Q Catcher

Having Googled, I see it's Ford Ka, Puma, Fiesta, Escort ... just found one for a tenner on eBay. Brilliant. Thanks again.

Thank you very much

... Anyone know what it's off? (The conventional one, middle of the windscreen.)

Gasket arrived and fitted yesterday. Very many thanks!

Agree with SM25T about T1Rs. Plus Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 are stunning in the dry. Michelin Pilot Sport 3 are brilliant in the wet and win the aquaplaning tests. (160bhp SV, 15".)

The third new windscreen arrived on Thursday. Down at the depot, I briefly checked the top frame rail, which looked like it was actually attached to the glass. When it came to fitting it today, the lower frame rail came away from the glass. In effect, the same problem. So it's back with National Windscreens (who are still being helpful ... and nearly as exasperated as I am). I called Williams, who confirmed it didn't come via them. Separately, they've received a replacement screen directly from the factory for me. They've checked it today, and called me ... the frame is not securely attached to the glass.

Holy cow. Good luck. I had endless problems with the Motec M84 on my 964 (911). In the end, after to-ing and fro-ing with Motec themselves, the only person who could sort it out was Neil McKay of BBR-GTI in Brackley. 01280 700700.

I've been down the Odyssey PC680 route. I changed the battery box - properly engineered, it looked very neat and I felt proud ... But the battery lasted only 15 months, despite having followed the care instructions. Tayna changed it for another one, which lasted 15 months (again, strict adherence to the care instructions). So I'm back with Banner. Which necessitated changing the battery box again. I'm told by the distributors that the Odyssey and Powervamp batteries are one and the same, just different external packaging.

Yes, they do that, sir. I used to wonder what the minor squeaking noise was when pushing the car around in the garage. Since I found out, the RHS cable is now cable-tied to the diagonal.

To confirm (previous post on 20 April), yes, I'd like one, and oil change time is coming up so (while the car has got no windscreen, grr ...) it's another job I can get done. Thanks

It was brake drag on one of our tintops a few years ago: left disc hotter than right; replaced caliper, job done. The difference in disc temperatures was very noticeable, so if one's not hotter than the other, it's probably not that. Good luck.

Still no windscreen. Williams (the new dealer - very helpful) tell me they've checked their stock, found it to be faulty, and have returned it to CC.

Well, it's not Tyneside's fault. I'll come to that in a moment. National Windscreens decided they couldn't effect a satisfactory repair to the (replacement) windscreen - they've been good at keeping me in the picture - so ordered another one. It arrived today and I went down to the depot to check it. Same fault as before: the frame moves independently of the glass and you can move the rubber gasket around with your fingertips. So it can go back, too. On a different matter, I spoke with Williams, the Caterham dealer, today. In passing, I mentioned the windscreen problems and they said that they are the people supplying National Windscreens. And they confirmed that they sent my screen out yesterday. So now they're in the picture and will speak to CC about the problem. Out of curiosity, I called Tyneside, who told me that they don't assemble - they supply the glass. Someone else adds the frame and rubber gasket. I've called CC. They say they don't assemble the windscreens. So I don't know who does, but it looks like whoever it is is using a different gasket which is thinner than spec. I wonder how many they've made.

Well, I suppose I should take heart from that. Thank you for your replies. Maybe I've just been unlucky.

The windscreen is back with National Windscreens. I now know that they bought it (fully assembled) from Caterham Cars. Their initial analysis is that the rubber surround is 0.5mm thinner than the one used on the Pilkington windscreens. Their (NW's) Special Glazing Department is going to try to correct it as they don't think it's worth trying to deal with CC. I wonder: has anyone else with a Tyneside windscreen yet driven at motorway speeds with the roof on?

Funnily enough I needed some as well. So I've just been to my local bits 'n' bobs supplier (Unimaster in Newbury) and the grommets are '6mm, wiring'. (Wiring as opposed to blanking.) 6mm is the diameter of the hole in the metal skin.

Yes please. Please add me to the list.

Mine also has the rubber trim.

BTW, I helped another member assemble his new car last week. It has a Tyneside windscreen, so I presume they are Caterham's new supplier.

It was supplied by National Windscreens, fully assembled. They've said they'll take it back and either fix it or replace it. So far, a very no-quibble approach.

The old windscreen cracked ... so a new one was fitted recently. It's a similar design but from a different manufacturer, with a 'Tyneside' logo in the bottom corner. The problem is - and I didn't discover this until driving the car - that the frame is not actually attached to the glass, only wrapped around it. And because the frame is a little bit bigger than the glass, i.e. not at all a tight fit, it moves relative to the glass, creating some very undesirable effects when driving: - with the roof off, a whistling/screeching noise at anything over 60mph - with the roof on, the top 'run' of the frame lifts upwards, revealing the heater top foil strip, and, best of all, letting rainwater in. I have contacted the supplier and am awaiting their response. Has anyone else had issues with Tyneside screens?

On the rollover bar, on one of the diagonals, so that the top of the aerial is as high as it can be with the roof on. The higher the aerial, the greater the range. The aerial must be vertical.

Yep, sold.

And replied to. Thanks. (Looks like they're sold.)

I have a tyre addiction and have bought too many. It's a problem. So it's time to sell some, hence I'm offering a set of five Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R tyres, 195/50 R15 82V, for sale. I bought them last year and they've been used for one continental trip - no track use. Consequently, one tyre (the spare) has had no wear, so has nearly 7mm of tread. The other four have 6mm of tread. Check out Yokohama's spec and claims for these tyres: they were designed as a very high performance road/track tyre (not that I've ever tested them on track, as I say). They cost me over £400 for the set, so I'll accept £200 from an L7C member, providing you can collect (or arrange collection) from Newbury, Berks.