David aka Blue7

While waiting for CC to confirm that I would be ordering the correct replacement water temperature sensor via 'ask an expert / phone a friend' I decided to clean up the sensor positive and earth terminals and smear them with vaseline and would you believe that this has resolved the problem and the gauge is now working again! Golden rule ... always check the simplest possible solutions first. David

Thanks for the quick reply Jonathan. Great photo, my wires are identical colour. Yes all electrics working fine but towards the end of last year the water temp readings were a bit erratic and I suspected the sender unit may be on its way out. I have just tried loosening it and it wouldn't budge so warmed the engine up and managed to loosen it until coolant started to leak so I will wait until it has cooled down before going any further and maybe look for some coolant seal to spread on the thread. Many thanks David

First run of the year and water temp gauge not registering which is probably the sender unit. Looking under the bonnet this morning I seem to recall that this is the CSR260 sender unit but would appreciate confirmation from someone who has replaced one of these units? Circled in red in the photo below David

I haven't heard of suction sunvisors? I did try the strip across the top of the windscreen but it didn't really help much and even a long peak baseball cap can be ineffective, I eventually resorted to planning my route so that I traveled southwards outgoing so the low sun is behind me when returning home.

#28 I hope your mate Brice Lee paid for the new windscreen CC actually sell pads at £2.08 each plus postage, I should have maybe looked there to start with but I now have the 3M VHB on order. Reading the instructions, it would appear that compression of the pad is key because the glue only comes out when the pad is compressed and it seems to take 48 hours to fully cure so I will wait for some warmer weather and then delicately clamp it with a G-cramp. Meantime I have ordered a suction mirror as backup ... I liked the blue tint https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08NJZ61NN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I resurrected this thread because I just lifted the cover off my 7 to find my interior mirror on the floor. I had to replace my mirror last year due to desilvering around the edges. I used these pads to secure the new mirror, heating the windscreen with a hair dryer and cleaning with the supplied alcohol wipes. It worked well all year but is obviously affected by winter conditions and maybe humidity. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MTOF45L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The problem surface is the glass side and I find it amusing that I have never had any problems with the Caterham original fixing ... so maybe they should use the pads they use to secure the cycle wings I have found the ultratape on Tool Station and also on Amazon where it received a carp review so I looked at the "no more nails" product which in the small print stated not suitable for glass. I have just found this Auto Express review which is worth adding to this thread, they test five products, 3M VHB come out on top followed by Gorilla https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/352468/best-car-glass-adhesive-2020 The Amazon pads have "3M" stamped on them but they are a different colour so maybe a Chinese fake? The ones shown in the Auto Express article are red and as they state, I have seen them supplied with Go Pro camera kits. They are available on Amazon but who knows if they are the genuine article so maybe I will buy direct from a specialist. I have considered a suction one, I have a suction camera mount fitted in my wife's car and that hasn't fallen off. David

The Aston Dealer has contacted us re servicing but they just want the cash to change pollen filters and turn off the annoying "service due" warning in the display ... thank the Lord that it can't talk and nag you like those BL Maestro's could It is probably a different matter if the car is under warranty but the dealer is being a tad awkward especially for 2019-20 when Garages were closed and cars were not allowed to be driven except in very exceptional circumstances. Sounds like he isn't concerned about losing a future customer or maybe he will use it as a bargaining chip to drive down the value when it comes to any future part exchange. A lot of dealers don't even bother re-selling traded in cars and just put them straight to auction. I thought that dealer servicing stamps were now a thing of the past and all servicing data was stored in the on-board computer?

Looking back at your original post you say no fuel pump click and engine will not turn, which does suggest an inertia switch problem? Before trying #5, I would bypass the inertia switch to see if it resolves the issue? John Vine explains how to do so in #13 here /forum/techtalk/what-thing-and-what-does-it-do?page=1

Some good advice above #5 is the first and easiest check and then get the geometry checked. I have had 3 CSR's, 2008, 2012 and 2015 and steering was the same with each model and I only needed Schwarzenegger biceps when parking.

I had an interesting conversation with an Aston Martin authorised service agent last year when he mentioned the fact that many owners weren't using their cars due to covid restrictions on travel and in his opinion a gap in the service schedule would not affect residual value because it would be acknowledged that cars could not be used or serviced in that particular year.

I have had 3 new CSR's from CC, there were issues with all 3, the first two were collected by CC, issues resolved and returned, which was circa 1200 mile round trip by a great van driver so full marks to CC for after sales care. This last CSR's issues were no tracker fitted, no paint protection film and no shift lights despite having paid for all three. I had to arrange for a company in Perth to apply the pp film and a company in Glasgow to fit the tracker and I gave up on the shift lights but it too eventually had to be returned to the factory because of a misfire caused by a faulty ECU map. So I have no issues re after sales care, other than the hassle of having to return the car. The 620 does seem to have a number of 'issues', which CC should take on board and resolve, otherwise it will not instill any confidence in their design and development expertise relating to a future EV7. I would imagine that they are so busy building 7's to complete present orders that they have no one available to rectify the 620 issues, in which case I would just take it on the chin and pay for the PGM fix before Spring arrives so that I could enjoy the car with confidence.

I don't see how CC can deny that there is a problem when there was a whole article in one of last years LF magazines in which CC admitted the problem and were working on a fix? Personally, I would bite the bullet and get the PGM fix. I don't know your location but there is a factory tour planned for March so if possible you should consider signing up for that and put your case to CC face to face? David

I hope it isn't a private car park that issues penalty charges!

