A $22,000 Aston Martin with a V12 sounded like a purchase worth celebrating. Its new owner had even remembered to warn his dad about the one thing they needed to check, then forgot to check it anyway.
Pennsylvania car YouTuber Ed Gasket documented the purchase of a 2006 DB9 convertible in a video published October 17. A surgeon colleague was moving and wanted to sell, giving Ed a chance to buy a car he’d long admired.
The seller had mentioned electrical trouble, and Ed arrived prepared for a car that might not start. Pressing its battery reset button brought it to life, and it even went into gear. He arranged a tow and wired the money.
Only later did he try the convertible roof. Nothing happened, and a malfunctioning dashboard gave him another problem to solve. What he’d pictured as a weekend makeover would leave the Aston apart for weeks.
One Little Button
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During the collection, Ed had specifically asked his dad to help him remember the roof. Their attention shifted to getting the car home, with tow-truck delays leaving time for lunch together near Villanova University.
His dad also persuaded him to tow the Aston rather than drive it an hour at highway speed. It hadn’t been driven regularly for five years, so getting it running hadn’t settled whether it was ready for that trip.
Back home, the roof switch produced no movement or even a click. During a fuel run, Ed also found that the instrument cluster wasn’t showing his speed or engine activity.
A replacement battery seemed worth trying, especially since he’d already bought one for roughly $250. Installing it meant working behind the rear seats, but the dashboard soon cut out again, and the roof stayed put.
Online research led him to the convertible roof module, the computer that controls the top. When he disconnected it, the dashboard worked again.
Across the Pond
A call to Long Island Sports Cars brought a quote of nearly $3,900 for a replacement module. It would also need programming to work with the car. Ed thanked the parts employee and went looking for someone who could repair his existing unit.
He found Aston Spares in Wales. The company’s repair-service page describes how failed roof modules can disrupt the car’s low-speed communications network, causing intermittent dashboard failure and roof trouble.
The business lists a £350 repair before VAT and says it replaces faulty circuit-board components and updates the software. Ed sent his module overseas while he tackled other maintenance, including worn-out struts that let the heavy doors swing shut as he tried to get out.
After the module returned, he reinstalled it and confirmed the trunk opened again. By the final roof test, the Aston was fully assembled for the first time in six weeks, and Ed put his total investment at $26,000.