Lotus Elan Central

by **Benmac** » Sun 28.01.2007, 00:12

OK, I'm still having fun with my horns or lack of them. I need to suss out how to use my multimeter and have a proper trace through the system as well as try some of the things to suss out where the issue is. However are there any particular weak points to try first?

Fuse is fine and so is the relay I think (although I haven't specifically tested it but I swapped it for anoter ne and still no joy). I see I'd need to take the wheel off to get at the switch.

Tried to get at the horns tody but of course the rivnuts are knackered on the arch liner. Got one out then I'd had enough messing fo the day.

Basically I don't think any power is getting to them so I'm thinking maybe switch.

Have had a hoot with the electrics the last few days. Was looking into the horn issue so checked the fuses again and noticed one was missing. This turned out to be the central locking. Obviously that hasn't worked since I had the car but it never bothered me. Popped a new fuse in and hey presto, central locking! Alo swapped the bulbs in the interior light as both were out, they work. Joy! Dipped beams were rubbish and I had some spare bulbs of the right type knocking about. Changed one, worked fine. Changed the other, didn't work, arrrgggh. Put the old bulb back, no joy still. Oh no. Cleaned the connectors up and changed one as it was really corroded. Still no joy. Pulled the wires around a bit, no joy. Left it for a while, came back and it now works. Joy! But how long will it last.

Weird thing I noticed though was that my main beams are just H1 bulbs rather than the H4s they should be.

by **Enright** » Sun 28.01.2007, 11:48

My bet would be either corroded connectors on the horns themselves, or they've just siezed up.
When you get to them just try putting some power from a 12V battery straight through them.
If can still hear afterwards, they're buggered! :-D

by **Benmac** » Fri 09.02.2007, 16:49

Right, got to them last night and the damn things both work! Got them off and was wondering how to power them to test, then noticed the Elise battery languishing in the charger. Its amusing to use the Elise as a piece of test equipment for the Elan.

The wiring looks intact and the connectors are OK. Time to start poking about in an amateurish fashion with the multimeter. I'm starting to think its the switch in the wheel.

by **Monty** » Fri 09.02.2007, 18:44

Try removing the horn cover (IIRC push in 1/4 turn to the left to remove) Can`t remember how it works but see if u can push/press the metal ring or remove wire and short it out

by **Ekapol** » Fri 09.02.2007, 21:20

Fed Elan's switches are simply pieces of something not worthy to talk about.

UK steering wheel looks much better IMO. Same OEM horn??

You might want to replace the horn too once you get them to work again. I did and never look back.

CLICK ME!

by **Sy V** » Sat 10.02.2007, 07:52

Benmac wrote:... I'm starting to think its the switch in the wheel.

I once had an Elan where, if the steering wheel was perfectly centred on the spline the horn wouldn't work. If I moved it one tooth either way it was fine...

by **Benmac** » Sat 10.02.2007, 17:07

I'll have a dig around. Can the switch be removed without taking the wheel off?

by **Ekapol** » Sun 11.02.2007, 04:58

I did mine without taking the wheel off by carefully prying the side of the steering wheel where it covers the switch.

Not sure about UK Elan.

by **Benmac** » Fri 13.04.2007, 23:04

Fixed it! This is something I've neglected for fear of it being a pain whilst amusing myself with easier things to do.

Anyway, had a play with the switch and satisfied myself it was OK. Took the column shroud off as much as you can with the wheel in place and had a poke around. Noticed that the sprung pin on the column that is the horn wire going into the loom wasn't touching the metal ring on the back of the wheel. Levered it on with a screwdriver and hey presto, horn works!

Joy! OK, now to make it work without having to levere it into place. Can't adjust the sprung pin. Had a look at the wheel itself and nipped the nut up ever so slightly. This helped a bit but I didn't want to go mad obviously for fear of damaging the column. A lot of fidddling and faffing and I managed to remove the screws holding the ring on and put a tiny washer under the ring on both sides. This did the necessary to move it that extra mm or so and contact was made.

All back together including replacing some of the missing fixings on the shroud. Another job done.

Pleased it was so relatively simple in the end.

