2003 ASTON MARTIN DB AR1 Q maintenance

v
DB AR1 Owner's Guide Contents
Introduction
Vehicle Provenance iii
Warnings, Cautions and Notes vi
General Information vii
Reporting Safety Defects (USA) x
Reporting Safety Defects (Other Markets) x
Regular Checks xi
Glossary of Terms xii
Section 1 - Owner's Guide
Before Driving 1-A-1
Controls 1-B-1
Driving 1-C-1
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning 1-D-1
Security System 1-E-1
Owner Maintenance 1-F-1
Specifications 1-G-1
Section 2 - Service Schedules & Service Records
Service Schedules 2-A-1
Service Records 2-B-1
Section 3 - Warranty and Emergency Service
Warranty 3-A-1
Aston Martin Emergency Service 3-B-1
Section 4 - Dealer Directory
Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. Worldwide Dealer Directory 4-A-1
Section 5 - Index
Index 5-A-1

vii
General Information
DB AR1 Owner's Guide
This Owner's Guide forms part of the essential vehicle equipment for
homologation purposes and must remain with the vehicle at all times.
Important Safety Information
1. Always wear your seat belt.
2. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
3. Always obey all speed and traffic laws and regulations. Never drive
faster than the posted speed limit or than conditions allow.
4. Be particularly careful driving on slippery or wet surfaces.
5. Your DB AR1 is a high performance car and has handling
characteristics that you may not be accustomed to. Familiarise
yourself with the car and always drive prudently, being aware of
your own limitations and the limitations of the vehicle. As with
other vehicles of this type, failure to operate the vehicle properly
can result in accident and injury.
6. Follow the maintenance schedule prescribed in this guide.
7. Never allow your DB AR1 to be driven by inexperienced drivers.
8. Never allow your DB AR1 to be worked on by unqualified individuals.
9. To be sure that you are receiving qualified technical assistance
using correct parts, have all service work performed by an Aston
Martin dealer.
10. Use snow tyres in winter conditions
DB AR1 Owner's Guide

viii
Maintenance and Servicing
Regular maintenance and servicing is the responsibility of the owner.
Regular routine maintenance helps to prevent unnecessary breakdowns
and inconvenience. Each vehicle is given a full Pre-Delivery Inspection to
ensure that all systems function correctly and that the vehicle meets its
specifications. Failure to carry out maintenance at the recommended
intervals could result in deterioration of vehicle performance and possible
infringement of regulations. Such lack of proper maintenance may also
adversely affect your warranty protection.
Your Aston Martin dealer will arrange for appointments on a distance or time
interval basis to ensure that all routine and corrective maintenance work is
undertaken and recorded in the 'Service Schedules and Service Records'
section of this Owner's Guide.
Location of Components
When reading component descriptions or when
following procedures in this Owner's Guide, the
following convention is adopted for locating items
within the vehicle.
All directions are described as viewed from the
driver's seat. Thus the fuel filler cap indicated on this
diagram will be described as "located at the rear left
side of the vehicle".
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

B - Controls
1-B-21
Electric Window Switches
On either side of the gear selector lever are two identical
rocker switches to control the movement of the electric
windows.
With the ignition on and the doors closed, press and hold
the down (hollow) arrow to lower the window.
Press and hold the up (solid) arrow to raise the window.
Note: The electric window will only operate if the door is
closed.
Electric Window 'One Touch Down' Feature
Briefly press and release the down (hollow) arrow to lower the window fully.
Pressing the button again will stop downward window movement.
WARNINGS: Clear all obstructions before raising the window. When leaving the
vehicle, remove the ignition keys. Misuse of window switches, especially by
children, can cause injury.
Note: If battery power to the electric windows has been interrupted for any
reason, they will fail to operate correctly until reset using the procedure described
in 'Owner Maintenance'.

F - Owner Maintenance
1-F-1
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................ 1-F-2
Servicing Precautions ...........................................................................1-F-4
Fluid Level Checks ............................................................................... 1-F-6
Wheels and Tyres.............................................................................. 1-F-13
The Vehicle Toolkit ............................................................................ 1-F-18
Jacking and Wheel Changing............................................................. 1-F-22
Vehicle Recovery............................................................................... 1-F-26
Electrics .............................................................................................1-F-30
Fuse Boxes........................................................................................ 1-F-38
Bulb and Fuse Replacement ...............................................................1-F-42
Bodywork and Fittings....................................................................... 1-F-54
Vehicle Cleaning................................................................................ 1-F-54
Storing the Car - Recommendations ...................................................1-F-58

F - Owner Maintenance
1-F-2
Introduction
Owner Maintenance
Each item in the Service Schedules must be performed on time as failure to
do so may void the New Car Warranty or other warranties. It is the owner's
responsibility to see that the vehicle is maintained properly and in accordance
with the manufacturer's service schedules.
Due to the sophistication of the various systems and the specialised
equipment required to maintain the DB AR1, owner maintenance should
be restricted to the routine procedures given in this Owner's Guide. If you
think that the car is not functioning properly, please return it to an Aston
Martin Dealer to be checked professionally.
Electronic Fuel Injection
WARNING: Electronic Fuel Injection: If the fuel system is allowed to run dry
irreparable damage to the fuel pumps may occur.
The electronic fuel injection system requires special equipment and test
facilities to set up and maintain so that the car gives maximum performance
coupled with economy and reliability. You are, therefore, strongly advised
to entrust all service work to an Aston Martin dealer.
WARNING: Any modifications/additions to the fuel system not specifically
designed by Aston Martin are prohibited. If done, they may cause damage to the
fuel system which in some circumstances could result in fire. It is recommended
that all Service Field Actions are entrusted to an Aston Martin dealer.

F - Owner Maintenance
1-F-3
Parts and Lubricants
When undertaking a warranty servicing task, only parts, materials,
lubricants etc. that are specifically recommended by Aston Martin
Lagonda Limited should be used. Failure to do so can result in
damage to the vehicle and invalidate the New Car Warranty or
other warranties. Recommended lubricants, capacities, etc. may be
found in the Specifications section of this Owner's Guide, and are
recommended for use at all routine services whether or not under
warranty.
Emissions Warranty
The emission control systems fitted to cars for certain markets are
covered by a separate emissions warranty. A statement of the provisions
is given in the Warranty section of this Owner's Guide. You are
advised to familiarise yourself with all warranty conditions prior to
taking delivery of your car.
Engine Compartment Covers
The primary fluid level checks and reservoirs within the engine
compartment are all immediately accessible. The less frequently
maintained items are located under the engine compartment side
covers. To remove the covers, use a coin or the tool kit screwdriver
to turn the cover fasteners a quarter turn anti-clockwise. The fasteners
will pop-up and the covers can then be lifted off, along with a
rubber protection strip.
When replacing the covers, fit them into place and secure by pushing
down on each fastener and turn it a quarter turn clockwise until it
locks, then insert the rubber protection strip.