#119 Thanks Nigel, I have just had that fact pointed out to me on another "Don't Shoot Me" thread along with the assumption that CC can't divulge details of the car due to intellectual property rights of the development partner. David

I would bet money that it is the battery, sufficient juice to crank the engine but not enough to create an adequate spark to the plugs while cranking. It is so easy to suspect something more complicated. My battery is ok at present but when it starts to fail I am thinking of fitting a lithium replacement as recently fitted by one of our local 7 owners, here https://jackwebbmotorsport.co.uk/JWM-PS-12-LiFePO4...

#114 That's an interesting article on Biden's bill for a kill switch in new cars. We seem to be heading in the same direction with our own systems which now seem to include speed limiting devices that read speed limit signs and slow the car automatically. However, I suddenly recalled a conversation I had with a company that monitor the satellite tracking system on my wife's AM Vantage. I am rarely allowed to drive it but I took it for a spin one day while she was playing golf. My oversight was forgetting to take the transponder card / pad that communicates with the tracker fitted to the car so an alert was sent to the trackers Vodaphone indicating that the car was on the move without transponder and possibly being stolen. So they phoned my wife to ask if the car was "safe" She phoned me and I said I was just stretching it's legs So I had to phone Vodaphone to confirm that the car was safe and I had just forgotten to take the transponder device. During the course of the conversation with a very nice lady, she knew what speeds I had been traveling at and where I had been and the speed limits in those places. She also said that they could actually kill the ignition but obviously would not do so while the car was being driven, however, once the car was at rest she could immobilise it if the owner had confirmed that the car had been stolen. So it seems the kill switches already exist in some cars. I had to make my own tea that night

We have to go EV, it's a cleaner fuel and will save the planet

#94 Sadly this is probably true. My guess is that Market Research will confirm that there will be insufficient demand for a car with outdated design with little or no safety features, no infotainment features and probably costing close to £100k in 2030. It would be interesting to conduct a poll here to establish who would consider buying an EV 7 and at what price. I think we used to carry out polls on the old "yellow" Blatchat? The other problem will be trade in, who is going to be interested in an ICE car with dwindling petrol stations but I suppose the Gov. of the day may introduce scrapage schemes ... perish the thought! Another matter that intrigues me is that in the 2021 Webinar, Simon Lambert said he had driven an EV7 so where is it and would it be possible to see it? I think you guys that live in the area will be attending the Caterham open day, what about asking if you can have sight of this EV7 so you can let the rest of us know what it looks like compared to an ICE 7? David

"Does it always start eventually? --> no. The last few times I just waited until next day while as a precaution charged the battery. Next day all was good; engine started directly." I think that comment may indicate the problem. I would suggest before you go delving into electrics and fuel supply that you check the condition of your battery, how old is it? I have experienced similar problems in the past, engine turns but does not fire and eventually the battery goes flat. New battery always solved the problem. David

#78 sounds very sevenesque, if they can do it with Minis, why not a 7? Caterham need to consult with Ed China, I bet he could come up with something and failing that his 'almost' namesake Dominic Chinea. Meantime there is a book to get started DIY https://www.amazon.co.uk/Convert-step-step-converting-electric/dp/1946767034/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=102453891263&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OiPBhCOARIsAI0y71Bc83AnlDOHDMv98GE5_ewXZK1T66n-FmMCsg4ZJetkMy7yC6hCtnMaAuwDEALw_wcB&hvadid=446283467216&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9046839&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=1606330858160240142&hvtargid=kwd-159535736&hydadcr=6852_1812908&keywords=electric+car+conversion+kit&qid=1643799785&sr=8-4 Or get one converted here https://vimeo.com/388299735 Configuration here but I couldn't get the video to play https://cascadiamotion.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OiPBhCOARIsAI0y71AODfke99lOohILtzGRAXJQkP8nSBqwxqBHpBB3j4TxL6fS2vjj6iIaAm8aEALw_wcB

Maybe the future energy problem could be resolved as a result of the Junor mission? Deep in Jupiter's atmosphere, under great pressure, hydrogen gas is squeezed into a fluid known as metallic hydrogen. All we need is a pipeline https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/images/index.html

#75 IMO it would at the very least have to look like a 7 in which case I would be tempted to try one. Anything that looks radically different would not do and we would be back to an S4 scenario.

#58 Stu, thanks for the link, no, I've never been to NEC despite being a native of the area. I had never heard of Zero motorbikes but I see they have numerous dealers in the UK. Looking at the top of range bike SRS at £21k it has a range of 99 miles at 55 mph and a charge time of 4 hours. It wouldn't suit the majority of bikers who obviously enjoy the sound of the bike and would desire more range but interesting nevertheless, it conjures up images of old Rockers being replaced by a new breed of Trons

Regarding the price increase, there must be some unforeseen increases in material costs unless they are adopting a 'market value' strategy for fixing end product sale price. From the webinar it appears that the new owners are taking strict control and it will not be acceptable to just break even as they did the previous year and the quoted recent profit of £20k will not be acceptable. IMO the future for CC is grim, the 2030 deadline is their sword of Damocles, they don't have an EV R&D Dept so can only sit and wait in hope that someone may come up with a suitable EV platform. In the meantime they will have to pay someone to carry out market research to establish whether or not there is a viable market for an EV7 and my guess is that there is not a viable market given price and the reduced tactile / sensory driving experience. In addition it will be unable to conform with the burdensome safety standards that continue to increase every year. My 7 driving days will probably be coming to an end post 2030 and I consider myself lucky to have experienced the joy of driving since the mid 60's when cars became exciting and affordable and if you couldn't afford a new car you could buy an old banger and shave the head, stick an additional carb on and a set of wide wheels ... not forgetting stripes of course! One vehicle that is never mentioned is the motorbike, are all the old Rockers going to be forced off the road also, I don't see any mention of EV bikes other than cycles. In any case, where is the fun in driving a fast car at 15 mph stuck behind the lycra brigade riding 4 abreast?