Colin Heseltine

Before I start poking about the drysump tank on my 2021 420R can anyone confirm whether the boss on the lower right hand side (as face the car from the front) is tapped ready for a temperature sender. Its rather difficult to tell without getting a camera down there. There is no plug sticking out, but could it have a short plug inserted with an allen key socket. I am thinking of blocking of the oil cooler (for the road) but would like to be able to monitor the oil temp. At the present I do not want to go down the route of oil/water intercoolers, thermostatic valves etc. Colin

Because it will be getting an oil change in 700-800 miles time (booked for early Nov) I have topped it up so hot it is just on the lower edge of the hot mark on the dipstick. Level was tested by warming car up, switching off, waiting 30 seconds, then dipping the tank. I assume that the level is with the dipstick fully screwed down. Hopefully out on a run tomorrow so will check to see what has been lost (if any after the run). Luckily do not need to remove the nosecone completely, just remove the two top Dzuz clips and it tilts forward nicely. Can anyone confirm who makes the radiators for Caterham. Several people have mentioned they through it was RADTEC. If this is the case they are only a couple of miles from me so could pay them a visit. When check it tomorrow I will measure the diameter of the top hose and check the thickness. Colin

Pic 1 shows slime from leaking top hose Pic 2 Closeup of top hose and cores Pic 3 Bottom side of core Pic 4 Bottom side of core (slightly clearer) Pic 5 Cores by top hose Bright (highlight) spots are water seepage Regarding oil. The car is dry sumped with the triangular tank. The dip stick is the correct one as per Post #110. I have emptied the catch tank a couple of times. Maybe total of 3" over three empties. Colin

My April 2021 420R has a leaking radiator. Initially found top hose too loose and horrible slime working its way down the radiator. Checked it again today, cleaned slime and tightened up top hose a little more. Then noticed a drop of water on floor. Dried it and few minutes later another drop. Close examination shows water seeping very slightly from several locations where the core is fixed into the end casing. This is on engine side of the rad on right hand side as face the front of the car. Have contacted dealer to get one in ready for 6000 mile service in 6 weeks time. Colin Also rather surprised to see oil level below bottom of dip stick. Car has done 4000 miles since had its last oil change.

Having removed relay and taken it out of the case, tapped it firmly on hard surface, reassembled and refitted. Hey Presto it works again. I have answered my own question regarding is there a separate buzzer. There obviously is but not 100% sure where located, think it is located above steering column. Colin

I had my 420R new at beginning of April and had the indicator relay fail such that the lights came on, the relay buzzer buzzed loudly. Changed under warranty by Oakmere. Today that replacement failed in the same way. Has anyone else experience this fault. I have done 5000 miles since April in the car, so a new relay every 3 months or 2500 miles will not be appreciated. Is it a combined relay buzzer or are they two separate items. I will be asking for another replacement to be posted to me as it is a bit far to go just to have one fitted. I do not want to wait till time for 6000 mile service as operating indicator manually as go round islands etc. is not fun. Colin

I will check with my colleague on their exact words, but I think they were not happy at how blinding they were. When I had the car I thought they were great to drive with. I had to talk to the tester over the phone on my mates behalf to inform him it was a kit, built by me in 1997 prior to SVA and only needed a visual test. Once informed he found appropriate bit in MOT rule book and was happy. Colin

My old car has just had its first MOT with its new owner. Car passed with just advisory on rear antirollbar link ball ends. BUT they would have failed it for having LED bulbs fitted. He had to remove them and fit standard H4 bulbs to get the pass. Colin

Its obviously a bit of a minefield. Good to see FJ accepted them as okay, but was this since the law changed? Colin

Question. As the replacement LED bulbs are now a cause for MOT fail, would they therefore cause your insurance to be invalidated, especially say you were in an accident and the other party claimed your lights had blinded them. I had put them in my new 420R but decided I did not want an insurance issue should the worst come to the worst so removed them and went back to standard bulbs. Colin

Grebby, That's Chris Ball, one of our Mid-Staffs members. He was at Brands Hatch yesterday evening ready for TD today. Hope he has not had a problem. Colin.

