You could have damaged your battery. Automatic batteries and any battery with an open hole in the middle of the threaded end are prone to being damaged or killed by juice leaks. If a cartomizer leaks it will do so right over that hole. if you like the model, try a manual RN4081 battery from AZSmokeFree.com (ask them first if the threaded end is sealed - I think it is). if even a little bit of juice gets in an auto battery, it can gunk up the drag switch and cause the battery to turn off slowly, wasting power. A bit more liquid and you short and kill the battery. Wind and vibration can also cause many auto batteries to turn on and waste power.
Alternately - the following are good choices for small ecigs
Joye 510 manual and use with blank standard resistance cartomizer (Boge are most popular)
KR808D-1 manual = Vapor4Life manuals have a normal size button, customized to allow up to 10-13 second drags, still have a threaded end hole but it looks sealed off inside (we don't know how well). Or SmokelessImage Volt manual - threaded end looks totally sealed, longer charge for each size, small partially recessed button is a bit harder to press, short 5-second cutoff (max 5 second drag)
Manuals are harder to damage with juice leaks, won't turn on accidentally from wind or vibration, and make it easier to get a good hit.
You can use autos, but you may need to get more careful about filling and cleaning up cartos and I recommend a spare manual battery if you get autos
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Re peppery taste - that is nicotine. And cartridge + atomizer can dump juice in your mouth unexpectedly. Most people use cartomizers for most of their vaping. A properly filled and cleaned up and settled stuffing carto will not dump a bunch of juice.