bigfoot

I've just ordered some Avon Ice Touring ST tyres to replace my 3 year old Vredestein Wintrac Extremes. Only £69 a corner from Mytyres so good value IMHO. I bought a 2nd hand set of smaller alloys (about £120 i think) for my Honda Civic a couple of years ago specifically to use with winter tyres. I've been using the Vredesteins all summer just to wear them out as they won't last another winter. They still have tread left on them so will leave it until the last minute before swapping over to the new Avons. For anyone who hasn't tried winter tyres before, then i thoroughly recommend getting some. The difference in grip when it does snow is staggering and the only time i couldn't get the car off the drive was when we had 18" of the white stuff and ground clearence was the problem. Graeme

Good news! I bought a set of mahoosive 4.5m jump leads today and started the Caterham from the tin top. The car started no problem at all so it wasn't the starter or solenoid at all. As a couple have said below it was the battery which is bloody annoying as it's supposed to be brand new We tested the battery while cracking the engine over and only get about 7 volts so there was never a chance of it firing up. I'll be making a call in the morning to get a replacement battery as it's obviously a duff one. I'll stick the old starter back on the car once it's cooled down and test with the replacement battery. If it works, which I'm sure it will, then there could well be a virtually brand new starter for sale very soon Thanks for all the help with this as it was driving me insane. Graeme

I've got my dad hopefully comng over again tomorrow night so we'll test the battery out. It would be nice if it was that as a) the battery is new and so under warranty and b) be an easy fix It's Penn 7's again a week on Saturday so maybe i can persuade someone to pop round as it's only 5 mins from The Squirrel

I tried a wire to the small tag on the solenoid with the old starter motor but no luck. I'll try the relay mod as fairly easy to do and then maybe replace all the fat cables. I did clean the ends of all of them when fitting the new starter so not sure what else to look at next.

Update - well after fitting a brand new Magneton starter motor tonight it still won't start ☹️ I'm getting what sounds like machine gun sound which could be the solenoid? All the cables look fine so maybe the relay mod is next on the list? Would a dodgy MFRU cause the solenoid to not fully energise and stop the starter firing? Graeme

I don't have an isolator switch so at least I can say it isn't that Having another look tonight with my dad, the solenoid is trying to engage but the starter just won't turn. The battery is fully charged so can eliminate that. The starter gear does feel especially stiff to turn so almost certain it's that at fault. I have to say that after having my first Caterham for over 4 years and then this current one for a similar amount of time, I've never had any problems at all. Maybe I was due some bad luck 😬 Thanks for all the suggestions guys and I'll keep you posted when I finally get it running again. Graeme

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't think it's the inertia swith as the fuel pump runs but will give it a go anyway. The battery is new and headlights work so i can eliminate that. All the connections seem clean and tight and the fact that the last time it worked no problem but now it's dead seems very strange. Maybe the garage pixies have been in messed about with it ☹️ The worse thing is the MOT is due later this month and i wanted to get it done before i fly out to China for 3 weeks in early September. At this rate it won't be back on the road until after i come back

As per countless other owners, it seems i have finally caught the k-series 'click' problem. I thought originally it was the battery as that's been playing up so i bought a new one. No joy! Whenever i try and start the car i hear a quiet 'click' but the engine doesn't turn over. I'm presuming that that's the MFRU i can hear? I haven't done the relay modification yet as the other test whereby you connect a wire direct to the small terminal on the solonoid and then touch the +ve of the battery didn't work either. Could my starter be shot? I don't want to spend £215 + VAT on something that may not be the problem. Also if i go for the Brise option, do these fit straight out of the box as i've read that some machining is required on the face plate. All suggestions gratefully received Graeme

I wondered who was flashing me Graeme

And i also saw Alan in Slough who very kindly let me out of a junction in my Caterham this evening. We briefly had a convoy going on before turning separate ways 😬 Graeme

If by Xenon you mean HIDs then on my Honda they start up with a brief flash and then change colour from greeny-blue to pure white. Incandescent headlights just come on instantly. Graeme

I fitted one of those solar chargers to my Caterham as have no power in my garage. It should do the job if it wasn't for all this snow laying on the roof at present Graeme

I have similar problems to the OP as i don't have power in my garage either. I found that my battery goes flat if i leave for a couple of weeks in the winter. I saw that Maplins were selling the 1.5W solar chargers for £10 so bought one and have just fitted this morning. To combat the elements i've left the solar panel in the plastic tray it came in and applied silicon bathroom sealer where the lead exits. The two halves of the plastic packaging are a snug fit but i stapled these together to keep most of the moisture out. My only concern is that UV light will degrade the clear plastic over time but i'll keep checking to see how it fairs. The whole ensemble is weighted down by a couple of housebricks so won't be going anywhere. Fingers crossed it works Graeme

Yes you do! We must stop meeting like this 😬 Glad to see the car on the road again. Graeme

in John Lewis High Wycombe ths evening 😬 I hope you got my present Graeme