traction control ASTON MARTIN DB AR1 Q 2003 Owners Guide

B - Controls
1-B-8
SRS (Supplementary Restraint System) (Amber)
Flashes if a fault is detected in the airbag system.
When you start the car, this lamp comes on for a few seconds
as a readiness indicator. If it does not come on when you start
the car, or if it does not go off after a few seconds, or if it comes
on whilst driving, the airbag system has detected a fault. Consult
your Dealer immediately if this light illuminates.
Frost Warning Lamp (Amber)
This lamp will illuminate if the external temperature falls to
+4°C. At or below this temperature there is an increased risk of
frost on the road surface.
Traction Control Warning (Green)
Traction control is normally on. This lamp illuminates if the
system is switched off. The lamp flashes when traction control
is active. See the traction control description in this section.
Sport (Auto transmission only) (Green)
Indicates that Sport Mode is selected, increasing the engine
speeds at which the automatic transmission changes gear.
Left Turn Direction Indicator (Green)
Flashes with the indicator lights during operation of the left turn
signal or hazard warning lights.
Right Turn Direction Indicator (Green)
Flashes with the indicator lights during operation of the right turn
signal or the hazard warning lights.

B - Controls
1-B-17 The centre console contains the following controls:
• Clock and PATS Status Light
• Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Controls
• Fog Lamp, Screen Heater and Seat Heater Switches
• Radio Cassette Player (Control for the CD autochanger)
• Hazard Light Switch
• Starter Button
• Traction Control Switch
• Window Lift Switches
• Boot Release Switch
• Cigar Lighter and Ashtray
The Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Systems are fully described
in the Air-Conditioning section of this Owner's Guide.
Clock
The clock in the centre of the air conditioning control panel is set using the
buttons on the clock panel.
The left button is used to retard the time and the
right button to advance the time.
The small light between the time set buttons is the
PATS Status Light which is described in the Security
section of this Owner's Guide.
ASTON MARTIN

B - Controls
1-B-20
Starter Button
This button is located on the drivers side of the radio
cassette player. It is used to start the engine after turning
on the ignition. See the detailed instructions in the
'Driving' section.
The button will illuminate when the ignition is switched
on. The button lamp will extinguish when the engine
starts.
Traction Control Switch
The traction control system is always switched on when the ignition is
switched on. The system may be switched off using this switch on the centre
console.
The traction control warning lamp in the instrument pack will illuminate to
warn you when the system is switched off.

C - Driving
1-C-1
Contents
Checks Before Driving........................................................................ 1-C-2
The Ignition Lock ................................................................................ 1-C-5
Starting the Engine - Hot or Cold ........................................................ 1-C-7
Stopping the Engine - Removing the Ignition Key ................................ 1-C-8
Fuel Cut-Off Switch ............................................................................ 1-C-8
Gear Changing ................................................................................. 1-C-10
Additional Automatic Gearbox Functions .......................................... 1-C-16
Traction Control System.................................................................... 1-C-17
The Braking Systems......................................................................... 1-C-19

C - Driving
1-C-6
Warning Light Indications at Ignition On
As the ignition is switched on, the DB AR1 electronic control units each
complete a self check to ensure correct operation. During these checks, the
warning lights on the instrument panel will illuminate as follows:
• Bulb Check - All warning lamps illuminate for about three seconds as a
bulb check. (The Sport and Transmission Fail lamps are not illuminated
on manual transmission vehicles).
• The Ignition and Oil Pressure warning lights illuminate until the engine
starts.
• The Check Engine light will illuminate during the engine management
self-check and will extinguish when the starter button is pressed.
• The Seat Belt warning light illuminates and a gong sounds for six seconds
if the driver's seat belt is not fastened. On fastening the seat belt, the gong
immediately ceases. The warning lamp extinguishes at the end of the six
second warning period.
• The ABS and Traction Control warning lights illuminate and extinguish
if the system self checks are satisfactory.
• The Brake warning light will illuminate and extinguish if the brake fluid
level is within specification.
• The SRS Airbag warning light will illuminate and extinguish if the SRS
Airbag control system check is satisfactory.
Only the handbrake (parking brake) warning light should stay on after the
engine has started and is running correctly. The handbrake warning light will
extinguish as the handbrake is fully released.
Note: Other Information lights may remain on (e.g. Main Beam Warning or Low
Screen Wash) dependant on the vehicle state and switch settings at the time.

