My Caterham wont start

[Lewboy95]

Hi all, I am Having issues getting my caterham to start and after some investigation it seems as if the product in the image isn’t lighting up sometimes, after a fiddle around with it ,it then lights up and the car now starts also when I turn on the kill switch I don’t hear the usual “numb” noise when that product doesn’t light up. Can anyone advise what this is and if this could be causing the issue. Any help would be appreciated.

[Lewboy95]

Second image

[Dixa1225]

Is this an ex race Car ? This is the race transponder. This won't be the problem but the inertia switch next to it could be.

[ben5575]

Dixa1225 said:

Is this an ex race Car ? This is the race transponder. This won't be the problem but the inertia switch next to it could be.

This man knows his onions. I'd start here.

[Lewboy95]

Yea it is an ex race car! Ok thanks all I’ll start there

[BertBert]

So you have 12v to the inertia switch which feeds the petrol pump. That's the noise you can (or can't hear). I'd say that power has been tapped into for the power for the transponder. My first port of call would be that connection being dodge, assuming it's been tapped upstream of the inertia switch, It's possible that connection is downstream of the inertia switch. Then there are two possibilities. The connection itself again or a problem with the inertia switch. If you think the switch is the problem then just disconnect it and bridge the two connections together to feed the fuel pump and see if it works.

Hopefully will be easy to find and fix.

[Lewboy95]

Hi, yea it appears to be the inertia switch, it’s all corroded! I think when we have been fiddling with the race transponder we have also been moving the inertia cable at the same time hence why sometime the car would then start. I have ordered a replacement, thanks for the help!

[BertBert]

Good you've found it. Just curious, how do you mean all corroded up? Is that just the connections as I assume you've not taken it apart?

If so is it not possible just to clean the spade terminals?

[Lewboy95]

Seems to already have the bridge wire fitted rather than use the actual inertia switch, so the bridge wire is all corroded where it enters the terminal, replacement was only £5 so thought best to order as it didn’t look like the wire could be removed and reterminated.

[BertBert]

Good choice then!