Jonathan Kay

Is a functioning brake fluid level warning light an MOT requirement? Not explicitly. but if the system is there and not working it could fail under some catch-all wording. I haven't heard of any problems in practice. New Inspection Manual, see Section 1. Jonathan

Please send me a Private Message with your email address and details of the Seven: model, year, engine, dash etc. Jonathan

Ditto the other type! Jonathan

Welcome. Could be a loose connection as you suggest. But if the fault is inside the instrument they are repairable. I'd also be interested to know where the rev counter takes it reading from, is it off the ECU or a sensor on the engine? Have you already got a wiring diagram... let me know if not. Its a standard Caterham rev counter. If only! There at least two patterns of connector on the back... guess how I know! Jonathan

Is it possible that the float is on the bottom of the tank rather than the resistor at the end of its travel? Good luck. Jonathan PS: If there any old or tired rubber hoses nearby it might be a convenient time to replace them.

Motorbike shops are often a good source of pretty fasteners. Jonathan

You have a lot of choices, including: Fit it to a nut of known size.Align it to a bolt of known size.Measure the shank.Measure the head and use a table on the Web that links that to the size.Check the Assembly Guide.Check Shaun's bolt list.Check the fastener packs.Use BlatChat.The easiest way to measure sizes is with a pair of callipers. Lots of people seem to be using the same cheap digital callipers that are available through a lot of vendors. A combination of those methods can be pursued with a smartphone app: I like Bolt & Nut. Beware the multiple different standards used on Sevens: Imperial coarse and fine, metric etc. 5, 6, 7 and 8 can help a lot with that. "M4", "M6" etc are metric sizes. Jonathan

Yes: handbrake lever vertical. And if the screws are there they'll be at the lower rear corners. Jonathan

Some can be assembled with the bits rotated. ... ...the first instruction in the fitting guide for a Powerspeed exhaust to a K series engine is that the rear of the alternator may need rotating to allow clearance. ... Discussed here. Jonathan PS: Did you eventually remove it without having to move any of the exhaust?

Is that new electronics on the old alternator or a whole new unit? (Some can be assembled with the bits rotated.) Jonathan

Thanks to all involved. Now... which is the best single sat nav thread? Jonathan

Also just want a standard 4 point harness to replace the lap belts, that's easy to fit without drilling anything. NB You can have them made with the buckle on either the right or left lap strap and with the adjuster pulling either away from or towards the buckle. Jonathan

What Ian says. But, as you've spotted, you can change the body text and the Subject. Jonathan

Welcome ... IMHO Touring Tips is the best accumulation of wisdom. It contains some useful lists, and some very different approaches. ... On the navigation do you want: The ability to work on a computer and load the routes into the car's device?Real-time data updates?(You've already answered the other two key questions. :-) ) Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan

Is that the Caterham bag for the full hood? Thanks Jonathan PS: I need a roll for a half-hood.

Thanks Jonathan

Which engine? Jonathan

Well done. The original fault was due to a faulty toggle dip switch, a replacement was installed which also was faulty, third switch lucky after testing for continuity has solved the problem. That was unlikely, but as long as one of them was in the circuit and involved in the diagnostic procedure it needed to be excluded. If in doubt get the multimeter out! :-) Jonathan PS: I get the prop shaft UJs greased while it's up on the lift at the MoT.

I was hoping you'd spot this... do you measure every time or are there known values for Caterham configurations? Thanks Jonathan

I was going to go like for like with the Powervamp Odessy Extreme PC545 as I have the cage and everything already in place (button screw terminals etc) and fairly sensibly priced (£96 plus £7 for delviery) I've never been able to discover the differences between their ranges. But that sounds sensible. How about adding insulating shrouds on the terminals if you don't have them already? Jonathan

...however, all that has served to prove is that when it comes to electrics, I'm useless! You were spot on! But next time I guess you'll intervene at: Over the last few months, the car has been getting increasingly difficult to start (laboured) and needing time on the charger before it will go sometimes (even with a full charge, still turns over fairly slowly for a while before catching). There has also been some "goo" leaking which has left a white/cream crust on the bulkhead (passenger side). ;-) Hope you're back on the road soon for one of the greatest meals... in the world. Jonathan

I wondered when you were going to ask. :-) Does a 18.1v charge when running indicated a goosed alternator regulator, or is it OK if the battery needs a short boost for the alternator to push out a bit more (thought it was limited to c.14.4v)? That's a very high charging voltage. The alternator is probably faulty. It needs testing before it gets near another battery. Am thinking of taking alternator off to get bench tested as the "goo" leak could be linked to the alternator pushing too much electricity at the battery and its getting too hot and leaking as a protest (and possibly have killed it)? Yes. I'd take the alternator to a local specialist and ask them to test it. They can probably also repair it. If they can't Brise probably can. And if you do it that way rather than replacing it you know that it will fit back on. Yes. Most likely sequence is a faulty alternator that rogered the battery.. Does an Odessy PC545 (dry cell I think) need any special alternator set up, like a smart charge/pulse type alternator which I think are fitted to more modern car/battery set ups? That's an *AGM battery. It doesn't need a special alternator. There has also been some "goo" leaking which has left a white/cream crust on the bulkhead (passenger side). It has reached the end of its useful career:.. the accumulating knowledge on replacements is in "Whats the best battery these days?". I don't know how important it is to use a special conditioning charger. Current CTEKs have a special mode for AGM batteries. Jonathan * Despite what they say on Project Binky!

The theory: (The links are a link... ) ... Previous discussions in the archives suggest there are several variants. Jonathan

This thread might help. Jonathan