Alan Bowler

Congrats! I'm just about up to 140bhp-ish with a 6 speed - fantastic combination IMHO. Wait until you try it on a track! AB

Got the car back at last. Bill wasn't as bad as I'd feared, plus they showed me the u/s pump and borderline viscous fan. All was fine until I started to drive, the steering didn't feel right, and they flagged me down with power steering fluid pouring out all over the forecourt! An O-ring had failed, I guess when they put it all back together. Fixed that quickly enough. For the record, car is '98 but has only done 60K, so I'd say changing the pump at 80K is prudent. Tim - we are always nice. Well mostly. I am anyway. Welcome to Blatchat! Wanna buy another A4? AB

And the winner is..... water pump. The garage man says he had to take half the car apart to get at it. Wonder how many other parts that didn't fix it I'm gonna be encouraged to pay for... At least it wasn't HGF. AB

Will suggest these to the garage - thanks. They just love it when I call offering suggestions... Today they were "too busy to look at it" so I'm stuck with no tin-top for the bank hol now (Mrs+kids are gtting used to the bus). It just sounds like a water pump problem to me - can't see why they can't check it - are they difficult to get at? I hate this situation where you start losing confidence in the garage - I guess it might well be a tricky problem, and they are trying (so they say) to look at the cheapest answers first. Anyone wanna buy an A4 with a possibly blown head gasket, or that might possibly just need a new fuse? AB

Thanks for the suggestions. Ran it with the heater on full when it first overheated to try and help cool things down, but it kept blowing hot ☹️ Garage says it does seem like a circulation problem though. Don't think its an earth problem. Npthing else weird happening, and the water temp rise was steady. Maybe a blocked up radiator? Fingers crossed its not the HG. Mrs B has just been looking at Golf prices on "Drive the Deal". There goes the 7 upgrade budget for the next 5 years... AB

My 1.8 A4 (1998) is overheating. Its at a garage, but they seem to be struggling (and so is my wallet). Oil temp is OK - water temp goes off the scale when its driven. They don't see the problem when its sat idling (???) They've replaced the viscous (sp?) fan - no joy. They've now replaced the thermostat - no joy. They *think* the pump is OK, and now hope its an airlock they introduced when they replaced the thermostat, but seem to be struggling. No obvious sign of oil-in-water/water-in-oil/head gasket symptoms. I don't really want to pay for a new rad when they suggest that, only to have that not fix the problem too. Any ideas? This might start to hit my 7 upgrade budget. Cheers AB

Thanks Oily. Will try those settings, once I've got used to the new ECU. AB

Try DVA Power. Dave Andrews (aka Oilyhands) has supplied and/or fitted alot of verniers to K engines, and can advise you further as to their benefits on a specific setup. AB

1600K with Piper 633 cams (similar to SS?) + verniers + 52mm TB, standard EU3 ECU. I set the verniers at 50thou/1.25mm inlet and 35 thou/0.89mm exhaust. Cams + verniers made a big difference. I'm now getting the ECU upgraded to Supersport spec. as it feels like its running out of revs. Do the verniers need retiming with new settings? Will retiming gain me much? Cheers AB

Got my mirrors from Europa Spares. "MGA interior" mirror plus 2 x "G.P. Exterior". Loads of choice on their site. AB

Just had a conversation with MartinB about this - he wanted to swap green to blue... AB

Thanks Nigel - I think the noise was probably there before - I just don't press the pedals with the engine off much. Pedal is back to where it was (need smaller feet). Its sounds like the clutch release arm pivot - will see if I can find a pin in there that needs grease. AB

K series with 6 speed gearbox. Engine off, and after fiddling with pedal height etc., pressing the clutch pedal gives a nasty creaking sound. Cable looks fine at both ends, and the creaking is coming from the gearbox rather than the pedal. Clutch seems OK otherwise (2001 vintage, < 20K miles). Any ideas? Stop worrying? Spray alot of WD40 at it? Cheers AB mode>

Nearly ran me over on the zebra crossing 😳 M reg, BRG. I think I followed this car through the village once before. Its not right - (in camp Welsh accent).... "I'm the only Seven Owner in the Village ❗" AB

Nothing much to add other than: - I never had the problem until the FIA switch was (professionally) fitted - problem seemed a bit better after I fitted the relay mod, and replaced the "cooked" wire, but I still got a click when engine was very hot last week. Was going to clean the solonoid next, but not sure I'll bother now. I agree, it does seem like a "marginal" problem. My gut feeling is that the relay mod/new wire just reduce it for a while. - I wonder if this problem can be narrowed down to being (generally) FIA switch related (i.e. how many people only started getting the click after fitting a switch?) - Will fit a fly lead now, for those "stuck on the forecourt and no bump starters available" moments. AB

Nuther vote for the 021s. Build up your confidence on those. Save the pilots for a Dunsfold day, or another academey day. Don't spend all day swapping tyres, adjusting setup etc., just have loads of fun. The oversteer bit was a real eye opener (did it last year on ZV1s) - just how easy it is to lose the back by lifting. Don't spin off on the circuit bit at the end, as they won't let you back on! Good last session at Snetterton, though I did manage to spin at the chicane. Offside front locked up again. No damage done. Tiring drive home - 3 1/2 hours of track time was 😬 😬 😬 - will go back there again. AB

Standard CC supplied K&N minator, from an '01 roadsport. AB

New '48 on a standard caterham 14" minilite weighs 12.4 Kg according to my scales. Sounds a bit light though (6.5kg), so you might want a second opinion, or I can see if the neighbours have some smart digi scales if you are REALLY interested! AB

Tappets on mine got noisy after car did its first couple of track days. Most noticeable when the engine was hot, and then idling. Easiest way to get the problem was on starting the engine 5 minutes after a good blat, when I guess the oil was thin and could leak out. It would clear after a few minutes. Can also get it for a few seconds on cold start if the car hasn't been used for a while. Fixed by undoing LOTS of 8 mm bolts, getting them apart with a sharp tap as per Oilys advice, and then soaking them in solvent. Seems to have fixed it... While you are at it, take the well trod upgrade path of fitting verniers 😬 Hope thats all it is for you. Another K owner would probably be able to recognise the noise. I remember searching techtalk and seeing you could also get tapping from a loose cam cover. Check this first! Good luck! AB Edited by - Alan Bowler on 21 Jun 2006 21:49:44

New FIA bar (from Caged) certainly is alot thicker than the standard. I guess you are paying for strength+petty strut+FIA sticker. I would def. go for the FIA bar if you do track days. If not, if you put an ad in "Wanted", there might be a few people with standard bars they are happy to sell, after upgrading to FIA. [Also, standard boot cover just about fits the "new" FIA bar.] AB

Bought the kit last year. I asked about getting the stanchion separately, and I'm pretty sure it was (you guessed) £135. Saving from buying the screens elsewhere was (IMHO) marginal, so I got the lot from CC. Strange if they've stopped doing them. Aeroscreens/Brooklands seem to be gaining in popularity. AB

Try http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk AB

I'm trying to replace rear brake discs (de-dion). Hub nuts off OK, calipers off OK, one hub slid off the shaft fairly easily. The other is very stuck. Is this just a case of whacking it harder with the rubber mallet, or does anyone have any other tips? Whay would it be stuck Thanks AB

Other K series self-help groups you may want to join: starter clickers head gasket worriers temp/oil guage paranoids tappet tappers AB

I have a 1.6K 6 speed, standard diff, located in Surrey (Claygate). Will take you round the block for a listen if you want. Should be at the Wotton Hatch meet on Thurs too. AB