Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Hi allTook the car out for a few short runs yesterday, no problem. Start the car yesterday evening and engine barley able to idle and strong smelling black smoke coming from exhaust. Took it to the shops today and again was all I could do to keep engine running. Now the only thing I have done since it ran well was fit a battery master switch but I fail to see how that would account for the smoke.Anyone able to submit a few possibilities for what it could be? Sounds pretty disastrous to me Many thanks in advanceRogerUpdate: Yes I discovered the hose that wasn’t going anywhere was supposed to go somewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 The obvious thing is to look for something wrong or missing relating to the work you have done. Is it a simple two terminal switch breaking the live or ground connection to the battery ... or an FIA switch with other terminals. LooK for missing earth connection or a disconnected sensor ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Mason Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Black smoke sounds like unburnt fuel and would account for rough running. When the battery master switch was changed, have any sensors been inadvertently left without power? White smoke (water in combustion chamber) or blue smoke (oil) would be more worrying I would say? Sounds like the mapping has gone squiffy? Is it running on 4 cylinders but just really lumpy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Mason Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Black smoke sounds like unburnt fuel and would account for rough running. When the battery master switch was changed, have any sensors been inadvertently left without power? White smoke (water in combustion chamber) or blue smoke (oil) would be more worrying I would say? Sounds like the mapping has gone squiffy? Is it running on 4 cylinders but just really lumpy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 1, 2018 Member Share Posted July 1, 2018 The obvious thing is to look for something wrong or missing relating to the work you have done.Agreed.Has it ever run properly since you fitted the battery master switch?...When did you last refuel it, and what did you put in? Could that fit the time course of the problem?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Thanks for the replies. Currently the switch is just a simple break in the +ve. It’s the Caterham part. I plan to add the extra wires to protect against switch off when running but was keen to test what I had done first.I think it is running on 4 cylinders but you can hear the revs going slightly up and down on a 4 second cycle. What it doesn’t like is accelerating. It splutters while accelerating and then nearly dies when you take the foot off. To be honest not so sure what colour the smoke is now. It happens when accelerating. I did change the red cable going to the starter solenoid so there is a chance I disturbed something. As a precaution I removed all cable ties on that run and replaced them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Unplug the lambda sensor and see if that instantly cures it. It will run ok without it. If so .. replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 The one on the cat right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Yessir. There will be a connector along the cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Just tried that a lot noisier (predictably?) but it won’t sustain idle and still plenty of smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Ah I unscrewed the sensor :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Now try it properly ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 SM25T can you guess where the connector may be or what it looks like? I have commitments this evening and out tomorrow but will have a look on Tuesday. Much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Just follow the wire back from the sensor for about a foot and you will find it is plugged into the main loom. Unplug it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 And Jonathan, I filled it up Friday with Shell premium unleaded. It was 1/3 full at that point of quite ordinary unleaded. I have looked reasonably closely at the wiring run. It did worry me that there were a few connectors joining some quite thin wires but they look intact. If I knew where they went I could test for continuity. It needs a good block of time to do it justice. Thanks for posting the location Revilla. I will take a look on Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Oh and the fumes seem quite toxic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 1, 2018 Member Share Posted July 1, 2018 Have you got the appropriate wiring diagram?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Isn't there also Shell Premium diesel ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 As far as I know (and hope) you can’t get a diesel pump in a Caterham aluminium fuel cap. It can’t be coincidence that this happened after I worked on the wiring? Maybe me tie wrap gun was set too high and damaged a wire somewhere?i will report back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 1, 2018 Member Share Posted July 1, 2018 As far as I know (and hope) you can’t get a diesel pump in a Caterham aluminium fuel cap. I don't know about those particular fillers, but it has been done on other Sevens: that thread contains notes about Shell and BP pumps and labelling, see also #18 above.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Nicolas proved that you can fill a Caterham with Shell V-Power diesel ... and got an award for it at the Christmas dinner in Belgium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Have you got the fuel receipt ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 No I believe I declined one. I am reasonably sure it was unleaded because I was surprised that super unleaded was absent from the V Power fuel. I did a good 80 miles after filling up, including being stuck on the M25 for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2cv7 Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 I tried Diesel in mine this afternoon...Could not get it in M'Lady.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Oh dear. Good to hear.I did actually find a receipt - for unleaded. One possibility eliminated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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