engine ASTON MARTIN DB AR1 Q 2003 Owners Guide

vi
Warnings, Cautions and Notes
Within this Owner's Guide, advice is given at three levels, Warnings,
Cautions and Notes. Take particular care to read all relevant advice before
operating or servicing the vehicle.
Warnings
Procedures which must be followed precisely to help avoid the risk of
personal injury.
Example:
WARNING: Avoid touching the sides of the engine when working in the engine
compartment. The exhaust system will be hot if the engine has recently been run.
Cautions
Procedures which must be followed precisely to reduce the possibility of
damage to the vehicle.
Example:
Caution: Take care that hydraulic fluid does not contact the paint work during the
topping-up operation. Serious paint work damage can result. If a spillage does
occur, immediately flush the hydraulic fluid from the paint work with clean, fresh
water and then wipe with a clean damp cloth.
Notes
Procedures which will help to avoid difficulties in the operation of the
vehicle.
Example:
Note: The ignition must be switched on (position I or II) before the door mirrors
can be adjusted.
DB AR1 Owner's Guide

xi
Regular Checks
In the interests of safety and reliability, it is advisable to carry out the
following checks at the intervals suggested (more frequently if the vehicle is
heavily used or operating in adverse conditions), and always before starting
on a long journey. Refer to the Owner Maintenance section of this guide.
Each Day
Check that there is sufficient fuel for the intended journey, particularly at
night and before entering highways.
Weekly - (Daily if covering high mileage or touring)
Tyres - Check the tyres, including the spare (if fitted) for condition and
pressure. See the 'Specifications' section for the recommended tyre pressures.
Lights - Check that all exterior lights and direction indicators function
correctly and that the lenses are clean.
Engine Oil - With the vehicle standing on level ground, check the oil level
and top up if necessary with oil of the correct grade.
Engine Cooling System - With the engine cold, check the level of the engine
coolant. Top-up if necessary with coolant containing the required percentage
of anti-freeze. Any significant coolant loss should be investigated by your
Aston Martin Dealer.
Brake Fluid - Check the level of the fluid in the brake reservoir. Top-up if
necessary with the specified brake fluid from a new unopened container.
Power Steering Fluid - Check and top-up the level of fluid in the power
steering reservoir with fluid of the correct specification.
DB AR1 Owners Guide

xii
DB AR1 Owner's Guide
Monthly
Windscreen Washer - Top-up with the recommended windscreen wash
fluid. Check the operation of the windscreen washers. Use the recommended
concentration of additives to prevent freezing in winter conditions. Check
the windscreen wash fluid level more frequently if the wash system is being
heavily used.
Safety Warning
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in
vehicles and certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the state of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Glossary of Terms
The following glossary contains frequently used alternative names or
spellings for vehicle components mentioned in this Owner's Guide:
Bonnet Hood
Boot Trunk
Brake Disc Rotor
Handbrake Parking Brake
Petrol Gasoline
Tyre Tire
Wing Fender
Windscreen Windshield

A - Before Driving
1-A-4
Unlocking the Car / Turning off the Alarm
To unlock the car and turn the alarm system off, approach to within 10
metres (30 feet) of the car and point the key fob towards the rear window.
Press the left button on the alarm key fob.
The exterior direction indicators flash three times, indicating that the alarm
has been switched off. At the same time, the central locking system unlocks
the car doors and fuel filler flap. Alarm sensing on the boot lock is also
switched off so that the boot may be opened without triggering the alarm.
Locking the Car / Turning on the Alarm
To turn the alarm system on and lock the car, stand within 10 metres (30 feet)
of the car and point the key fob towards the rear window. Press the left
button on the alarm key fob.
The direction indicators flash once as the alarm is switched on. Alarm
sensing is then operative on the door locks, bonnet and boot. At the same
time, the car doors, boot and filler flap are locked by the central locking
system.
Engine Immobiliser
The engine is immobilised by the Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) and may
not be started until a correctly coded key is inserted and turned in the
ignition switch (See 'Security Systems' for a full description of PATS). The
PATS system is fully automatic and requires no intervention from the driver.

