EXPERTS (AND PSYCHICS) need apply....

[brubaker]

Ahhh! Having had two very qualified mechanics listen to the sound my Elan S2 is making – both had it on ramps – both are puzzled….they did think it was the diff – now both are not completely convinced…

So it’s a clonking/creaking noise that is just about near mid engine – it’s got a low pitch and sounds like lightly hitting a pint glass a third full of water (you can try that yourself if you like…:)

The symptoms:

• It doesn’t happen all the time
• The gearbox is not leaking oil – nothing leaks oil
• There is some ‘give’ where the driveshaft goes into the diff - they intially thought it might have been bearings...
• It doesn’t happen at mid/high speeds
• It doesn’t happen when you are changing gear
• It nearly always happens when you are just moving off or sometimes with braking
• Slow speeds seem to be the key to it….especially turning under slow speeds

The diagnosis:

My mechanic who does service and repair Lotus is reticent to take out the gearbox and have it refurbished. The job will be about £800 (maybe more) and he is a decent guy. He has told me to drive it and see if it gets any worse. He also told me to get on the forum and find out what the experts think…really…Over the last week it hasn’t got any worse but I know there’s something wrong and I’d like to put it right…

So ideally I’d like you guys to look at the symptoms and give me a list of things it could be and we’ll work through them all, if the problem isn’t solved after that – the gearbox WILL be coming out….

[clemo]

both had it on the ramps..
so does it make this noise when stationary? when reving?on a rolling road?or with wheels in the air?


It doesn’t happen at mid/high speeds
because the engine note has drowned it out or a bearing/wheel/pump is running faster?

what is the milage ?
has it occured since any work has been carried out?
has the car had any mods done to it?

The gearbox is not leaking oil – nothing leaks oil ( i take it that it has some in it ?)sorry pretty obvious..


can you get a closer listen to the power steering rack/ram ?

thinking.....

clemo

[brubaker]

Clemo, firstly thanks for the help,

So,

No noise when stationary...no noise when revving, not sure about wheels in the air....

Nope no drowning so can only assume it is because something is running faster,

Yip there is oil.

mileage 70,000 no work carried out and no mods fitted - unless you call replacing a window regulator a mod

Now I'm a newbie (smiles) and I took on a Lotus to do all the things that I'm learning about - everything from replacing light fittings to refurbing the seals etc etc... So how would I get a closer listen to the power steering rack/ram - oh and where the hell is it?

Your help is both apprec and invaluable, remember if you give me a list of things to check - I'll just give it to the mechanic...

Cheers PJ

[clemo]

its movement related then?
at the back of the bulk head as low as you can get their is the steering rack.. just infront of that is a engine mount and just by that where the exhaust goes through a very tight space on the longeron the exhaust joins on a bracket with 2 spring loaded bolts .. these are just guesses and i don't wish to send you off in the wrong direction but i would be looking at this engine mount area..

if you drive erraticaly wiggling the steering does the noise get faster ?

[chris.t]

emmm yes i agree clemo when i first read the post with the noise occurring on decelleration and acceleration it did make me think in the direction of the engine mountings

[Exbury]

Had a similar experience in mine and it sounds similar to another couple of owners on here. I thought it was the o/s driveshaft as it occured normally on moving off or changing gears in town (a low but audible 'clunking' type noise and there did seem to be some play in the shaft. Was all set up to order a new driveshaft and get it replaced when the noise disappeared. Similar story to a couple of other guys. While I cannot guarantee it is the same it is possible. Don't think anyone has come up with an idea of why this sometimes seems to happen, but there you go, one of lifes little mysteries.

I would say hang tight, while checking things like your mountings. If it gets worse then something IS on th way out and you need to consider more work. Hopefully it will just disappear of its own accord and you will forget it was ever there.

Jason

[JLSELAN]

It might be a good idea to check the tightness of the bolts holding the sub-frame (suspension raft) to the chassis. Those have been known to loosen, and the result can be a clunk when starting off at low speed, especially with the wheels turned.

