Paul Richards.

As purchased 2012

Raise front of car off ground - as high as possible and disconnect expansion tank and raise this up in the air as high as possible. Ensure that system is full and run with top off expansion tank. As engine warms up, keep loosening radiator bleed valve to ensure no air lock in top of radiator. Air lock should find its way out and great bubbles come out of expansion tank. Be careful as there will be a lot of boiling hot water around. Keep checking bottom hose for temperature. This should become hot when thermostat opens. Gentle squeezing of hoses should also help. Good luck. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Dave Assume you are removing sump to change foam baffle. If you had not planned it, suggest you do so. Its only a few quid and not worth removing sump without changing. Confirm sump gasket is reusable. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Measuring bump steer is something I've kept meaning to do. As you say it's a bit fiddly, but will cost nothing. I seem to recall that suspension guru Alain Staniforth set up a lot of Sevens and virtually all needed some adjustment to eliminate/minimise bump steer. Need to take spring off shocker and move the wheel up and down through normal range of travel and watch for steering movement. You can make a hinged board with pins on it as described in some of the suspension set up books, but you can get a good indication by removing wheel and clamping a long piece of wood or metal to disc and watching end of said long piece - this exaggerates movement. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Chris W. I agree that the problem being cured is the pitted/corroded contacts in the MFU. The cure is the use of a relay which only needs a very small current (which even below par MFU can still provide) to activate the additional solenoid which activates the starter. I originally thought that sticking plunger on solenoid was the problem, but dismissed it after several cleanings and no improvement. What I can't understand is :- 1. Why did my problem only occur when hot? 2. Why was my problem worse when a battery cut off switch (along with associated extra wiring) was included? I've now decided not to worry. It works for me and continues to work, despite high engine and ambient temperatures experienced on recent Le Mans trip. Now 12 months with no hint of failure, when in the past I would have had problems at least weekly. Keep Starting. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Sorry to hear that the relay hasn't cured your problem. I suffered from a similar hot starting problem and know just how frustrating it can be. I almost felt like selling the car. Fortunately for me the relay was the complete cure and I'm surprised it hasn't worked for you. There have been other threads on fixing starters and it now points to one of the "other" faults. Unfortunately I have been unable to search for the thread, but I seem to recall that one was the cracking of the soldered joint which provides the main feed to the solenoid. Hopefully someone will expand on this for you. No doubt your auto electrician can carry out some tests to confirm. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Paul Try:- 1. How to make your car handle - Fred Puhn - HP Books. 2. How to build and modify Sportscar and kit car Suspensiion and brakes - Des Hammill - Veloce Publishing - Speedpro Series. Both above are from USA, but I could let you borrow if you ask nicely. Also there is a good book by Alan Staniforth - can't just recall the name off hand, but John E. has a copy. Paul R. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Mark Your symptoms are very much like mine were. Below are instructions for fitting a relay to overcome the problem. Although if wired as per previous posting, the following are slightly different and you should follow these:- You need a 4 pin 30 amp fuse - they cost about £6.00 or £7.00 and are available from most car accessory shops. You connect the terminals of the relay (these are shown on the relay, but are often very small) as follows:- 30 - This is live feed and should be connected to positive terminal of battery - best to incorporate an in line fuse. 86 - Signal i.e connect the original solenoid wire to this terminal. 85 - Negative - connect to negative battery terminal. 87 - connect to the solenoid - where the original wire (now connected to 86 on relay) was connected.. If you are having difficulty, or can't follow, please drop me an e-mail. I have even produced kits for some people with all the bits needed already connected to the relay. I'm also fitting at least one for somebody at Stoneleigh and if you're going can bring along an extra kit. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Silicon sealant WILL stand the heat (and it's cheap and easy). I know it sounds odd, but it should be ideal. I've used it on a number of occasions to seal exhaust manifolds direct to the cylinder head. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Happy to supply a kit with easy instructions that should take 5 mins to fit. I will obtain the bits (I can get at cost price) this weekend and anticipate charge for a complete kit with post and packing will be £15 and this will include a good donation to Nuke the Luke. If anybody wants one, please e-mail me separately and l will let you have my address and telephone no. Please be sure to include your e-mail address within the body of your e-mail (my computer sometimes has problems with "replying" to e-mails). Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Ted Just say the word and I'll bring a relay "kit" to Stoneleigh. Chris W. Excellent advice and excellent contributions to thread . I'm sure there can't be a starter motor problem that can't be cured by the Blatchat archives 😬 Just brings to mind what a nice bunch of helpful people 7 owners are and what a useful forum Blatchat is 😬 Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Allegro Glad it works. Another satisfied customer Graham That's how I discovered it works. If you have the problem it seems to get worse (more frequent) and becomes a real pain, especially when you,ve just spent 5 mins settling in the seat, fastening the 6 point and closing the side screen and have to get out again. FIT THE RELAY!!!! It takes 10 minutes (about the same time as getting out 4 times to use your fly lead!!!). A pity you're so far from Bury or I'd fit it for you (small donation for Nuke the Luke). Thinks....... ....... ....... This could be a nice little money spinner at Stoneleigh!!! Relays fitted in aid of Nuke the Luke????? Relay kits (complete with wiring and instructions) supplied for self fitting. Wonder if anyone will respond to this? Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Angus and Tessa Starter motor on Caterham K series is fitted with a solenoid that 'flings' the cog into the flywheel ring gear. Regret from the symptons you describe that the relay "fix" is unlikley to help you. It seems as if there is a fault with the starter and/or solenoid which could be mechanical i.e. gummed up or worn. It could also be worth checking the teeth on the ring gear for damage i.e. the teeth on the flywheel into which the starter is 'flung'. You should be able to see these when starter is off and be able to view all the teeth by putting car in gear (2nd or 3rd) and pushing car to turn engine. If this reveals no obvious problems I'd personally take the car to the people who reconditioned the starter and let them investigate. It could be that the starter is still faulty despite alleged reconditioning. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

Easy to fit. Pretty accurate - definitely better than standard speedo. Cheap - mine was £6. Highly recommended. If I was buying another I would splash out and get a more expensive one as I understand you can get one with a back light - very useful. Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!

John Are you sure that your starter is duff. See separate thread on starter motor problems. How long have you had the rewound starter motor. I don't wish it upon you, but you could have problems in the future. Heavenly Why the new starter motor. Is it not just a problem which can be corrected by relay as per separate thread? If you really need a new starter I would buy John's and carry out the relay mod. I'm sure it will be satisfactory. Perhaps as he feels it's duff he will let you have it on approval Paul R. C7PPR K series that starts when hot!!