Electrical Gremlins - 2005 SV

[CPGCharlie]

Hi guys, 

I'm experiencing all sorts of electrical gremlins, since my 7 had a visit to a Caterham "specialist" and the car has been returned to me much worse than it was delivered. ( they did replace some bushes and rose joints that were overdue - yay) 

On driving the car back from Maidenhead, on full tap acceleration the car would just cut out - which had a worse effect than randomly slamming the breaks on. not safe, very unhappy, managed to crawl home.

Tacho and Speedo dead, no life. bulbs gone everywhere, half the dash lights gone. it's a meltdown. 

The first thing i need to get my hands on is the wiring diagram for 2005 SV (if its ever really changed?) 

If anyone can point me in the right direction i would be greatly appreciative. 

Charlie  

[Dave Hardcastle]

Apart from the fact the 'specialist' appears to have caused these problems, surely it's up to them to put it right? It doesn't sound as though they could make it much worse!

[CPGCharlie]

they are just denying it, and insinuating i drove it to them for the service/tune, with no gauges or electrics working and it cutting out. Apparently i must have just missed all of that, over the 4 years I've owned it and had no problems. 

They also kept the car so long the MOT ran out and then couldn't be MOT'd as the Speedo didn't work, so going in for a service and tune t came back un roadworthy. Has been off the road 

traumatic experience, absolute disgrace 

[CPGCharlie]

really made me consider selling it 

[Budjuggler]

Ah! Did you go to PT Sportscars by any chance?

[CPGCharlie]

Yes, please suggest an alternative in the Hampshire / Berkshire area 

[K7 VCT]

Sounds like a speed sensor,  though  you may still have a cable drive speedo ?

My sigma cars speed sensor died and I had np gauges at all, no indicators etc.

I would travel further a field for7 works.

Sevensandclassics.com, millwood motors etc

Others around 

I travel from west Oxfordshire to brands hatch

I would not goto Maidenhead specialist....

Best of luck

[John Vine]

Can you tell us which model/engine?

ETA:  Is this event connected in any way?

JV

[CPGCharlie]

Hi John, it's a 2.3 Duratec R

yes the same event te car as been off the road since, I've ben out of the country for nearly 4 months, just trying to get back to it. and looking for somewhere to take it. The wiring diagram seems like a good start though 

[SM25T]

Aware of cars with rear wheel sensor Speedo drive where cable was cable tied to chassis and chafed through causing a total engine fail.

[CPGCharlie]

intersting will check as do not know 

[BigCol]

For wiring diagrams, see final pages of this.

[John Vine]

Do you know the provenance of the car?   What engine was in there before the 2.3D?  Are the looms (chassis and engine) bespoke items or simply modified from the original?

It appears from your other thread (linked in #8) that you have a digital speedo.  Is it driven from a gearbox sender or a driveshaft sender?

I know nothing whatever about DTAFast ECUs.  Will the regular 7 specialists be familiar with yours?  What diagnostic tools are available (equivalent to SBD's Easimap)?   

JV

[Richard Price]

"I know nothing whatever about DTAFast ECUs.  Will the regular 7 specialists be familiar with yours?  What diagnostic tools are available (equivalent to SBD's Easimap)? "  

DTA SWin software is required to communicate with DTA S-series ECUs

https://www.dtafast.co.uk/download_files/PC_Software/DTASwinSetup%20v90.31.zip 

plus a cable like this:-

https://www.dtafast.co.uk/dta_products/serial-cable-2/    (or, see the bottom of this page to make your own cable http://www.quantums.info/injection.htm )

and a USB to serial adapter (preferably with a Prolific chipset) - https://www.dtafast.co.uk/dta_products/usb-to-rs232-adapter/

DTA normally reply quickly to email questions, and there is a fairly active and helpful forum here :- http://www.dtaforum.com/

 

 

[Jonathan Kay]

If you'd like the wiring diagrams for your Seven or the Workshop Notice for the revised speedometer wiring please send me a Private Message with your email address.

Jonathan

[Jonathan Kay]

As upthread there are reports of electrical problems elsewhere caused by faults with electronic speedometers.

But we need to know what sort of speedometer you have, as requested by John Vine.

Jonathan

[samsul]

I had a similar issue, albeit with a k-series car. Turned out to be corroded wiring running to/from starter motor and battery causing a short.

Feel for you and hope you get it sorted quickly.

All the best,

Sam

[CPGCharlie]

Thanks Sam, something i will try to investigate.

When it happened with you did the car run fine for most part, started normally...? just had no gauges and all sorts of intermitteet electical issues? 

[samsul]

Hi, yes. The car would run fine for the most part but would occasionally simply die; complete loss of electrical power and motor. Happened on a few occasions and under different conditions (lights on/lights off, over a speed bump etc.). Like I say, turned out to be a short due to corroded wiring.

Can't say for sure this'll be your issue because I know very little about k-series cars and even less about Ford engined cars but perhaps a lead to investigate? 

Hope you get there!

Best,

Sam