Steve Cragg

Steve Thanks for the offer. Much appreciated It looks like I might be able to get sorted without fitting a cat by going to a test station that have a different view of the rules but not definite yet. I should know by close of play today. Steve

Been away so haven't been able to post. Thanks for all the input Latest situation is that the test station I used have still not been able to get confirmation that the car doesn't need a cat test. Car is an owner build BTW. In fact the MOT test people, the ministry at Peterborough and the DVLA are all saying it does need a cat test. The confusing thing is they are all quoting different dates and different reasons why it does The MOT people are saying if there is a direct reference number match in the book it needs the full test. The Ministry at Peterborough are saying that anything after 1st May 1998 needs it. The DVLA are saying that anything after 1st Jan 1998 needs it. It is looking increasingly likely that I am not going to get the answer I need Paul, Thanks for the information. I will talk to the garage today. Hopefully this will solve my problem There is obviously a massive amount of confusion on this matter. I wonder if there is anything we can do as a club to get a definitive statement from the ministry. 🤔 On second thoughts it might not be the answer we want so maybe it is better to maintain a hogh level of confusion and hope that friendly test stations continue to operate 😬 Steve

Hi Steve, It would be good to meet up again if you're around. Give me a call. My car passed everything except for this cr*p around the emissions and they are ready to give me the ticket as soon as they get the rules confirmed. Everybody I speak to, including Caterham, are positive that the CAT test is not required but I can't seem to be able to find the magic words that confirm it. It's all total 🙆🏻 and I am getting pretty p*ssed off with the whole thing Anyway, hopefully the sun will be shining at the weekend and we can get out for a quick blat. MOT or no MOT 😬 Steve

Just spoken to them again and they have now been in discussions with the truck division at the ministry who it seems have the final say in this . It may be that if no SVA test was required, which it wasn't, then the pre 1975 rules apply which is just a smoke test 😬 Unfortunately they have not yet confirmed this so I am waiting with fingers, and everything else crossed. If this fails then a trip to a friendly tester in the area might be the answer. Any suggestions 🤔 Steve

Took my Superlight for its MOT test on Saturday. Car is a 1.6 SS Superlight, registered 30th June 1998 and has a non-cat 4-1 competition exhaust. My understanding is that pre-August 98 cars do not require a cat test but the tester was not familiar with the rules and could not find anything in the manual that clearly stated that the car did not require the test. He found the clause that said that cars after August 98 definitely required it but would not accept this as confirmation that mine didn't. He undertook to talk to the ministry today, which he has, and they have now told him that any cars from Jan 98 require the CAT test. I have spoken with Caterham who were veryt helpful but could not point me in the direction of anything other than the post Aug 98 clause referred to above. Does anybody either know of any specific clause or regulation that would apply to this or have any letter or statement from the ministry clarifying requirements. Any help will be rewarded with life long gratitude ❗ Steve

Its fitted with the standard ECU 2 I believe which as far as I'm aware can't be re-programmed. Steve

My car has the standard superlight 4-1 competition exhaust with primaries that join externally. Would a 4-2-1 and a different silncer make much difference to power/torque characteristics? ISTR seeing a thread where people were saying that changing manifold/silencer from the standard set up had made a big difference in mid range torque. Steve

Thanks guys. Rob's curve is almost identical to mine so guess I can stop worrying. Just need to save up for the 4-2-1 to squeeze a bit more out Steve

Just had my 98 superlight on the rolling road for the first time. Power peaked at 134 bhp at 7250 rpm, torque peaked at 110 lbft. The torque curve reaches maximum at approx 3200 rpm and then dips in a "U" shape bottoming out at approx 100 lbft at just over 4000 revs then gets back up to the maximum at 5000 revs. Is this normal? If not, any suggestions on possible causes and how to remedy. Any advice gratefully received. Steve

Simon Me too please. Could you send to steve.cragg@gb.abb.com rather than my profile email Thanks Steve

I had a very similar experience back end of last year. After a lot of head scratching and inspections I found a loose spark plug It had me and several others fooled for a while and was initially diagnosed as a sticking cam follower. A bit of a long shot but worth checking before you do anything else. Steve

Hoopy, T-Cut doesn't seem to touch it at all however much elbow grease I give it. Steve

