Shortshift

I'm still looking for some 8 spoke Caterham wheels. Either a set of four in staggered format (6" fronts; 8" rears) or just a pair of 8" rears on their own. At the right price, I'd also consider some that would benefit from a refurb... Anyone? James

Brilliant Dave - you must have captured everyone, as well as getting the atmosphere of the day. Well done! James

The ACES unit also needed to be changed so that the cylinder count setting (which was 4) is now also set to 1. Adds credence to my view that the cause of the problem was in the reflashing of my ECU (pointing to a difference in ECU rpm output configurtion between the time of my car being built in 2012 and the latest software being provided in the last few weeks). James

Seems that the team from Caterham Cars enjoyed our track day at Anglesey last Friday as much as we all did - I didn't ask how many 'hot lap' rides Simon Lambert gave throughout the day but he was kept pretty busy throughout. Seemed quite a good day-job to me... Anyway, his note - and photo - is below. James All, It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at Anglesey for the trackday on Friday, and also to catch up with several familiar faces too. I would like to say a quick thanks to the L7CGB for welcoming David Ridley (our Commercial Director), Alex Betts and myself to dinner on Thursday night and for the garage to keep Alex out of anticipated Anglesey weather whilst he looked after the car; although as it turned out, I don’t think we could have hoped for better! Obviously, it wasn’t the ‘toughest day in the office’ for me and it was great to be reunited with the Seven 620S that we used for the Caterham Airways video: I failed to keep track of how many Seven (and MG) owners I took for a ride during the day, but if you were amongst them then I hope you enjoyed it! For everyone else on track at the same time, thanks for tolerating us and I hope I wasn’t too much of a nuisance for those with little track experience or slightly less power than I had on tap… I’ve attached a small photo of the left rear tyre which I took at the end of the day. We like to get our money’s worth here at Caterham! Thanks again for inviting us to your track day and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Simon Lambert Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer

Solved! A helpful PM to me from L7 FST explained that he had experienced a similar issue which was resolved by changing the CYL (or ES) setting within the Stack unit. Sure enough, on investigating the various settings buried within the Stack menu structure, I found that ES was set at 4 (cylinder count). I changed it to 1 and - bingo - all back to normal, it seems (static test in garage only, so not yet tried on the road and maybe carbon monoxide was affecting my judgement?). So why had the setting changed? I don't think it had but, recently, Caterham Cars had reflashed my MBE ECU so I am beginning to think that the latest map/software they downloaded might give a different rpm output from the ECU than when the car left the factory, requiring a different ES setting in the Stack unit to work correctly. Either that or serious inadvertent finger trouble... Anyway, posting the detail in case it is of help to others in the future. James

Thanks Jonathan for the pdf copy; not the easiest set of wiring diagrams to understand! Although it shows R400 wiring and I can see that the engine-harness to body-harness connector is different to the one fitted to my R500, it might well be that the primary wiring is identical... On that basis I can see one consistently coloured wire (WB - so white with black) which runs from the ECU to the Stack connector; it starts at the ECU as WB72 and runs from Pin 34 on the ECU connector through the engine-harness/body-harness connector where it continues as WB180 to the ACES take-off, with a further extension as WB155 going to Pin A of the Stack conector. So - if (i) the R400 and R500 wiring fundametals are identical, and if (ii) my interpretation of the wiring diagram is correct, then I need to test for continuity from ECU pin 34 through to Stack connector pin A. Any further thoughts, views of information would be much appreciated! James

Thanks Jonathan - that info should help. PM with email address sent. James

(Solution posted separately, lower down in thread) Right... 2012 R500 Duratec with Stack ST868 instrument pack (the triangular one, configured to show various parameters in the bottom section of the display under the circular rev counter, driven by a stepper motor). Also fitted with full-fat ACES shift light system (the adjustable one, with box and buttons located on bulkhead under dash). MBE 992 ECU. Anyway - the rev counter has stopped. Suspect that the stepper motor (common culprit) is OK as the needle moves fractionally in reverse direction on start up (as normal) but then refuses to register positive rpm. The ACES unit is also not functioning properly - it shows the green 'change down' lamp but nothing else - no oranges or reds as the revs increase. Car drives perfectly well and plugging-in Easimap shows accurate rpm read out (which I assume is taken from the same ECU output as is used to drive the Stack unit and the ACES unit)? So - logic suggests this is a wiring or connector problem somewhere between the ECU and the Stack and ACES units. Following this line, and trying to work back to the source of the problem: Can anyone tell me what pin I should be checking for, for rpm, on the 'military spec' 19-pin connector that goes into the back of the Stack unit? And, assuming all I can do is check for continuity between that pin and the other end of that wire in the ECU connector, what pin should I be looking for on the ECU connector? Or is it possible to check for the rpm signal using a multimeter onto the correct pin on the military-grade connector?And - does anyone have any better or further ideas?! James

Steve Do you really need to remove the scuttle to do that? I find there's quite a bit of access to the immobiliser by accessing it from under the dash; if you unbolt it from the bulkhead (two bolts) and snip the relevant cable ties it comes out a longish way into the cabin. 5 minutes to get the box free from the car, though still attached by the harness, but at least you have access to work on that, or to open the box and be able to work on that instead. Can I ask - why are you replacing it? There may be some alternatives to what you're trying to do. James

