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Kangaroo petrol


StephenR

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I'm new to seven ownership having got my 1.6 Ford Sigma engined car in April. 
 

Can anyone suggest a solution to this problem. I find my seven challenging to drive in town. I find that at low revs/small throttle angles the car jerks backwards and forwards and I have to dip the clutch to stop it. I have found that if I either take my foot off altogether and coast or put my foot down a little further I can more or less prevent it happening but this makes for uncomfortable progress in traffic. 
 

Is there something wrong with the car? I'm perfectly prepared to accept that the failing lies with the meaty part sitting in the drivers seat rather that the car itself, so if the answer is I'm doing something wrong happy to take that feedback too. 
 

Thanks

 

Stephen

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You're not alone: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=site:caterhamlotus7.club+kangaroo+sigma

You might get some improvement from pressing your knee against the sidewall and damping the control loop.

But as above there's a collection of technical problems that need to be excluded. 

Do you have the opportunity to compare it with other Sevens?

Jonathan

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Thanks for the advice. I don't know anyone else with a seven right now, although hopefully I'll be able to go on a meet and meet some soon. 
 

I'm not home right now, but when I'm back at the weekend I'll take some engine bay photos and add them here. Thanks

 

Stephen

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The TPS setting could be a reason as could a poor standard map. 

JK's idea of supporting you right leg is a good one too, and cheap to try of course!

My R400D has RBTBs and runs very smoothly from tickover but can still have the odd bout of kangarooing if not managed well. In my case it's just the sensitivity of the throttle; small movements cause accelerations and decelerations and if induced by a bumpy lane bouncing my foot, it soon gets out of hand! 

I stuck a small square of coarse emery cloth, using double sided tape, to the side panel just where my foot edge naturally touches the panel. Now, at slow speed on bumpy roads I push my foot onto this where it stays over the bumps and keeps the throttle steady. No more lurching! Simple but effective! 

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Totally agree, my Sigma 150 when it first came back from a Caterham Specialist after upgrade was undriveable, but I knew the reputation and had read the monster thread on blatchat so I knew the answer.  The TPS and idle speed where set incorrectly.  Once correct it was a honey, even pulling cleanly from 5th at 1100 rpm.  The setup would wonder over time, I think due to the small springs holding the ITB screws.  I would be aware of it after 6 months, and I would reset it every service.

The only pain is if you have a version 1 Sigma 150, where the bleed screws are under the fuel rail, fingers crossed these don't need adjustment or it can take a fair bit of time.  Version 2 resolved that problem.  
 

Finally there is various spec of quadrant (the thing the throttle cable pulls) to help drivability, but I suspect if you have an early version it's going to be very difficult to track one down now.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I had a kangaroo experience with the 620 

Solution was check and replace the Lambda sensor that is screwed into the exhaust (was pretty coked up at only 3000mls)!

Also found some loose bolts on the supercharger manifold (this could affect the idle).(in your case Plenum or vacuum leaks)?

Runs sweet as a nut now :)

Also easymap showed i couldn't get full throttle so adjusted.

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