A hole where a hole should not be?

[Andy C]

Viewed another M100 today .. this one had lotsa issues.

It also had a wierd hole just behind the passenger seat. There seems to be "something" below it (black thingie knob or valve cap), or maybe this was a mounting hole for some sort of roll cage (hinting at a racing history). There did not appear to be a matching hole on the other side.

Any idea?



A&J

[John_W]

?umbrella stand?

That cover is just a bit of plastic covered with carpet and should house a speaker and nothing else (on my UK spec SE). It covers the metal frame outrigger thing, but it's not where I'd attach a roll bar.

John

[TheBard]

Now I believe that the hole in question covers a plunger style switch which is the reset for the rollover safety shutoff that cuts the fuel pump in the event of a major accident... I seem to remember finding the same thing and wondering just why it was there. Check the manuals for certainty but I'm pretty sure it is a safety reset!

Happy Elaning,
Ian

[Fubar1764]

Confirm. In nearly any accident, the switch will flip and cut off the fuel. I've had that happen once already, unfortunately.

[Doug]

agree with the above, but I don't think the "hole" is standard.

maybe it was cut there to allow quick diagnosis and reset of the switch?

***BTW this switch is a great easy way for a "poor-man's Elan immobilizer"--park the car and throw this switch and it won't go far if stolen . . .

mine does not have one and I have seen others without it too. Maybe ours are the male versions . . .

[Doc Fizzix]

agree with the above, but I don't think the "hole" is standard.

maybe it was cut there to allow quick diagnosis and reset of the switch?

***BTW this switch is a great easy way for a "poor-man's Elan immobilizer"--park the car and throw this switch and it won't go far if stolen . . .

mine does not have one and I have seen others without it too. Maybe ours are the male versions . . .

Doug, do you not have the same opening? All Elans I have seen have this hole behind the drives seat but there should be a cover over the hole. A plastic "disc" cover

[Sy V]

I agree that this is the fuel cut off inertia valve, but am somewhat confused as to the siting of it on an Australian import.
On UK RHD vehicles the valve/switch is located in the battery compartment and on LHD cars in the left hand speaker box (as shown in the picture).
Oz cars are RHD, so can we assume that the aussie's have the Evaporative Emission Control System and some bastardisation of the roll over safety circuit?

[Andy C]

Interesting differences. One thing I did notice when decoding the VIN is that its an engine emission spec type "2" (US 49 states). The VIN is in UK/Export format, and it is an australian delivered vehicle. No real idea if this is normal on aussie cars.

This vehicle seems OK apart from the "wierd hole", the "Exxon Valdes" proportion oil leak (CAS/blanking plate area), the poorly repaired front end, the turbo overboost issue, the "ready to break" gearshift cables and the lack of any service records for the past 3 years .. and its currently not registered so no warranty applicable.

Trying to think up a number small enough to make them an offer

A&J

[cjay]

Mine is in the same spot as the car Andy looked at but it has the cover on it. It's an S2 as well, do RHD SE's and S2's have a different set up? or is it a strange Aussie thing...

cjay.

[timmo]

My rhd S2 UK spec born and bred has a plastic disc covering the hole you picture, it essentially allows easy access to the cutoff, its just prettier than a hole, have you removed the carpet to see if the plastic plate and trim have simply fallen through the hole?

[Sy V]

Ah, it's an S2 thing then - interesting.