jfgw Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 All, I have been struggling with an issue with my 98 Caterham that has me completely baffled. I have searched through Blatchat and picked the brains of a fellow Caterham owner with much more problem solving experience than me, but to no avail. Here is the problem. When I go around a right-hand bend at speed without being 'extremely' gentle, the ignition will cut-out for a fraction of a second, the tacho will reset (go behind the Stack logo) and then come back on again almost immediately. The problem doesn't appear at any other times except on right hand bends or if I am 'tire warming' when I rapidly change direction to the right. Never in a straight line, never on left hand bends. It happens when the car is full, part full or nearly empty of fuel. I have sat in my garage with the car running and wiggled, pulled, squeezed every wire, plug lead, ecu lead I can see but I cannot reproduce the issue, but I can make it do it within 100ft of my house! I have to think it is electrical as a fuel starvation issue surely wouldnt do it so uniformly and surely would take more than a rapid weave to the right to show itself? Has anyone experienced anything similar or got any other suggestions for things to try? Thanks in advance James http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/confused5.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I have a suggestion... grab a multimeter, and monitor the voltage at various places while you make right turns... for example, injector power, ign module power, fuel pump power, etc... You will systematically isolate it. Could this be world's first NASCAR Caterham? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrinjester.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgw Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 haha, that may be easier said than done. Anyone want to volunteer to hold the multimeter in the appropriate places while we pull these multi-G inducing turns?? http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 where are u located? sone long wires will do the trick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgw Posted November 15, 2006 Author Share Posted November 15, 2006 I'm in Columbus Ohio, a fair distance from the other seveners I think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Rohaley Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I had the same problem with my 2001 in the first couple months of ownership. My issue turned out to be a poor crimp in the grounding wire that was sandwiched onto a bellhousing bolt. This may have already been done by you but what I did to find the problem was to turn the ignition on and wiggled various wires until I could hear the fuel pump power up. My faulty wire shut down the whole electrical system making it easier to track down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgw Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 Thanks Mike, I will look for that wire and see if that has any effect. Mine doesnt seem to kill the whole electrical system but I know it affects the tacho. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsimon Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I'm just floating an idea here... If the electrics stay on but the engine cuts in high G situations, I'd suspect the fuel pump inertial safety switch. Jumper around it just to make sure it's not clapped out. -Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgw Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 Thanks Bob, I had the same thought, but unfortunately have already bypassed that and problem is still there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted November 19, 2006 Share Posted November 19, 2006 It sounds like you are loosing electrical power. I suspect it may be a bad ground. ( I am a ground fanatic, I suspect a bad ground all the time.) I alawys use a separate ground wire for each circuit. Lights, ignition, fuel pump, brake lights, fan,computer, etc.. I run the ground from the battery to the frame, making sure the paint and rust is cleaned off the contact point, then run a flex cable to the engine block,( to allow movement of the enine without stress on the cable or battery post, and to by-passs the rubber motor mounts) then ground each circuit individually on the engine block. I have replaced a couple of bolts on the block with studs, and I bring all grounds to the same points. Yeah , this is a little paranoid, but I know my electrical problems won't be ground related, and you can't run a fan and a headlights and a fuel pump on one lousy 12 or 14 gauge wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 For an interesting, and possibly helpful, account of another 7 owner's trevails in solving a similar problem, go to : www.mycaterham.com. In particular click on "mechanical" and then "engine 2-electrical". Turns out there are roughly a zillion things that can cause the problem and this guy explored most before finally hitting on the solution.Kitcat2006-12-05 11:06:43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgw Posted December 5, 2006 Author Share Posted December 5, 2006 Mike, Thanks for the link, I will have a look at that. Problem still persists, and my next attempt at solving will be to remove and clean all earths....oh joy! James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgw Posted December 24, 2006 Author Share Posted December 24, 2006 BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER.... Well it is for me anyway - I have just found the problem that has been plaguing my driving experience and causing the intermittent cut-out. Turned out to be something as simple as my battery (which is mounted on the floor below my throttle bodies) was not securely strapped down and on right hand bends was moving and the positive terminal coming into contact with a piece of metal! Now securely fixed and road-tested...oh I am SOOOOO happy! Merry Christmas everyone! James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 Its great that you found the problem, and that the fix was simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER.... Well it is for me anyway - I have just found the problem that has been plaguing my driving experience and causing the intermittent cut-out. Turned out to be something as simple as my battery (which is mounted on the floor below my throttle bodies) was not securely strapped down and on right hand bends was moving and the positive terminal coming into contact with a piece of metal! Now securely fixed and road-tested...oh I am SOOOOO happy! Merry Christmas everyone! James Wow. good find. Could've been much worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now