Lotus Elan Central

by **GaryJ** » Fri 30.06.2006, 21:29

Hi Peeps, long time no talk.

I think I have a sticking wastegate. How on earth do I (sorry if I get technical now) unstick it? Can't see what kind of tool will reach.

Thanks.

by **Rambo** » Fri 30.06.2006, 22:39

I think I've heard of people using molegrips Gary. Clamp them on the actuator rod and wiggle from side to side. I'm sure Monty, Enright, Sy, JohnW etc ....... will be able to confirm that this is the tool for the job

by **GeoffSmith** » Fri 30.06.2006, 23:34

Bollocks to molegrips - do the job properly!

I tried molegrips but they were either too small or too big to achieve much and it was still sticking. I tried to remove the turbo cover but couldn't get the side bolt off so I removed the bolts from the actuator unit. You can then operate the wastegate over the full range and there were a couple of stiff which eased off after waggling the it several times. The only problem is getting the rear/bottom bolt back in - I spent 15 minutes cursing then asked my 11 year old who did it in 15 seconds!

Good luck

by **Enright** » Fri 30.06.2006, 23:56

Hmm, molegrips did the job for me, but then I have to admit that I'm not sure if mine was sticking in the first place, and I didn't have an 11 year old handy.

So if you can get them in there, then as Rambo says, moleys are fine. Otherwise, go for Geoff's solution. Either works.

by **ESM** » Sat 01.07.2006, 22:26

I used a screwdriver and a big hammer - not for the faint hearted. It was too firmly seized for molegrips in spite of multiple attempts and much WD40.

by **GaryJ** » Sun 02.07.2006, 16:46

Thanks for the advice. My mechanic did it in the end for me by removing the turbo cover.

Did not have the desired effect though :cry:

by **Enright** » Sun 02.07.2006, 18:17

GaryJ wrote:Did not have the desired effect though

How do you mean? What are the symptoms? Have you recently had a new exhaust fitted and are suffering from boost creep?

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 03.07.2006, 00:16

I'm sure you can release the wastegate by molegrips. What concerns me is that once I'd unstuck mine, I found a couple of places where it was very tight; it took quite a few operations to get it moving smoothly. I've read that sticking wastegates is a common problem - perhaps the problem re-occurs if it is not fully released?

Gary, as Neil asks, what are your symptoms? When my wastegate stuck, I had nut cracking overboost which wound up very quickly. If it hadn't been for the Supershit chip, I would have had a bruised head as the fuel cutoff cut in. (Having experienced what is waiting to be unleashed, I must try an Everest soon, but as for letting Alan release my wastegate.......)

Geoff

Thinks: My car is 11 years old so the wastegate is probably going to need releasing in 11 years time. For that job I'm going to need some WD40, a 10mm spanner and an 11 year old. Goodnight. :wink:

by **GaryJ** » Mon 03.07.2006, 21:43

The problem seems to be that power is not delivered perfectly smoothly. It is only subtle really but the turbo seems to be delivering in spurts (especially in the lower gears). Boost gauge shows up to 0.68ish and does not fluctuate.

No new exhaust fitted recently.

Once again, thanks.

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 03.07.2006, 21:57

It could be that the wastegate is a bit 'notchy' as I found mine was and you may not see it on the guage, as its response seems to be well damped. You don't know how your mechanic released the wastegate do you?

by **GaryJ** » Mon 03.07.2006, 22:10

He removed whatever he needed to to get good access to it but said it already felt quite free so was not sure himself that it would have made any difference. He suggested it may be a vacuum?

Website · by **theelanman** » Tue 26.06.2007, 23:52

geoff
can you do me a step by step pic reel....
I'm serious....
I think mine is notchey.....no creep but sometimes I get good boost sometimes it seems to struggle to get past 0.4....I just wanna give it an oil and a wiggle but which, what, where and how????
thanks
gareth

by **GeoffSmith** » Wed 27.06.2007, 00:38

Gareth,

There is nothing to it really.

You just have to remove the three bolts holding the wastegate capsule to the turbo housing. Once you've done that, you can move the actuator arm over the full range and it is obvious if it is sticking at all. I just kept moving mine for some time after it was completely free over the full travel. Then comes the fun: The first two bolts go back easily, but the back/bottom one is an absolute swine, which was where my youngster came in useful!

Geoff

Website · by **theelanman** » Wed 27.06.2007, 09:24

geoffsmith wrote:You just have to remove the three bolts holding the wastegate capsule to the turbo housing.

the what where now!!! :shock:

by **paulwatkins** » Wed 27.06.2007, 10:47

Gareth,
you'll see that the wastegate vacuum capsule is attached to a bracket which is in turn attached to the turbo unit by the three bolts that Geoff is talking about.

Remove these three bolts only, which will release the capsule and allow you to wiggle-wiggle-wiggle.

As Geoff said, one of the bolts is a bit of a sod to get back in, unless you have dainty little hands

by **Enright** » Wed 27.06.2007, 12:20

Like wot he said - only with better photos!!!

Have a click here.

by **dapinky** » Wed 27.06.2007, 18:59

Gareth,

I guess that you wouldn't appreciate some smart-arse coming along and saying something like, "I bet you wish you'd done it whilst the head was off!", so I wont :-D

by **Monty** » Wed 27.06.2007, 20:19

dapinky wrote:Gareth,

I guess that you wouldn't appreciate some smart-arse coming along and saying something like, "I bet you wish you'd done it whilst the head was off!", so I wont

or ported the wastegate :roll:

by **AndyH** » Wed 27.06.2007, 21:24

How much is it supposed to move btw? I have a problem with 'lumpy' power delivery - so I did the mole grip thing on the wastegate and it seemed to move but only by about half an inch.. is this enough?

ta

by **donsladek** » Thu 28.06.2007, 02:05

For those of us in the colonies,

Mole grips = vise grips

Don Sladek

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