'goes off smiling eyeing up the air horns he never got round to fitting on the Elise'

by **Ekapol** » Mon 23.04.2007, 06:48

Benmac wrote:'goes off smiling eyeing up the air horns he never got round to fitting on the Elise'

You'll love it :-D

by **TheBard** » Tue 24.04.2007, 18:59

Okay Ekapol, I'm guessing you fitted a Griot's Italian Airhorn, so did you use all the parts they supplied, and where did you connect the wires to? Was it a snake it all the way to the battery as they suggest or did you borrow a 12v source in the engine bay.
I've had the horn for months and never got around to fitting it :roll:

So I need all the inspiration you and t'others can provide.

Cheers,
Ian

by **Ekapol** » Sun 29.04.2007, 04:02

Cheers mate. :-D

Yes, I have Griot's Italian airhorn, the smaller black version -- not the red one.

They supplied an inline fuse cable but I didn't use it and just went straight to reuse the existing power cable. And just electric-tape another pair. Very easy, once you take the inner liner out from the right wheel.

HERE

You'll definitely like it once you hear how aggressive you Elan sounds -- when you use the horn of course :wink:

by **rip** » Tue 29.05.2007, 20:32

My horn intermitently works, but I have done some testing..

Today I took the steering shroud off and found a wire hanging loose. It is black wire hich is long enough to reach the horn switch, and it has a small spade connector. I cannot find any female to plug it into though.

I also found some more things which may be relevant. Today, the horn works while the engine is running, but with the engine off and ignition on, closing the horn switch dims the clock (so the switch is doing something). The clock also appears to lack a permanent live because it forgets the time if the car is left for anything more than a few minutes.

Can anyone help? Have I described several faults here, or multiple symptoms of one?

by **lotuska** » Tue 29.05.2007, 22:46

Not sure about the black wire...but my horn stopped working and I had the same effect with the clock dimming when the horn was pressed.

The problem was with the Batt Services fuse (Fuse number 12) which is a 3A fuse that had blown.

The Horn fuse (fuse number 1) 15A was ok.

Replaced the fuse and normal service was resumed.

by **rip** » Wed 30.05.2007, 09:11

Sounds promising. Batt services sounds like the permanent live for clock & radio which I have been searching for. I have even looked at the wiring diagram but cannot find it in the clock's circuit.

I did just try to have a look, but driving the Elan out of the garage to get some light seems to be a signal for rain to start falling

...then the Elan makes a hasty retreat.

by **lotuska** » Wed 30.05.2007, 17:48

For info batt services can be found on sheet 1A of the Electrical Services manual (Section MJ) 10th from the bottom of a long sheet, marked with a triangle with "27" and a cable marked "P 1J". Follow this and you'll find the 3A (A12) fuse.

For the horn circuit check sheet 7, and look at the horn relay and pin 2, you will see the same triangle with "27" and "P 1J".

And finally the Clock circuit check sheet 23, look at the Digital clock box and the wire named "R" which if you follow has the same triangle with "27" and "P 1J".

Hope that helps.

by **rip** » Wed 30.05.2007, 22:45

I can usually follow circiut diagrams without any problem, so I was obviously not looking properly.

Fuse 12 had, as you diagnosed, blown. I will worry about what has blown it if and when it blows again.

As for now, my horn appears to work with the keys out, which it never did before. The clock also appears to remember the time (not that I can see it while driving) Many thanks lotuska.

by **algirdas** » Thu 31.05.2007, 06:17

Dear All:

Sorry if this is a bit of a hijack, but before you buy anything from Griot's Garage, check Harbor Freight first. Often they have the same stuff as Griot's but at a much better price. Those small black horns? I bought two of them at Harbor Freight for the price of one from Griot's. Identical. Exact same horns.

Just an FYI. Don't get me wrong-Griot's has many items that you can only get from them and it is all good stuff. But many of their tools, bolts and fasteners are available elsewhere at a fraction of the price.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

by **Ekapol** » Thu 31.05.2007, 06:55

I appreciate your posting Algirdas. I would have bought somewhere else should I found out better price earlier

by **rip** » Thu 31.05.2007, 19:54

Not really hijacking, Algirdas. This thread is about horns after all.
Are the horns you are referring to multi-tone sequential? I would be interested to hear them (2 of Ekapol's samples appear to be dead links). If they are sequential, they would be illegal here in the UK.

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