B - Controls
1-B-4
Information/Warning Lights
The Instrument Panel contains a number of information and warning lights
mounted above the instruments.
The information/warning light colours are significant and have the following
uses:
RED is used to warn drivers of concerns which may endanger them (e.g. Seat
Belt Warning, Brake System Warning, etc.) or to indicate potentially serious
problems with the car (e.g. Low Oil Pressure, Low Engine Coolant, etc.)

B - Controls
1-B-6
Information/Warning Lights
Ignition Warning Light (Red)
Illuminates when the ignition is switched on. Extinguishes when
the engine is started and battery charging commences.
Brake Warning (Red)
Illuminates when the brake fluid level is low. May
illuminate with the ABS Warning Light.
Note: When the ignition is turned on, the Brake warning light will illuminate
briefly and extinguish if the brake fluid level is within specification.
Parking Brake Warning (Red)
Illuminates when the parking brake is applied
with the ignition On.
Low Coolant Level (Red)
Illuminates if the level of the engine coolant in the header is
tank is low.
Oil Pressure Warning Light (Red)
Illuminates when the engine oil pressure falls below minimum.
Do not continue driving if this light remains illuminated.
Consult your Dealer immediately.
Seat Belt Warning (Red)
This warning lamp will illuminate and a chime will sound if the
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the ignition is switched
on.
Hazard Warning (Red)
Flashes in time with the external indicator lamps when the
hazard warning lamps are switched on.

B - Controls
1-B-7
Door or Boot Open (Red)
Indicates that any door and/or the boot is open.
Gearshift Warning (Touchtronic transmission only) (Amber)
Indicates that a concern is detected in the gearshift electronic
control system. Consult your Dealer if this light illuminates.
ABS Warning Lamp (Amber)
Indicates a concern in the ABS control circuits. Consult your
Dealer immediately if this light remains illuminated.
Low Fuel Warning Lamp (Amber)
Illuminates when the fuel level drops to approximately 20 litres
(4.4
imp gallons / 5.0 US gallons).
Check Engine (Amber)
Indicates that an anomaly is detected in the engine management
system. The vehicle may go into 'Limp Home' mode with the
possibility of reduced engine performance.
If the lamp is on constantly, complete your journey and consult
your dealer at the earliest opportunity.
If the lamp flashes, a misfire is occurring which could damage
the catalytic convertor. Stop as soon as possible in a safe
location and have your car recovered to an Aston Martin
dealership.
Low Screen Wash (Amber)
Illuminates to warn you when the level of fluid in the screen
wash reservoir is low.

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-10
Instruments
Voltmeter (top left)
Shows the battery voltage when the ignition is turned on and shows the
voltage delivered from the alternator when the engine is running.
Fuel Gauge (bottom left)
The DB AR1 fuel capacity is 82 litres (18 Imp gallons / 21.5 US gallons). The
low fuel warning lamp will illumunate when approximately 20 litres (4.4
imp
gallons / 5.0 US gallons) of fuel remain.
Note: Approximately 7 litres of the total fuel capacity specified above is required
to prime the fuel system and is therefore not usable.
Tachometer (centre left)
Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute x 1000.
Trip Meter/External Temperature Digital Display
The tachometer also contains the trip meter/external temperature display.
Trip Meter - The trip meter may be used to record the distance travelled on
individual journeys. Whilst the trip reading is displayed, it may be set to zero
by holding the trip button pressed for more than about two seconds.

B - Controls
1-B-11 External Temperature Display - Press the trip button briefly to display the
external temperature. Whilst the external temperature is displayed, press
and hold the button to change between °C and °F readouts. Briefly press the
button again to return to the trip display.
Gearshift Indicator (centre top)
Indicates the current gearshift mode on DB AR1 fitted
with 'Touchtronic' transmission. 'A' indicates Automatic
mode. A number 1-5 indicates the current gear selected
when in Touchtronic mode.
Speedometer (centre right)
Indicates the vehicle speed in miles per hour and/or kilometres per hour.
Also houses the odometer recording the total distance travelled by the
vehicle.
Oil Pressure Gauge (top right)
The oil pressure gauge is graduated in bar (1 bar 14.7 psi). Normal oil
pressure at medium engine revs should be in the range 3-6 bar.
Engine Coolant Temperture Gauge (bottom right)
In temperate climates, normal coolant temperature is indicated with the
needle to the left of the 'N' position, but coolant temperature will vary
(within the range 92 - 105°C) dependent on ambient temperature and
driving conditions.