1.6 k-series Caterham Series 3 speed sensor problems.

[Nuno Santos]

Hi,

Last year my father bought a Caterham 1.6 k-series that had run in the Portuguese "SuperSeven by KIA" trophy.
The car had some electrical issues and many of the gauges were not working (oil pressure and speedometer).

We found that the oil pressure sender was not conected and that the speed sensor, in the gearbox (type 9 5-speed)was missing with a blanking plug in it's place.

The oil pressure was a simple fix, but the speed sensor, not that much.

After removing the blanking plug form the gearbox we realized that it was missing all the parts needed to put the speedometer to work. There was no speedo drive gear, no speedo gear, nothing!

The previous owner managed to give us one speed sensor that he had around. We tested it with a power drill, connected to the wiring loom, but that also failed to put the speedometer to work.

As you know, to install a new speedo drive gear we need to remove and open the gearbox. We really don't want to go that way right away.
Is there any way to put a speed sensor at one wheel? Does any one did that already?
Where can i buy one kit/speed sensor?

Our speedometer is the Caterham one (not a Stack).

Thanks for your help.

[downsman]

My Caterham has a toothed wheel on the right side drive shaft and a sensor mounted on a bracket attached to the hub.

It doesn't sound like they were using a gearbox drive, so if you can't find the sensor on the hub, look for a magnet on the propshaft with a sensor near it.

[Nuno Santos]

downsman said:

My Caterham has a toothed wheel on the right side drive shaft and a sensor mounted on a bracket attached to the hub.

It doesn't sound like they were using a gearbox drive, so if you can't find the sensor on the hub, look for a magnet on the propshaft with a sensor near it.

Thanks Downsman.

Just to check, is your car also a Series 3 1.6 k-series one? And do you have the standard speedometer or a Stack one?

For what i can see in the caterham parts shop, the cars with the Stack speedometer do have a wheel speed sensor, but for the standard speedometer, it should be the gearbox one.

Here's a photo of my speedometer.

[DCL]

That looks like an electronic speedo, so the pickup will most likely be on the rear RH drive shaft near the hub. They can be tricky to set up and often fail due to the wires breaking at the sensor.

[downsman]

Yes I have a speedometer like that. It is electronic, my car has a Sigma, but I have similar blanking plates fitted to the gearbox.
Hope you get it sorted