I have some minor stains down the side body panel of my 7 caused by a battery acid spill. It does not appear to have gone through the paint but trying to remove with T-Cut has had no effect. Does anyone know of a way of removing this or will it be "in" the paint and hence need a repray? Any help or advice appreciated. Steve

I'm so pleased to have my car back on the road you can call me what you like. The Plug 😬

I really shouldn't be telling anyone about this! Background 1.6 Superlight owned for three weeks. First track day at Cadwell 3rd November. Following first trip out after lunch I pull off track to be greeted by shouts of "switch your engine off" To be sure things did not sound well. ☹️ Helped by the assembled 7 owners we started to investigate the very noticeable top end knocking/rattle that was eminating from my engine. Cam cover came off, no obvious problems. Cam followers were pressed down, was one softer than the others? Concensus was a sticking hydraulic cam follower. Advice was not to drive the car any further. Borrowed a trailer and took car home. ☹️ Next day friendly mechanic came round with stethoscope and probe. He didn't think it sounded like a follower problem, not "pingy" enough and thought it could be a worn face on a cam. During the week phoned others for advice. Could it be the exhaust manifold gasket blowing? It can sound like a top end problem. If you don't find anything wrong with the cams, check the gasket and see if there is any soot tracking across the face. I really, really shouldn't be telling you this!!! Saturday came, first time to have a proper look. Cam cover off. Checked all cam profiles, no sign of any problems. Rotated all cams and checked with 1/1000 feeler gauge for any clearance. None found. Exhaust manifold off. Some blistering and corrosion but not sign of tracking. Down to the local Rover dealer. Bought new cam cover and exhaust manifold gasket. Put everything back together and started up. Same top end noise present, looks like this could start to get expensive. ☹️ Have one more go to localise source. Using a screwdriver as a probe located the problem within seconds When using the screwdriver I leant on the HT lead cover. Noise became more muffled. Took cover off to investigate and found....... A loose spark plug 😳 😳 😳 😳 My only saving grace is that a number of long standing 7 owners and a professional mechanic didn't think of it. Despite my embarrasment the good news is that my engine is OK and I haven't been sold a pup. Hopefully this tale may help at least one 7 owner from a similar sorry tale. Steve Back on the road again 😬

I've just bought the Haynes Rover 216 & 416 manual that covers the 216 from 1989 to 1996. This includes the 16V twin cam engine. ISBN is 1 85960 461 7 If you get to know of a better manual could you let me know Steve

Paul, Won't see my home email until tonight. Could you send to steve.cragg@gb.abb.com Thanks Steve

It was certainly lime green and judging by the fraction of a millemeter clearance either side on the trailer at the end of the day it was definatley an SV. If second name starts with an N it seems we have a full house and your jealousy is justified ❗ Steve

Had a fantastic time on my first track day at Cadwell yesterday 😬 until early afternoon when a top end rattle/knocking led to an early finish ☹️ A big thanks goes to all the assembled 7 owners for fantastic help and advice and particular to Geoff for lending me his trailer to get the car home. The general view was that the noise was probably a follower that was not keeping in contact with the cam. I now want to get a proper diagnosis done but for obvious reasons don't want to drive the car any distance. Question is, does anyone know of someone I can trust to look at the car in the Grimsby area. The only Rover dealer in the area is Dixons and I wouldn't trust them to look at a sewing machine. Steve

No plastic breather tube fitted currently so guess I will need to sort one. Is this something I need to get from Caterham or is it simple enough just to make one up? Steve

Been away for a few days and only just seen last post. I thought I'd found a good price but obviously should have looked harder ❗ As it happens the battery wasn't delivered on Monday, they forgot to include it. Another few days without playing ☹️ When you say keep the breather, what do you mean 🤔 The current battery has one small hole at either end in the air space. One has a small rubber grommet fitted the other, worryingly, is open. There is some evidence of fluid having leaked form this side. SteveC

Thanks for the help. Have spoken to Banner and they have given me the details of a distributor in Lincoln. Battery ordered today will pick up Monday (£39.80 + Vat) SteveC

I'm trying to find a new battery for my 7. Have tried a few local outlets but get blank looks when I mention what it is and no one seems to stock the Banner battery currently fitted. Other than Banner is there an equivalent battery that will do the job? Any help you can give greatly appreciated SteveC A 7 owner for two weeks 😬