KarlH

Cheers, I'll take it off and have a look.

I've got an underdash handbrake which doesn't stay on when you pull it. It works in that the brakes are on but as soon as you let you go it returns to the original position. Is there going to be anything in the mechanism I can fix or is a replacement more likely? I've managed without it so far but thought I may as well have a go at fixing it while the car's off the road. Thanks, Karl.

That sounds like me, freezing on my way home - must remember a hat in this weather!

Drove past a blue 7 with white bonnet stripe waiting in the right filter lane towards southbound A23 around 1330 Edited by - karlh on 10 Oct 2010 15:56:30

First Caterham I've seen in Beckenham for a long while, hope you got your cable sorted.

Orange on a Q plate, heading down Croydon Rd, Beckenham 3pm

Tim, Thanks for these - just went to put the milk bottles out and noticed the postie had stuck them in a bush! Donation to NtL will be on its way. Karl.

I'll take them please, will BM you details.... Cheers, Karl.

This lot: Rimmer Bros

Simon, I guess that would've been me - was a few mins behind Ian on the same road, waved from a yellow with ali bonnet one. Karl.

YHM!

Well, it looks like it's fixed thanks to Andy Belcher. To cut a long story short it appears that the oil pump was leaking causing oil to get thrown everywhere - all other seals and gaskets were completely dry. He's given it a good run out as did I last night and there was no sign of oil after. So hopefully it's done the trick and I can get on and enjoy it!

Nasty! A T Launder in Bromley might be worth a call / visit (020 84649399). I've not used them personally (was going to but sold the car with dents n'all instead) but I think a friend may have so will ask about the quality of their work.

Blue with silver(?) stripe spotted in Rookley around 1830 today. I flashed and waved from a red golf much to SWMBO's bemusement - and the caterham drivers by the looks of it!

Thanks for the replies and suggestions - I'll carry on trying to investigate myself before it goes back. That and sounds like I should stay away from Brands, last time I was there my friend span his Locost twice and claimed I jinxed him but I can't be to blame for the other two incidents mentioned here Matt, I'm in Beckenham - will keep an eye out for you in the area, what colour's yours? I took it to Andy Belcher over in Redhill, he came recommended plus it's a nice drive out there! Giles, thanks for the welcome - I was expecting some fiddling to be done but hoped it wouldn't be anything expensive to start off but I guess it's tough luck. heh, for a while before joining I couldn't work out from some posts whether it was a hang out for hormonal teenagers or a car forum The amount of knowledge on here seems vast, I only hope that over time I'll start to pick up some of that and do more work on the car myself!

Well, it's been in to be looked at and proved to be something of a mystery! It was pretty wet under the cambelt cover so that was all stripped and the engine properly cleaned to see if the source could be identified but after a lot of running at various revs there wasn't any sign of oil anywhere. The crank oil seal was replaced as he thought that could be the cause given evidence of where the mess was. I get home after 45 mins of driving, pop the bonnet off and the bottom of the cambelt cover is all wet! No sign of oil where I first noticed it though. While I wait to get it back in is there anything else I can check or is there a reason why when stationary and run at various revs for 30+ mins there's no sign of oil but after driving there is? Cheers, Karl.

Spotted by my sister: yellow caterham, southbound on the M40 around 1620 today

Spotted by the wife - silver with ribbons being tied to it! Present or wedding car I wonder? Or maybe it's a new styling trend....

Thanks, that's stopped my wondering! Not sure what mine's wired into though as it only came on standing still or reversing into the garage

Hopefully an easy one for someone to answer: my rev counter has 4 lights, 3 at the bottom which seem to be main beam, indicators and ignition but what's the one at the top for? Noticed it flickering orange last night, very feintly. Ta.

No news on this Nigel, still got a bit of oil appearing when the engine's warm. No noticeable change in oil level either, cleared the gunk from the header tank and no more seams to have appeared so far. It's beyond me so is booked in for someone to take a look at but that's not for a couple of weeks - will let you know what the outcome is.

OK, I've cleaned it all up, took the cambelt cover off and ran the engine - nothing coming out in the area under the cover. Checked all round the engine, no signs of it elsewhere and no oil until the engine gets warm and then it slowly starts to apear in that same corner. Revving doesn't seem to increase the flow. The stuff in the header tank is a browny red colour and a bit sticky. No sign of anything sat on top of the coolant, well not til it fell off my finger anyway! Anything else for me to check?

I'll give it another clean off and do some more looking around....

Well assuming I've not been a complete numpty and taken the wrong cover off everything looked and felt dry under the cambelt cover(see here), that is everywhere apart from round the rubber seal on the cover which seemed way too big for the cover. As for the coolant, it does look to have some oil in it, underside of the cap had some brown deposits and the top half has loads of brown spots on it - see pic So would that point to head gasket failure then? Just my luck to finally get one and not be able to go out in it!

Thanks Oily, will take a look tonight.