Problem now sorted. I removed the bolts and I could see a shiny bruise on one of the bolt ends where it had been hitting the cap head bolts holding the seat to the runners. I put an extra washer under the countersunk bolt/washer on all 4 bolts and the seat ran backwards and forwards perfectly ok. Took all the bolts out and ground/filed 2mm off the bottom of each bolt. Tested clearance using washer to simulate ali floor, once sure okay reassembled. Seat ran ok. I bent the arm to ensure it passed below the cross-member. Removed each bolt one by one and loctited it and replaced. All now fine fill movement attained. They said it was ok, but I cannot believe they tested once the bolts were all loctited in place. I have had words. Colin

I have a new 420R with Carbon tillet seats and have just had seat runner fitted to the passenger seat by the dealer. The car has lowered floors. For some reason I can only move the seat forward one notch from the fully rear position. Has anyone else had these fitted and how far does (should) the seat move. Colin

Steve, I bought it never having driven a 420R or an SV. I had sat in Richards CSR with leather seats and his mates 420R SV fitted with tillets. So just bit the bullet and kept fingers crossed. Colin

I have just had various bits done on my 420R by Dave at PPG. Very good job. The first part he came up to me and so had 1 hrs travel each way. I then decided to have the tops of front wings and the nosecone done and for this I travelled down to him. Met him at Premier Power where he can occasionally have access to the workshop to do some small bits. David, I understand that some of the newer protection films are self healing to a certain extent. Colin

When I had my 1600 K series in 1997 I was working over in Braunstone near Leicester. I parked in the main company car park but infront of one of the big concrete fence posts. A big heavy chain through the wheel and wishbone and round the concrete pillar and high quality padlock to join the two ends. Overkill maybe, but never stolen. Colin

Steve, Glad you have managed to get it out. After the weekend I think you should just give in and get 420R SV with Tillets. Lots of space round engine then. You looked at home in mine. Colin

After a two day Blat (Friday/Sat) with 6 others round the Scottish Borders with overnight in Dumfries I covered 675 miles. I averaged 30.5mpg overall, with a low of 26.6mpg and a high of 34.5mpg (return trip down M6 J40 to J15 in howling storm). My fuel gauge also now appears to behave itself. I'm wondering if the bush the float arm runs in has been sticking and has now freed off. As Geoff says above i think when down on the 1/4 mark there is at least a gallon more than one would be led to believe. Overall a lot happier with the consumption. Had a couple of minor issues with car. Indicator switch just puts indicators on and does a continous beep. The lock on the fuel filler cap gives me no confidence I will be able to either lock or unlock it. 12volt socket also appeared to fail. Few more jobs to add to the warranty list. Colin

A friend of mine has had a reinforcing bracket water jet cut out of a (i think) 2mm thick piece of steel. This is shaped a bit like a boomerang (matched to the shaped of the lower front corner of the window) and this stiffens up the corner of the door between the mirror mount and the lower hinge mount. This appears to have worked quite well. I am hopefully going to do something similar. Colin

I must admit I have not looked closely at the oil tank. Where is the tapping located (if present)(car is 2021 reg). On my old car (1600K) I switched between oil and water temp using the existing water temp gauge and a switch. Colin

ScottR400D, No he did not actually give a optimum temperature, but he did show me some of the options for getting oil up to temp. e.g. Ford oil/water inter-cooler (similar in function to a Laminova - but completely different shape). This (if I remember correctly) would need to fit between the oil filter and housing an be connected into the heater hose circuit. Without fitting a sandwich plate with temp sender (and extra gauge or switch between water/oil) I have no way of knowing my oil temp. I do have a infrared thermometer which I could possible use on the oil feed pipes and the oil cooler to get an idea. It will be interesting to see what oil is used when it goes for its first service next week at the supplying dealer (Oakmere) Colin.

Out in car today for a steady run over to Premier Power. The temps were up to 90 very quickly and stayed between that and 95 all the way. While I was there I had quick chat to Stuart about temperatures and he was happy with the water temps but suggested that for road use the oil cooler is blanked off. Its great on track but not helpful on road as oil does not come up to optimum operating temp. Colin

Just checked on my car and it looks as though I have the long version of the thermostat. I will be out in the car on thursday so will watch the temps a little closer. I have an OBD reader but have not yet tried attaching to car to see what info it will display. What data does Easimap display bearing in mind that the ECU is locked. Colin

Jonathon, Thanks for message. I tried to reply but get mesage that your mailbox is full. Regards, Colin

What are the typical water temperatures people are seeing on a 420R. I have just over 1000 miles on the engine. I am normally around 90 degrees. If sat in traffic it goes up to around 95 and then the fan kicks in. I noticed last weekend a couple of times it dropped back to around 70 when we were high up in the Peak District. Its due its first service at Oakmere in couple of weeks time so I want to ensure any possible issues are looked at. Colin