NO BOOST, LACK OF POWER, PLEASE HELP SOMEBODY

[4SPD]

Hello everyone

Ready for War And Peace

Just awaking from a 4 oclock stint on the devil of all problems.
lets start from the begining....(if the spelling and diction isnt quite right today sorry knackered)
The exhaust was replaced because it was blowing and was replaced with a stainless from paul matty sportscars.So i believe that it was identical to original???????the problem was there before the exhaust so tho massive hole in the exhaust was the reason for replacing it.
But sadly it didnt solve the problem......

The lack of power is constant doesnt come and go.

So last night this is what i did.(with the help of 1 sometimes 2 ex lotus mechanics) Rightly or Wrongly.............?

Checked wastegate rod. Moves freely with some pressure (2 ex lotus mechanics said perfect)
Stage 2
removed plugs, dizzy cover, all pipes around area to check for leaks.
Plugs fine cleaned them up replaced
Dizzy was a tiny bit dirty so cleaned and cleaned sensor as well (you never know)
Replaced all took for a driver
Can back and the manifold was red (and i mean red) hot, glowing
ran marginally better than last week i think might be kidding myself...
Then at about 2 oclock this morning decided to check timing and this is the strange part.The ex lotus mechanic who is a friend of mine and is seriously willing to help marked the pulley etc then put the timing light on the lead

the lead was showing on the timing light that the tick over was between 1870rpm and 1975rpm but obviously the dash was saying 975rpm
Anyway set the timing which was out took it up the road and no miss fire, ran smoothly but still no power but did sound feel better 0 to 60 16 seconds approx.Strange bit now...... got back to garage opened bonnet top pipe had blown off i forgot to tighten and the small pipe that came from the waste gate was off as well must not have put this back on was about )3.30 this morning...So i am thinking great we have found problem and my lack of sleep just forgot to tighten and replace pipe great
redid everything took it up the road ten times worse than at the start wouldnt tick over very well mis firing etc

Mechanic says i need a tech 1 diagnostic on it.
In my opinion it feels retarded.
Which direction do i go .I just need to get it sorted.Do you think i bite the bullet and take to somebody with this tech 1 thing.(as you can tell im no mechanic but i do try)

[GeoffSmith]

FWIW : the Tech 1 tool only collects the same data as ElanScan.

Just a thought Simon: In the log you posted (I'm at work so can't check it - we're not allowed to run ElanScan at work in case it breaks something), I seem to remember that your thottle never went much above halfway. Was this you deliberately holding back or did you have your foot to the floor? If it is the latter then the chances are your Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) is broken or badly adjusted which might explain some of the problems.

Geoff

[muley]

The timing light rpm is assuming there's a spark every two revolutions (normal 4 cycle engine)

But our ignition system is a 'lost spark' system - there's a spark every revolution but only fires every alternate revolution ...

..cant' help otherwise though. Red hot manifold? Never seen that.

Jim

[Enright]

Could you make it over to Nottingham?
If you wanted I could take a look at it on Saturday afternoon (after the GP qualifying).

[a5gcd]

I had severe power loss under load and at high boost. After trying everything it turned out to be one coil breaking down. I changed the coil pack and all is now OK.

It is worth a check.

Geoff

[4SPD]

Thank you so much Enright13 for the offer but i genuinely think i will struggle to get it back from Middlewich never mind over to Notts.i am going to disconnect the pipe that i took off to get it back.....but now

Got it booked in with a proper highly recommended (5 people in the motor trade have said he i amazing) diagnostic bloke next week locally.he hasnt got the software but luckily i have .So wish me luck

if it is a map sensor does anyone know of a non genuine part
i.e not lotus £128 +vat
Thank You everyone for you help and if he sorts i will let you know of the problem
Simon

[Gazza]

Simon

I think map sensor's were in the Lotus parts sell off recently.

Gazza

[dapinky]

Simon

I think map sensor's were in the Lotus parts sell off recently.