C - Driving
1-C-17
Traction Control System
On/Off Switch
The traction control system is always operational when the ignition is
switched on. The traction control system can be switched off at any time
using the switch in the centre console.
Traction Control Warning Lamp
To ensure that the system is working correctly, a warning
lamp is integrated into the instrument panel. When the
ignition is switched on, the lamp should illuminate for
approximately 2 seconds and will then extinguish if the
system is in working order.
If the lamp remains on after 2 seconds, a system fault is present and should
be investigated by your Aston Martin Dealer.
During normal operation, the light remains off until wheel slip is detected.
The warning lamp will then flash whilst the system controls the wheel slip.
The warning lamp remains illuminated if traction control is switched off.

C - Driving
1-C-18Traction Control Operation
WARNING: In all cases it remains the drivers responsibility to drive safely
according to the law and with due regard to prevailing conditions. The fact that
a vehicle is equipped with Traction Control must never allow the driver to be
tempted into taking risks which could affect his/her safety or that of other road
users. The addition of Traction Control cannot overcome the consequences of
applying too much engine power for the prevailing conditions.
The traction control system is designed to limit engine power when driven
wheel slip is detected. This most commonly happens when accelerating on
a slippery road or loose surface.
The system uses the vehicles ABS sensors to monitor the wheel speed of all
four road wheels. As soon as a driven rear wheel starts to spin due to the
application of too much power for the available grip, the system automatically
reduces engine power by temporarily adjusting the fuel supply. The brake
on the slipping wheel will also be applied as necessary until the wheel speed
matches that of the other wheels.
During activation, the system warning light will flash. The driver may
experience a loss in power or temporary 'misfire' as engine power is
reduced. These symptoms are normal and will clear as wheel spin is
eliminated and normal engine power is restored.
If traction control cuts in when driving on extended icy or slippery surfaces,
reduce engine power as necessary until the traction control warning light is
extinguished.
Caution: Do not maintain engine power at such a level that traction control is
activated for long periods (more than about one minute). The reduced fuelling levels
to the engine will cause the exhaust catalysts to overheat. Overheating of the exhaust
catalysts can destroy them.

F - Owner Maintenance
1-F-16
Winter Tyres
Two options are available to equip your DB AR1 for winter motoring.
Snow Tyres - The recommended snow tyres fit to the normal 8 inch front
wheel rims. Four 8 inch front wheel rims and winter tyres are required to
fully equip the car for severe weather driving. (See the Specifications section
of this Owner's Guide).
Snow Chains - These are available from your Aston Martin dealer and will
fit only the 8 inch road wheels fitted with snow tyres.
United States Department of Transportation
Uniform Tyre Quality Grades
The following information relates to the tyre grading system developed by
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which will grade tyres by
tread wear, traction and temperature performance.
All passenger car tyres must conform to federal safety requirements in
addition to these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tyre when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test
course. For example, a tyre graded 150 would wear one and a half times as
well on the government course as a tyre graded 100. The relative performance
of tyres depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

F - Owner Maintenance
1-F-17 Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from the highest to the lowest are A, B and C, and they
represent the tyre's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tyre marked 'C' may have poor traction performance.
WARNING:
The traction grade assigned to this tyre is based on braking (straight ahead)
traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are 'A' (the highest), 'B' and 'C' representing the tyres
resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tyre to
degenerate and reduce tyre life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tyre failure.
The grade 'C' corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car
tyres must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades 'B' and 'A' represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING:
The temperature grade for this tyre is established for a tyre that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-inflation or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat build-up and
possible tyre failure.

F - Owner Maintenance
1-F-39
Fuse Lists
Passenger Footwell Fusebox - Right Hand
F1 5A Passive Anti-Theft Module
F2 20A Cigar Lighter
F3 10A Diagnostic Sockets, Radio, Air Conditioning, Driver's
Door Mirror and Window
F4 5A Seat Switches and Heaters
F5 10A Indicator Flasher
F6 10A Ignition Coils 1-6
F7 10A Interior Lamp Cluster
F8 10A Ignition Coils 7-12
F9 20A RHS Seat Heater Relay, RHS Seat Module
F10 10A Dimmer, Passive Anti-Theft Module, Radio
F11 10A Door Mirrors
F12 5A Diagnostic Sockets
F13 25A Not used
F14 10A Hazard Flasher Unit
F15 20A Wiper Logic Module and Wiper Stalk
F16 30A ABS Control Unit
F17 20A Wiper Motor, Logic Module and Wiper Stalk
F18 30A ABS Control Unit
F19 10A Air Conditioning LH Blower Motor
F20 5A Gearshift Interlock Module, Traction Control Switch,
Interior, Map & Courtesy Lamps
F21 10A Air Conditioning RH Blower Motor
F22 10A Powertrain and Transmission control Modules - Keep
Alive Memory