[brubaker]

guys this help is invaluable - I've bought a jack (never thought I'd see the day) and will have a look at those engine mountings and sub frame / chassis - I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for but will dig out my trusty service manual, put on honoury overalls my mechanic gave me, and kinda pretend....on the off chance I don't find anything I'll be adding all these things to the list to give to my mechanic to check...

Anything else worth adding...oh and have an internet beer you're the best...

PJ

[clemo]

its the section that is in the middle...
tricky to get too.
you will need to come in from the wheel arch (with wheel off) from memory one is a 17 and the other is an 18mm ( or 16 and 17) this will throw you as you can hardly see it .. infact for me it was a 2 man job.. one to put it through on a ratchet with 2 extention bars on it...

thats the "this engine side " of it ...
can't remember how it attatched the other side...
it could be that that is off center and thats where your banging is coming from...

[clemo]

double posted ?
still hope the picture help..

[clemo]

1st picture ..
left hand side .. grey arm with 3 bolts on it ..
i think this is what jselan is talking about ...

also there is a single black damper at the front of the engine bay , just behind the radiators .. this i think is a damper that is also an engine mount.. without wishing to blind you with masses of information , this on could put the balance of the rear ones out ...
it think ..

any thought anyone ?

[brubaker]

okey dokey more symptoms for the diagnosis doctors...

Today on a run into work (first significant run for a while) the following happened:

The car made a clunking sound that was directly related to the speed of the car (got faster the faster you went)....

Minor vibrations could be felt in the steering wheel and gear stick...

The problem ceased whenever acceleration or braking was applied and then started again directly after taking the foot off either pedal.

The problem also continued whether I was in gear or out of gear...

It did not matter what speed the car was doing....

I have booked the Lotus in with my garage next week so all you gods out there - this is indeed your chance to shine...

Oh and I so appreciate the help (as I mentioned on another thread) the help, friendliness and knowledge of this forum is quite simply incredible so a big thank you for all who are posters...

PJ

[JLSELAN]

Seems to narrow it down to bad CV joint(s) or bearings at the wheel or transmission/differential.

[clemo]

Ahhh! Having had two very qualified mechanics listen to the sound my Elan S2 is making..

this kinda made me think it was something more involved than a cv joint !!! but yes i think your right...

£30 south west lotus , plenty in stock...
£130 inboard cv.

best of luck with it..

[brubaker]

Guys thanks again for all your help on this one - I'm leaving the Lotus in on tuesday...

They'll check the cv joints, driveshaft, engine mountings and if they don't find anything wrong with any of those they'll drop out the gearbox and that will be that...

PJ

[clemo]

why do you want the gearbox to come out???

[brubaker]

Well on the basis that it's none of the others (which can be discounted more readily - it must be the bearings as the driveshaft goes into the diff - in order to refurb the inside of the gearbox it has to come out...

I think the plan is to discount everything that people have suggested and if its none of those it must be the gearbox...

Or I may be missing something...please correct

yours as always

PJ

[Simon_P]

I had a similar thing.

It first happened when I was turning on full lock.

I was certain that it was the driveshafts - took them out had them professionally looked at - nothing wrong with them, no more than usual ware for 70k miles - put them back in and the noise vanished.

completely stumped !

Simon

[brubaker]

If only it would go away - just back in from 100 mile drive tonight and the sound is loud now and highly disconcerting...sincerely hope that the guys get to the bottom of the problem...

[Candles]

I'd be very keen on the wheel bearing idea. I had exactly these symptoms you describe and it seemed to be worse under braking etc. The clunking changed with speed etc.

I replaced the RH wheelbearing and job was a goodun. Much cheaper than taking out the gearbox! How many miles has the car got?

If you jack the front wheels, then turn by hand you might feel the catching that is causing the clunk. You may have to take the wheel off and feel at the hub.

Candles.