Steve Cornford

Just back from the garage. The Hydrocarbon test was negative, so looks as if Head Gasket ok. In their opinion the engine is running far too hot, and when the fan comes on it does not stay on long enough. The cloudy coolant is an indication that it is getting too hot, and needs fluching and replacing. They are recomending fitting a thermostat to the radiator & getting that to switch the fan on & off , rather than the ECU. The fan is working, but just not being switched on enough. What does the POBC think? Sigma SteVe

I used tap water Booked in with local garage (400yards away) for a test on Friday morning,as I don't want to drive too far in sage it is HGF. Sigma SteVe

Thanks for the replies. There does not appear to be any globules in the header tank. In the past I have had leaking radiators, and you get left with a white deposit on parts of the chassis where the leaking coolant has gone. It is almost as though that white powder is now in "suspension" in the coolant. It has setteld a bit in the hedaer tank, so now have 2-3 inches of pink and then the cloudy white lower down. Having dipped kitchen roll, there does not appear to be an oily/petrol smell. I have also taken the oil filler cap off and looked inside and there is no sign of "mayonaise" yet. Before Dunsfold it was a bit low on coolant and I did top it up with some "Comma Super Longlife Red" antifreeze diluted 50%, assuming this was the same as the Caterham supplied ready mixed stuff. Sigma SteVe

My coolant has changed colour from clear pink to a cloudy white. What does this mean? Sigma SteVe Edited by - steve cornford on 8 Jun 2010 08:06:28

Another metod of identification, is that the "metric" chassis is symmetrical. ie if you look under the bonnet, there is provision for both Left Hand & right hand drive steering columns. On mine there is also a "CAged" (or do I mean steel fabs) chassis code stamped on the flat surrounding the diagonal lap seat bolt-hole just behind the driver. A 2 digit yaer number on one side, and a chassis sequnce number on the other. I don't know whether the chassis number sequence is all time or just within the year. Mine has "07" and then "V009", meaning year 2007, SV chassis number 009. Sigma SteVe

YHM Sigma SteVe

Not yet Mine is 2007 Sigma Roadsport Sigma SteVe

Mine behaves exactly the same. Even after a short drive to the petrol station, upon opening there is a whoosh of escaping pressure as you release the filler cap. ONce when I was investigating the "can't get the fuel pump nozzle (latest EU style with hump) into the filler neck" problem, the car had been standing in the sun all day, and I opened the filler cap and about 100ml of fuel whooshed out. I did mention this to Caterham when they replaced the filler neck with the latest "hump" compliant fule neck, but it is still happening. I also would be interested to know if this pressurising is correct. Sigma SteVe

or stick gaffa tape over the end to mute Sigma SteVe

I think that was me, en route from Brighton to Braintree to visit a customer. Thanks for the spot 😶‍🌫️ Sigma SteVe

Does your car have an Inertia Switch, if so try resetting by pressing down in the middle of its top. It is a rubber covered switch like these Sigma SteVe

Dave, please ring Sharon Wilkinson @ CC Dartford on +44 (0)1322 625804 for a price inclusive of fitting, as I am sure she will ensure you get the right part ❗ There was some confusion when they got the first batch of modified parts as they put them in the same bin as the un-modified parts. If you take a cursory look at them both they look the same. The latest ones fitted for IVA purposes even have a "tether" retaining the Aero cap. Sigma SteVe Edited by - Steve Cornford on 11 Sep 2009 14:53:11

That would have beeen the "Birthday Blat" then Sigma SteVe

£40 That would be L7C membership fee Worth every penny IMHO Sigma SteVe

CC now have available a revised Aero Filler cap & funnel c/w IVA flap that does allow use of the latest "humped" petrol pump nozzles. Since fitting, I have not had any problems.. Sigma SteVe

Thanks for the info. My torque wrench doesnt go that low anyway, so it will have to be "finger" tight + 1/16 turn. Sigma SteVe

*wavey*Thanks for the spot I did notice the thumbs up, and the "hazard" flash, and your 777 number I was on my way from visiting a customer in Braintree to visit my sister in Tongham, so was in my "best" suit. (Customer benefit, not sister). Whn I got to the M3, I was low on petrol & turned off for Frimley, where the deep puddles on the side roads made aquaplaning inevitable even at 30mph. Sigma SteVe

Hi Guys What torque setting for TR5A-10 🤔 Sigma SteVe

Try Colin Denyer of Colin Denyer motorsport, based at Dunsfold. If you have been to the Surrey area L7C handling day, and driven on the top gear circuit, then just by the assembly area for the TG rides is an industrial unit housing his business. He looks after some interesting racing cars for clients, but has recently installed CNC equipment. See page 5 of this pdf Sigma SteVe

Followed you from just before Caterham Junction to see you disappear straight on to the M26 branch as I veered off to the Dartfrord crossing (in a tin top ). The two of you had the Hood down & were enjoying the morning sunshine , and obviously the chat.... Sigma SteVe

Why not have the best of both worlds? If the engine is original, take it out but keep it, so that at some point in the future, you can restore the car if necessary to "original". Put in a secondhand "road" engine for your enjoyment on the road, but choose one that does not involve modifying the chassis etc to keep your originality. Sigma SteVe

Thanks for the Wave Peter Sigma SteVe

RiF Sorry, that will teach me to spend my working hours reading BC! Now that I have got the egg off my face (and JH has stopped chuckling), how about giving the guys @ Cranfield University a call, maybe they could make a "Coretex" prop shaft to match the Coretex SeVen that they have already made. Would Colin Chapman have approved 🤔 Sigma SteVe

Have you seen this supplier 🤔 Sigma SteVe

As far as I am aware, the "metric" chassis is designed to take either sigma or duratec. It is also able to be assembled with left or rigt hand drive. Sigma SteVe