by reducing exhaust system restrictions. This DIY Guide shows how to install them yourself.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Interior DIY Guides
Interior
This section lists my DIY Guides for jobs in the interior of the car.
Changing the Cabin Filters
Cabin filters (AKA pollen filters) clean the air being drawn into the cabin of the car from outside. Their job is to prevent dust, debris, bugs, leaves, and even odors from getting into the cabin. As with any filer, they need to be replaced regularly. These should be replaced every 2 years or 20,000 miles, or more often if you’re sensitive to allergens or odors.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
All 2nd Century Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the steering wheel
It’s a bit daunting to replace the steering wheel given how dangerous an airbag can be. But if you decide to do it, it’s a pretty easy job. This DIY Guide shows the job in a V8 Vantage, but the process is the same or similar for almost all Gaydon-era Aston Martins.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Removing the Armrest and Lower Console
Having to remove the armrest and lower console is one of the first steps in a number of jobs, including changing out your shift knob or shifter trim, or installing an infotainment upgrade kit.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage
Replacing the Shift Knob and Shifter Surround Trim
Swapping out the shift knob and shifter trim is an easy way to change up the look of your interior.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles with manual transmission
Removing the gauge cluster hood
Retracting leather is a common issue with Aston Martin interior panels, and the gauge cluster hood is one of the most-affected. This DIY Guide shows how to remove it so it can be repaired or replaced.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Fixing a Sagging Headliner
No matter how nice a car is, nothing makes it seem like rubbish as quickly as a sagging headliner. So, here’s how to fix it in your Aston Martin.
2005-2018 V8 Vantage coupe
Removing the door sill scuff plates
Removing the door sill scuff plates is an easy job, so don’t be intimidated if you want to replace or refinish your current ones. This DIY Guide shows how to remove them.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Removing the Door Bars
Removing the door bars is really easy but swapping over the latches can be a huge pain. This DIY Guide shows the whole process including if you need to swap your latch to a new set of door bars.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Removing the Door Panels
Removing a door panel is sometimes necessary to fix an issue with an Aston Martin, like a fault door module or window regulator. This DIY Guide shows how to do it.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Suspension DIY Guides
Suspension
This section lists my DIY Guides for jobs related to the suspension.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Control Arm Bushings
Before you go any further, just know that this is a very difficult job that requires some specialty tools. It isn’t something I’d recommend doing yourself unless you have the tools, time, and experience to do it correctly.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles
Replacing the Coilovers
If you need to replace your coilovers - or remove them to install a new set of springs - then this DIY Guide will show how it’s done. If you’ve done suspension work on any other sports car, this should be at least somewhat familiar.
Transmission DIY Guides
Transmission
This section lists my DIY Guides for transmission-related jobs.
Changing the gear oil (transmission fluid)
Gear oil (AKA transmission fluid) should be changed every 4 years or 40,000 miles. If you track your car, you should do it more often. There are two transmission choices for the V8 and V12 Vantage: manual and Sportshift. The Sportshift is an automated version of the manual, so the process for changing the gear oil is the same for both and this DIY Guide shows how to do the job.
All Gaydon-era Aston Martin vehicles with manual transmission
2019+ AM6 Vantage with manual transmission
Automatic Transmission Control Module (TCM) Adaptive Learn Procedure
Similar to the Misfire Correction (Coast Down) Procedure, this process should be done after major work has been done to the engine and/or transmission in cars equipped with an automatic (not Sportshift) transmission. It teaches the transmission control module (TCM) an initial level of adaptive gear change data.
DB9, DBS, and Rapide vehicles with automatic transmission