BOLLECKS to Castle Combe 27th May 2017

[Kathryn]

Oh no Phil, it must be catching!

My Lotus guy is gonna look at it next week.

Having now discovered that my windscreen's refusal to demist during heavy rain appears to be linked to the wet footwell that now appears to be the more imminent issue, as I do like to be able to see where I am going!

[GeoffSmith]

As the CO pot has flagged up as well, I wonder if it's an earthing issue Phil.

[lotusflasherman]

As the CO pot has flagged up as well, I wonder if it's an earthing issue Phil.

Thanks for the hint Geoff. I'll check that. I did hit the rev-limiter more times than I wanted to when on track... can't here the engine with a helmet on and needed to watch where I was going rather than the rev-counter ..
Wondering if it might be related... Somebody created a clever LED warning light. Got any spare or instructions how to make one?

[rip]

I did hit the rev-limiter more times than I wanted to when on track... can't here the engine with a helmet on and needed to watch where I was going rather than the rev-counter ..

I have never liked the Elan's rev counter. Too small & in the wrong location because it is covered by your left hand when driving.
GM is to blame for that. The Calibra/Mk3 Cav/Mk3 Astra share the same instrument cluster layout.

[Rambo]

Parked uncovered during 45 minutes of solid torrential rain though and discovered water was not entering the passenger footwell through the hole with the slipped bung as I'd hoped. Dived (not literally, it wasn't that wet) into the footwell as soon as I got home whilst it was all still damp and the big yellow 'here' in this thread sums it up. viewtopic.php?f=30&t=219&p=172825&hilit=Water+in+footwell#p172825

I have the same problem as you Kathryn. Not surprising, however, as the Black Beastie once belonged to RayD and he mentions it in that link. Must get round to sorting it out

[Saltire]

Moving from faults to enhancements, someone at CC had a blue SE with a neatly fitted digital temperature gauge by the drivers side A pillar. I wondered if it was for oil temperature, and where the sensor had been fitted to the engine. Neatly done - I didn't spot it at first.

[Rambo]

I think this was Phil's car (Lotusflasherman) I'm sure he'll be along to confirm or deny

[rip]

I think this was Phil's car (Lotusflasherman) I'm sure he'll be along to confirm or deny

It was not on mine & I think it was the only other blue SE there.

[lotusflasherman]

I think this was Phil's car (Lotusflasherman) I'm sure he'll be along to confirm or deny

Yup, my car ...
It's giving me Oil Temperature. My Oil Pressure is always quite high (only on 53k miles) and there's been several reports of oil cooler hoses bursting so thought might be useful to have some idea of Oil Temp before I boot it.

It's just a Digital Thermometer that I had 'kicking around' so thought I'd try it. Mine came from Maplin s several years ago and their p&p was more than the item so I bought several ... can't see them on their website but it's one of these
Indoor-Outdoor-Digital-LCD-Screen-Thermometer-with-Outdoors-Remote-Sensor-New

Sensor is held on the upper oil cooler (return?) pipe with a couple of cable ties, lead is only 1m so runs just below screen on the outside and inside at the A pillar and display is held on dash with a bit of self adhesive velcro ...
bit crude but only took 5 minutes to fit and it works. Originally I had a bit of pipe insulation round the sensor, thinking I'd get more accurate readings, but it indicates about the same without it.

Oil Temp with a hot engine seems to be about 65°C but crawling round the M25 and sitting on the M4 on the way to Combe with the rad fans cycling on and off I saw 86°C for the first time. Quickly went down once I got moving...

Edit: suppose I ought to post some pictures ....

ot display.jpg

ot sensor.jpg

[Giniw]

Somebody created a clever LED warning light. Got any spare or instructions how to make one?

It's probably doable as a temporary device via the ALDL link* and an arduino but it would be better to get the signal directly from the rev counter wire and an arduino is probably a lazy/ugly choice (well, I have no knowledge in electronics at all!)

lotusflasherman > I am surprised the oil temperature is so low. Isn't it supposed to be hotter than the water?

(*) although the aldl is actually only transmitting the engine speed to a max of around 6000 RPM if I remember correctly (and if I am not wrong), so it would need to be deduced from the car speed.

[GeoffSmith]

Somebody created a clever LED warning light. Got any spare or instructions how to make one?

It's probably doable as a temporary device via the ALDL link* and an arduino but it would be better to get the signal directly from the rev counter wire and an arduino is probably a lazy/ugly choice (well, I have no knowledge in electronics at all!)

lotusflasherman > I am surprised the oil temperature is so low. Isn't it supposed to be hotter than the water?

(*) although the aldl is actually only transmitting the engine speed to a max of around 6000 RPM if I remember correctly (and if I am not wrong), so it would need to be deduced from the car speed.

Hmmmmm... BTDTGTT

http://vid148.photobucket.com/albums/s24/GeoffSmithUK/RevWarningLights20100410.mp4

[Giniw]

Yes I know you were the "Somebody" lotusflasherman referred to but I didn't remember the video
(I am pretty sure you made a little clever thing, not an arduino based solution ^^)

[maz_r]

Somebody created a clever LED warning light. Got any spare or instructions how to make one?

Instructions: Log into eBay and buy one......

(to be fair, never seen one or fitted one, so buyer beware and all that)

[GeoffSmith]

Somebody created a clever LED warning light. Got any spare or instructions how to make one?

Instructions: Log into eBay and buy one......

(to be fair, never seen one or fitted one, so buyer beware and all that)

Our tacho signal is a very short mark-space ratio and I had to extend the pulse to get the LM2907 f-to-v converter work consistently at high revs.

[maz_r]

Guessing: Tacho -> NE555 -> LM2907 -> LM3914?

Also guessing that the tacho signal can't be any worse than any other GM car from the same period (give or take)?

(And we digress wildly off topic!)

[Saltire]

Thanks both

[rip]

I am surprised the oil temperature is so low. Isn't it supposed to be hotter than the water?

Phil said it is measured from the oil cooler return pipe, so the temp should be after it has been cooled. He also mentioned that while sitting in traffic, it increased to 86c. Unlike the water radiator, the oil cooler has no fan so it gets no fresh air while sitting still.

[Giniw]

Oops, indeed, thanks!