Dropped off my 2015 AM V8 Vantage for 15k service and oil change at an Indy I used a lot when I had Jaguars years ago. Specializes in British cars. I doubt the owner would remember my name. Just got a voice mail from the girl at the front desk. She said the check engine light came on and the car needs the O2 sensors replaced. Note....not that they read the codes but the CEL came on. Owner is at lunch so won't be back for another hour.

I don't believe in coincidences....

What would you guys do?

 

Oxygen sensor faults are very common on these cars. If you live in a state that covers emissions warranty 7/70. AM dealer would be no charge to replace.

$15k for a service should include the sensors. Haha.

 

Yes that service must be extraordinary🙂
I would ask which sensors and how much. The upstream seem to wear more often, and access on a 2015 is a bit of labor. Dealer parts cost to you may be around $600 for the pair, not sure about the downstream sensor pair cost. There are alternative OEM part suppliers for some savings, and potentially non-OEM equivalent O2 sensors for a lot less. When it comes to sourcing OEM or cheaper equivalents, be aware that later 4.7’s (I have a 2014) use a different sensor than what is more commonly available or mentioned on various DIY threads. The correct part for the later year upstream sensor is BG33-9F472-AB.

 

And 15K miles is not too early for an O2 sensor failure.

Here’s an interesting FYI that I was not fully aware of, the Federally Mandated Extended Emissions Warranty. Unfortunately O2 sensors aren’t covered after two years but catalysts and a couple major emissions components are covered for 8 years/80K miles.

https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100NNQH.pdf

The regulation actually states that independent shops are not required to inform you that an emissions repair may be covered free! So head to an authorized Aston dealer or repair shop if you fail a state emissions inspection and suspect an issue covered by the federal warranty requirements.

 

Looks like you wrote this real time. Did you get to talk to the owner now?

Indies are usually really good. Often the owners came from dealerships where they were master techs. This owner, let's call him Gregory just to give him a name, is probably really thorough. If they ended up with a fault code for a failed (or failing) O2 sensor, ask what failed. Is it the O2 sensor? The heater? What was the fault code?

If it's the heater that is failing, this will keep throwing fault codes until you replace it. If it is the O2 sensor, then has it failed, or is it getting "lazy"? Ask "Gregory" if he DLed the sensor.

Either way, heater failure or O2 sensor failing, you want to get it changed, but 15K miles is kinda soon for an O2 sensor. Still, a code is a code.

 

Sensors on all these cars are very sensitive. Don't know what was involved in the 15k service but I would have them complete the service then clear the code and see it it comes back

 

There is no 15k service for these cars. Every 10k.

 

I was talking about $15k amount. These cars use MAF for air / fuel adjustment so the O2 sensor (if bad) would use a standard O2 sensor. This Indy shop is probably going to make in excess of $5k on this job. A good aftermarket O2 sensor (NGK or BOUSH) would cost them $100. Labor should be less than 1/2 hour. How do I know this? I work at a shop that works on Astons

 

Thanks everyone. Yes, a real time question and I am glad that service does not cost 15 Grand!

I called the shop and told them to just clear the code which they did. $427 for the oil change.

Drove it for the rest of the day with several stops and starts and the CEL did not come back on. Note that there is a 15K service since the reminder came up on my message screen at 14,900 miles.

It really is a no win for the Indy and for me. I really like the owner, but I lost trust…and he lost a customer. I like to support the “little guys” and my Porsche Indy is awesome, Becks European in Scottsdale for those that live close by.

I have an OBD reader so I’m going to take a look this weekend. If the code comes back I’ll take it to the AM Dealer since the odds of that code being randomly thrown while in the hands of a mechanic are just too much for me to believe.

Thanks again and have a great weekend.

 

I guarantee that replacing the driver side upstream sensor on a 2015 4.7 Vantage will bill at more than 1/2 hour. Just get under the car and look.

 

Every few month my sensors get finicky, then they go off again. I'll replace them all someday but they're 12 years old, they have a right to be cranky. They're easy to replace on a 2010.

 

It's a manifold cat so the 02 sensor is up top. Get to it from the engine bay

 

You sir get an Internet beer while I enjoy my humble pie. And I was about to throw in the towel.
Thanks!

 

The owner's name is Greg. Maybe I should start believing in coincidences????

 

I know British Automotive Repair and they are good people. They are not the kind of place to use underhanded tactics to create work for themselves.

O2 sensors do need replacement, and codes can sometimes be transient when things are on the edge of efficiency or failure range. It's possible that the codes might not come back on for a while, but have 100% confidence that if they stated that something happened, they are telling the truth.