hampster

After a good wiggling around the ignition barrel the cut-out problem has not occurred again. How are you getting on with yours? Cheers til the next time....

You guys are being really helpful. I am in fingers crossed mode at present.

I wiggled every wire I could find around the immobiliser and the ignition barrel and did succeed in getting rid of the engine management orange light which is slightly encouraging. Have you had any further luck ?

Just to add Coffeekid - your dealer will almost certainly refer this back to Caterham HQ. If so, don't take any rubbish from them. After mine went back to Caterham for the fourth time, I had HRH the Chief Executive on the phone telling me the fault did not exist, no other car had had the problem and their technician could not replicate the fault. I pointed out that I had an email from their tech guy saying it had cut out on him on a test drive, but the ChX dismissed that fact and the best they offered (remember this was under warranty) was to sell it for me - complete with fault - on commission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not very helpful to you but can I say how wonderful it is to see someone describe EXACTLY the problem I have had on my 160 from when it was new. The car was built by Caterham for us and they gave-up trying to find the cause. The cut-out of all power and the speedo and rev needles taking a dive to zero for a second could happen when overtaking a big truck in the outside lane of a motorway and was terrifying to experience, even though it all came back on a split second later. I always suspected the ignition switch and got Caterham to replace it with a key switch plus starter button. This cured it for a while but this week the curse was back. I shall try all the things suggested but please keep reporting back, especially if you find the answer.

I just tried to book one of the hotel rooms on offer and the hotel website responded that it had none available. And I thought I was quick off the mark..............

I tried everything to get the £30 Road Tax, even contacting the Minister "responsible" but the DVLA are adamant that even if the manufacturer builds the car and provides all the emission test figures, it is still a kit car and the Tax is £145.

Sadly no news at all. The 160 is in our garage looking great but no more exciting than any other piece of expensive static art. Nothing further heard from Caterham so must assume they've given up. Letter on way to their ChiefX.

Thanks for all the advice and comments people. As this is a Caterham built car rather than a home constructed kit, and as to date they have willingly kept on collecting the car and tried to find and cure the fault, I don't want to fiddle with it myself. To answer Mike, yes, it starts easily every time. It often seems that turning off the ignition and turning it on again will clear the cutting out - until the next time. The other clue is that I had no such problem until I reported that it sometimes took ages to get the ignition key to slide into the lock and Caterham worked on it to "free it up a bit".

To our delight, Caterham delivered the car back. Yesterday we drove 100 miles and it cut out twice. Stopped for lunch and returned the 100 miles and it was fine. This morning I took it out in the sunshine and it cut out many times in quick succession with a whole array of warning lights flicking on and off. Pulled over and switched off. Started the engine again and drove home with no problem. My theory is that it is not the sensors but a faulty ignition barrel. What do you think?

Apparently the mass air flow sensor was faulty and they did not have a replacement part in stock so robbed it from an incoming engine and they say it checks out OK. As soon as we get it back (tomorrow) and the hurricanes cease, we will put on a fast 200 miles to check all is well. Watch this space.

Hey - The Caterham chaps are confident they have cured the sensor / management system problem and are planning to deliver our car back to us on Tuesday

and miles?

You are obviously a man of good taste and will be made most welcome. We're thinking of devising a menu for Caterhams as they wait in the car park - what do they eat?

If you want somewhere to meet, we run a licensed cafe/beer garden beside the Oxford Canal in CV21 4PP. Ample car park etc.

Thanks for the replies. Still waiting to hear when we get the car back. Will keep you informed of progress. Luckily, our other vehicle, a 1936 Austin 10 Tilly, is going faultlessly so if you have a meet, we may arrive in that.

Welcome and it seems we are neighbours as I live in Rugby. But don't hurtle over to compare cars as unfortunately our 160 is still living at Caterham HQ. It was just about to be returned when the technician thought he would give it a last test and this time found that the sensor which monitors the air that comes in from the intake was not reading correctly. They are awaiting a replacement sensor. Sorry to moan on but do let us all know if any of you have a glitch from these infernal electronics.

Thanks for response. However, what you suggest was not the problem, but a sudden completely dead engine at high turbo driven revs. You certainly would think it would be a simple fix but Caterhams finest are trying to find and cure the problem and hopefully when we get it back, we can begin to trust it again. As I said, a great little car.

Joined today - Can I be number 7 please? Our 160 was built by Caterham. Wish now I had built the kit. I think it was the first they had built for a customer and it has had a few problems. We (wife and I) bought it via the Caterham Midlands base which then closed down without a word to us. Caterham have tried their best and transported it to their HQ for the first annual service in October. Unfortunately, since then it has done more miles in their pick-up van than actually under its own power. The engine kept cutting out, usually as I'm hurtling past a huge truck, and that is very scary indeed. Latest thought is that the ECU has lost its mind. We are looking forward to actually seeing 2k on the mileage counter. Has any other 160 owner experienced similar? Shame because its a great little motor and the best drive I've ever had.