Gazza

They aren't on my list, and i can't find them on the website

[Enright]

I have a few known good sensors such as TPS and MAP, which are easily loanable and postable.
Then if they sort the problem you have a choice of what to do next - although I'd rather you either replaced with new or just sent me them back.
Drop me a PM with your number and I'll try to go through the details with you (although I can't promise that it will be tonight).

Some further thoughts:
It's wierd that your TPS voltage never gets above 2.75, even though the baseline appears to be correct.
Have you tried doing an Elanscan run without the engine running, just to check that you have full travel from 0 to 100%?
The run posted is very short. It would be good to see one from cold up to operating temperature.
As others have said, the coolant temp is very high.
But I'm baffled by your comment that the manifold was red.
It's covered by heat shields. As is the pre-cat. So which bit were you talking about?

How long have you had your Elan?
Did it always do this or did it suddenly develop the fault?

[ESM]

Since you got reasonable performance when the top pipe was off - air fed direct to plenum & no turbo assistance - and terrible performance when you put it back on I would look for some blockage/problem in the air induction path.

[muley]

Red hot manifold and intake blockage - it's a stupid question, but I ask it anyway - is the turbo spinning freely?:smt017

Just a thought

Jim

[ESM]

I looked at the log and there are some odd things about it.

As has been said the boost is very high, especially when you consider that boost control (i.e. boost above 0.4bar or so bar) is only enabled when the CTS reading is between 60 and 100°C. Your log dips below 100°C only briefly hence the minimal amount of BCFV usage (revealed in the wastegate duty cycle). If your wastegate is working then the reading is wrong. However, the barometer reading looks fine so that's not a high percentage option.

The high temperatures seem believable, the MAT level is consistent with the CTS temperature and the red hot manifold is perhaps a clue to high temperatures. The peaks and troughs in the CTS reading do look a lot like thermostat opening and closing and it should really be wide open the whole time at that temperature or stuck completely - either way its a surprise to see apparent thermostat activity.

The voltage also appears abnormally variable, its usually quite stable.

I would be careful about running the car in this state, its obviously got a big problem and it might cook the engine.

Consider all ECU and engine related earths (these can cause systematic errors in the readings), the alternator and cooling related items (water pump, thermostat etc - does the heater work?)

[Gazza]

Simon

I think map sensor's were in the Lotus parts sell off recently.

Gazza

They aren't on my list, and i can't find them on the website

I did get one off the sales list for under £20, must have been last year then.

Gazza

[Rambo]

0 to 60 16 seconds approx.

Blimey - you have got problems !! My Escort diesel van without turbo will go faster than that!!

Hopefully you'll bottom things out with all the useful suggestions here

[4SPD]

Hello
Back from a weekend away and back to THE LOTUS...............

I have run the elanscan from cold with these results........

[4SPD]

Booted it from the start then got behind some traffic within 100 yards.at about 930 .0s got a bit of open road and look at the results.......

[GeoffSmith]

Alan, I suspected that the cycling of the coolant temperature in the first run was due to the fans cutting in and out - they seemed to me about the right temperatures.

In this run, the coolant temperature is closer to what it should be but is slightly lower and rather variable compared to other logs I've seen - I guess it could be an earthing issue with the CTS but I still suspect the thermostat. Given that there is potential for cooking the engine, I think it would be a sensible [and comparatively cheap and quick] precaution to take.

There would appear to be a lot of knocking in both your runs as well. Could this be a CAS issue Alan?

[Enright]

So come on Simon - after taking it in yesterday, what was the diagnosis?

[4SPD]

Not looked at it yet im afraid

[4SPD]

Mechanic had car for 2 weeks and came back with its overboosting......GREAT tell me something i dont know

So call Captain Enright to the rescue


Problem solved

The most bizarre problem ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my opinion anyway!

I will let Enright go into more detail but i have to say that this guy is an absolute genius. I cant believe how he not only found, but repaired the problem, in probably the best artistic repair i have ever seen

A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO HIM AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE FORUM FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND INFORMATION ON THE POSSIBLE CAUSES

BUT MAINLY to HIM

THANK YOU

(i will leave the glory and the technical stuff for him to explain )