Bellissimmo Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 Yes, they're very highly strung machines - they have to be serviced every 500 miles 😬 😬 😬 I was told that, in spite of what it said in the handbook (500 miles), the first service is recommended at 1,000 miles (and that's what it says on the noticeboard in Dartford). Can't see that it makes much difference as all they seem to do is an end-to-end 'spanner check' . I changed my own oil & filter at 1,000 miles so I was fairly relaxed with taking it in at 1500 for the 'service'. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Yep, it's that Ford boat anchor you got in there... Rover still goes in after 500, and every 3000 after that I think? Mine was delivered in March. Rookies - 400 miles since June? You should be ashamed!!! 😬 John _________________________ Bugsy: '82 2cv6 (Hitting it fixed it ) Talloulah: '08 1.6K Classic (Tarnishing nicely ☹️) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheManAlive Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 OK, i am being really simple here, i know, but have i got this correct. the handbook is wrong. I didnt need a 500 mile Service, I should have done it at 1000. having had a 500 mile Service, when should I get it done again? 6000? (with all these silly questions, i sometimes wonder how on earth I managed to build this thing) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickrick Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Which car do you have? I had to change the oil on my VVC R300 at 500 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheManAlive Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 125 Roadsport sv with the Sigma engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickrick Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Must type faster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickrick Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Ignore me. I'll get back in my box! 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellissimmo Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 TMA, I wouldn't get too worked up about it. As I say, the first service seems mostly about checking levels and making sure your nuts are tight 😳 so it really doesn't matter if you do it at 500 or 1,000 (unless something falls off at 750!!) I can't recall what the service schedule is (you may well be correct at 6,000) but if I remember while I'm there tomorrow, I'll make a note of it and post it up here. The build manual suggests putting cheap and cheerful oil in for running-in, which I did. So when I started using the car a bit harder at 1,000 miles, I decided it was time to replace the Halfords cheapo with something reassuringly expensive. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheManAlive Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 OK.I dug out my paperwork and found the service schedule. 1st is supposed to be at 1000, but second service is at 12 months or 6000. I had the oil changed at the first service having run the engine in. Back to the main subject, I want my new diff 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellissimmo Posted October 11, 2008 Author Share Posted October 11, 2008 Looks like they've cracked it !! New diff is much much quieter than the old one - I've discovered that my engine makes broom-broom noises as I go along! There's a very slightly greater tendency for it to knock a bit between power and overrun and vice versa. It seems to perform better too but that may just be because I'm longer worried that the diff is going to explode! John, Thanks for meeting me up there and for the mini-blat. Shame 'er indoors was in a hurry to get to the shops else we could have had a much longer run. Vip, Rajah, Time for a call to Caterham - if yours are as noisy as mine was, it's well worth getting it done. Oh, and another *thumbup* *thumbup* for Sharon - attentive as ever - she even managed to blag a set of Snap-on allen keys from the service techs for me to tighten up my mirror stalks. 😬 😬 Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheManAlive Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Wooohooo!!!! Great news! I'll be calling Caterham first thing on Monday 😬. How long did they have to hang on to the car for? When I swapped my diff it took about 10 hours. I guess they can whip out the old and in with the new much much much faster than that! Bellissimo - Hope the blat was a blast. The weather was perfect for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellissimmo Posted October 11, 2008 Author Share Posted October 11, 2008 TMA Can't tell you how long it took. For my convenience, I took it in last Saturday and picked it up today. Just as well I did because, in addition to the service and the diff, they also replaced a leaky rad and the brake light switch (thank goodness for the warranty!!) The mini-blat with John was no more than 20 minutes so when I stopped to refuel at Maidstone, I told SWMBO to press on while I filled up. As soon as she was on her way in her car, I set the SatNav to 'avoid highways' and turned a 40 minute motorway run into a 90 minute blast through a-roads, b-roads, country lanes and cart tracks. Absolutely fantastic drive in terrific weather. Got told off when I arrived home but, as they say, sometimes it's easier to apologise than get permission. 😬 😬 😬 Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheManAlive Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 Ah, the sneaky-blat, the close cousin of the blatt-ette and best friend of the blattlet! I spent the afternoon cleaning all the muck and grime from last sunday's airfield day. How a car can get so dirty when there was so much rain, I'll never understand. The car has a whole new host of stone chips, or as SWMBO said 'marks of honour'! 😬 Bless her, she gets the whole idea of Caterhams. They're there to be enjoyed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rookies Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Steve Thanks for the update - think i'll book it in for a first service and see what they say about it. Its good to know that there might be a fix. John - in some form of defence, the 2nd June was delivery of a box of bits. Build took just over a month but it was only finally registered in the middle of Sept! (mostly thanks to the truly diligent chaps at the SVA centre - mustn't forget that Xmas card this year!!!!) Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 😶🌫️ You are forgiven, rookies 😬 I took 8 weekends to build the car, no hurrying, then another 8 weeks to get it registered. Such bureaucracy. Steve no problemo, good to know there's a massive improvement. I think there's some warranty work to be done to mine now, I don't like the graunching! Next time you're down, we'll do some better roads where you can concentrate on the driving rather than the noises the car makes! John _________________________ Bugsy: '82 2cv6 (Hitting it fixed it ) Talloulah: '08 1.6K Classic (Tarnishing nicely ☹️) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vipdesilva Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 Great news about the diff fix Steve. Will ring Sharon and see if I can persuade her to replace mine too. Very envious of your long blat, I've spent the weekend driving to and from Aberdeen in a diesel golf and the poor caterham has been shut away in the garage. Vip Build Pics: here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beverlonian Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Bellissimmo / Steve just thought I would drop a line to say I'm glad all came well with the new Diff. I'm like a lot of others I guess, unless we share what things are like we will never know what they should be like Andy Bravo.... BlatChat 😬 PLOD's been, waiting for DVLA again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm1sim Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Interesting thread this one. I have had a new r300 for about a week now and find the noise on lift off/overrun incredible. I feel it is gearbox rather than diff but whatever it is it is a very rough sounding noise. Yes, the diff clunks a bit but I really think that is my fault as I am not yet as smooth as I should be. Time and miles should cure - hopefully! Could it just be that they forgot to put oil in gearbox? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R300 Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I find that if you wear some ear plugs /defenders or listen to an ipod as i do it take out alot of the clunks and whines of the gearbox and diff and leaves you with the sound of the engine and a better driving experience . 04 Blue/Orange Superlight R300 Going no where fast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin J Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Agree Nigel. Earplugs etc makes it a much more pleasant experience What next, sound proofing in a caterham! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam3s Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 i use me ipod, then only thing i hear is the limiter or a crunch when i miss a gear lol, it has taken me some getting used to the whine and clunks, but i do have a lsd so ill just live with it, or drive sideways more often no clunk when the diffs locked 😬 J7BYY Kwak Green SLR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Don't drive it without hearing protection Malcolm !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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