N/A Non Starter after many years

[PEPPER55]

I am new to this site but have frequently entered it as a guest since I have an Elan N/A which has not been started for 12 years. I bought a new battery in the hope of getting it back on the road but it will not start. I put in 2 galls petrol fitted battery took the plugs out and turned the engine over on the starter motor ok. However it will not start and after viewing replies to similar problems on this site I checked the cut out etc On taking the plugs out they are dry so feel there is no fuel delivery. I have switched the ignition on and tried to hear the injectors ticking but all silence and no smell of petrol, I have no experience of fuel injection systems and hesitant to fiddle without some advice so any ideas greatly appreciated before calling in the local garage or transporting it to a Lotus specialist. I am located near Chester. Also I have wiggled all the wiring harnesses in the area and when I turn the ignition on I can hear the punp whine then stop after a few secs.

[tb10]

Welcome Pepper55,

When my N/A wouldn't start a while back, I removed the HT leads and cleaned the main HT distributor connection and it fired up straight away.


regards

John

[lotusflasherman]

Pump whine and stop sounds good - you should have fuel pressure.

You can check HT & spark by taking plugs out, refitting them to HT leads and laying them on top of the engine so plug body is earthed. Crank the engine on the key and you should see them sparking.

Put plugs back in without HT leads and crank the engine and plugs should appear damp with unburnt petrol. If bone dry I'd suspect injectors are not working.
Fuel injectors are pulsed in pairs, 1&3, 2&4, once in each engine revolution so you won't hear them ticking even if they are working correctly.

Good luck...

[epipete]

Welcome Pepper.

I can't offer any advice I'm afraid, but remain interested in your dilemma. Please keep us updated with progress.

Pete

[Rambo]

Hi Pepper Unfortunately all ll I can add are additional problems

After 12 years inactivity, you will also need to replace all fluids ie oil, coolant, brake fluid etc. You will also need a new cambelt (+waterpump, tensioner, idlers, PAS belt, alt. belt etc..)

I am also fairly sure that your calipers will be seized on, particularly if the car has been outside for any prolonged period of time in the 12 years

You will also need to consider new rubber on all corners as the tyres will probably have flat spots and the sidewalls perished etc.

Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news I wouldn't want you thinking that once you'd got the engine going you could simply take it for a thrashing !

Good luck with getting it back on the road

PS the good news is that you won't have to bother about unsticking the wastegate in the turbo

[Candles]

When I had a stuck injector, I reached into the small space next to each one with the handle of a 1/2" drive ratchet and gently tapped sideways. It cleared immediately. Whilst an assistant cranks, you could try this to see if you get some fuel flowing.

If this doesn't work, I'd check to see if fuel is actually making it to the fuel rail, by taking off the pressure reg at the left end (when viewed from the front of the car). If there is definitely fuel there, replace the injectors (or even better try someone elses - I have a spare set of Turbo ones in Bristol - no idea if they are the same?)

Good luck!

[clemo]

peppers

where are you based?

[lotusflasherman]

peppers

where are you based?

He said 'near Chester'... but adding Location to profile would be a good idea.

[PEPPER55]

Thanks to you all for your advice. I will have a go again over weekend. Am based on the Wirral about 10 miles from Chester In my younger days I could pull mini engines to bits and ended up virtually rebuilding the whole car. Now wished I had kept it!!! However modern fuel injection systems are beyond me but should be able to check for fuel at the engine if I choose the correct pipe !!!! Once it has started I will check out everything else as advised but appreciate all help and will keep in touch.

[Artaban]

Hi, glad you are attempting to get it running again. If you are on the Wirral PNM are close to you. Address: PNM Engineering, Unit 2, New Way Business Centre, Oakdale Road, Wallasey, CH44 7HT, UK
They had an NA M100 in which they were working on for a customer but I'm not sure if it was going for parts in the end. If you get stuck I'm sure Pete would have a few ideas and could probably trailer it back to the workshop for you; he may even come over to you (he is open on Saturday mornings). I used them when I lived in Chester and their prices were vey reasonable and their servicing was excellent.
Andy

[PEPPER55]

Thanks for advice and have found the garage in Wallasey which is only a few miles away.. However loosened off engine fuel feed and no fuel seen so am planning to strip out battery area to check filter and fuel pump.. Fuel pump still audible but no fuel supply!!!! May be filter blocked with old petrol drying up inside but will battle on my own for a bit and hopefully drive to Wallasey for all the other work reqd plus MOT,

[clemo]

i hope your problem is a simple one and you get to drive again soon .

does your car have PAS ?

[HJ2]

Perhaps the fuel cut switch is activated?
Saves you a trip and some $$$ and some


Oh ehrm... I should read before I type. You can hear the pump...
Here's some info on the pump:
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=15509&hilit=fuel+float

[AndyNW66]

I had a similar sounding problem some six or seven years ago on my NA. Initially the car would just stop like it had run out of petrol but after turning it over on the starter for some time it would suddenly fire again. Failures became more frequent and it became harder to restart. Eventually it wouldn't restart at all. Over several months I swapped several things without success. Also the "paper clip test" would only produce the "all ok" 1-2 flash.
My favourite local garage also struggled testing everything without getting anywhere. In the end I bought a new ecu in the Lotus 50year sale. Initially this didn't help, in fact it seemed faulty, until we opened the back of it to find that it had been supplied without a memcal. I robbed this from the old unit and the car started.
Amongst the things I bought in the sale was a hard copy of the engine management & fuel injection service notes for the NA. This is very comprehensive, and would probably be useful to somebody who can work through all 153 pages.

Today the car is still running ok, albeit with an intermittent fault I've not yet traced.

[PEPPER55]

Update Yes my 93 n\a elan does have power steering.. spent a bit of time this w/e removing all trim to examine fuel pump etc..Removed filter and blew through it ok and discovered pump is working. Thought fuel not reaching engine but difficult to loosen off fuel supply nut to check and unsure if I was attacking correct area!! Also didnt have big enough open spanner since nut over 20mm. Plugs still dry after cranking engine so contemplating having it picked up for sorting out and full service. My car is black and was led to believe that it was the last NA built . Reading up about injectors now and appreciate everyones help and sympathies so keeps me optimistic

[Oliver]

Hi just read this. Had my n/a for 14 years. When it stopped dead i found the ignition module in distributor was dead. Intermotor 15875 - quite an old part but used in Daewoo Nubira. Could very well be that.

[Oliver]

Also in the distributor is a pick up coil GM part number 10470197. This could have gone open circuit.

[Oliver]

Distributor cap available from Blue Print part number ADG01423 worth replacing.

[Oliver]

When you get it running, Denso IK20 Iridium spark plugs are well worth fitting, they need about 5k volts less to fire thus reducing the load on the HT ignition circuit.

[Oliver]

On a different track, the electric fuel pump cross references to a Sytec ITP332.