Thanks SKC - pm sent. James

No worries - we're already on the case! We hope to have a programme available a fair bit earlier than this year (as you know, Dave and I did pick up the baton on this quite late on!) You'll have to be patient for a bit, but I can reveal that we will be visiting one or more of the locations you have suggested! James

Hi everyone Just to say that you will be receiving 'Final Instructions' for our track day at Anglesey on Friday 30th September very shortly (Sam will be mailing them out in pdf format). Hopefully, all will make sense when you read the notes. In the meantime, Dave and I have wrestled with the data you provided when you made your bookings (driver experience and ability; car performance; inside leg measurement, etc) to produce well balanced groupings for the session-based running that we will start with, until we're comfortable to move to Open Pit Lane. Remember that we are sharing the day with 'MG's on Track', so we will have two sessions each hour to their one - hence the need for us to divide ourselves into only two groups instead of our more usual three. We hope these groupings make sense, including for people who are sharing cars, but let me or Dave know if there's anything that you're really unhappy to live with. Here goes (there is method in our madness here): GROUP 1 (GREEN): Adrian Clarke Adrian Elkin Chris Skillicorn Chris Whitlow Clive Marsden Dave Rothwell David John Minns Doug Baker John Bransfield John Brereton John Lovick Julian Watson Mark Baxter Martyn Edwards Neville Taylor Philip John Mole Philip Matchwick Stephan Pletain Tim Lewis Tom Hancock Tony Smith Paul Morris - 2nd driver to Jim Slater Timothy Lovick - 2nd driver to John Lovick Christopher Bodger - 2nd driver to Guy Bodger Richard Wilson - 2nd driver to John Clarke Janis (Abraham) Clarke - 2nd driver to Richard Abraham Gill Elwell - 2nd driver to Shaun Elwell Group 2 (RED): Alex Bell Andrew Cross Andrew McKay Andy Belcher Bryan Dick Chris Selley Dave Ridley Declan Allen George Gillespie Guy Bodger Howard Russell Igor Fedor James Batchelor Jean-Marc Bikx Jim Slater John Clarke John Reaks Lawrence Hughes Mark Weatherby Mike Cocker Mike Oldridge Paul Thompson Richard Abraham Robert Jacobs Roger Legg Shaun Elwell Simon Redmile Stephen Causey Stuart Creswell Robin Hall - 2nd driver to Adrian Clarke Robert Cross - 2nd driver to Andrew Cross I will duck for cover now and hope not to hear from any of you!! James

Could someone please 'lend' me the small plastic tool (more like a clip, actually) that is used to accurately locate the crank position sensor at the front of a 2 litre Duratec? As I say, It's a small black plastic clip, really, that you place over the sensor to align it centrally to the relevant tooth on the toothed ring (with the crank at TDC) and then remove it once the sensor is secured in place. My replacement sensor came without the alignment device, and whilst my eye is not too badly calibrated I'd like to be sure! Anyone got one lying around that they don't intend to use this week?? James

Sold to Pat! James

PM sent! James

Just prefer a higher viscosity with the Duratec. Am actually using the equivalent ester-based Silkolene 10W-60; I'm just careful to warm it up thoroughly before using it as intended... James

Is anyone looking to sell a set of 13" rims? James

Having changed my car from K-series to Duratec, I no longer use 5W-40 oil and find that i have 2 fully sealed/unopened 5 litre containers of top quality, ester based, fully synthetic Fuchs/Silkolene 5W-40 oil that is now surplus to requirements. I buy my oil from Opie oils and, as of today, 10 litres of this would cost £89.99 from them (after factoring in the Club discount), so what about knocking a further 15% or so off that and calling it £75.00 for both 5 litre containers, to include delivery (to a UK address, etc)? James

Great news (unless you haven't yet booked) - the Anglesey track day scheduled for Friday 30th September is now full! That said, Sam is keeping a reserve list for those who are still interested. Should be a cracking day! We have arranged a group dinner for approximately 7.30pm on the evening prior to the event, Thursday 29th September, in a great location that is just a couple of miles or so north of the circuit. The restaurant is asking for a more accurate indication of numbers, so if you are interested in coming along for this informal pre-event get-together and haven't yet informed us of this, can you please contact Sam in the Club office by the end of this week (Friday 9th September)? Final Instructions will be sent out around 10 days before the event and we will publish the Session Groupings on line before the day, just as we did for Cadwell Park. James

Agree on the use of a Pela vacuum pump/excavator; makes the whole process quick, clean and easy. Well worth investing in. When I change the oil and filter on my 500D (same configuration as 400D, I'm assuming) I typically find I've manage to remove about 6 litres (maybe just under) of used oil - which becomes the quantity I then add of the new stuff. James

Hi Solstice I sent a pm two days ago but not heard back from you; is the trailer still for sale? James

Hi Chris - is that with the engine running or stationary? James

Just interested, Chris - assuming it's a dry sump, how are you measuring it so accurately (sufficient to say that it had 'barely moved half way through the track day')? James

Just to say that we hope to get Final Instructions for Saturday's event sent out by email in the next day or so, but the basics are: Arrive at Bookatrack's premises at Donington Park by 1000 Morning of informal presentation and discussion topics, including 'around the car' sessions Full track day briefing followed by sighting laps (in groups) on the circuit (during the Bookatrack lunch break period) Further discussions and Q&A after lunch; expect to depart any time around or after 1430.James

Good man Mike - look forward to sharing some track time with you! James