is there something wrong with my elan? (Fuel consumption)

[steble]

Failed again.....balls!

Back to the drawing board.

Emissions we lower about 7% but obviously still a fail.

Surely timing can't cause that big of an issue lol

[Rambo]

Didn't you check the timing before going for another MOT ?

[steble]

Didn't have time also lack of timing gun!

So took a gamble with the free re test.

[steble]

Ok this isn't helpful

When doing the paperclip test the engine management light doesn't come on/flash?

Any ideas why?

Is this something that's happened to someone before?

[Rambo]

It might be a silly question, but are you sure you put the paperclip in the correct terminals ie A and B (black and white from memory)?

With the ignition on and the engine stopped, the system should enter the diagnostic mode.

[epipete]

Here is the instruction that I gave my Cypriot Mechanic:

Action Notes
Replace Air filter
Fresh petrol and Injector Cleaner

1 Note Jacking points as per the diagram Do not lift the car on any other areas
2 Check Spark Plug condition and gap to 0.8 or 1.1 Check type for gap - see wiki
3 MAT sensor - Remove, clean with carb cleaner or similar, refit.
4 Coolant temp sensor - use a multi-meter across it. Should be about 3400 Ohms at 20degC
5 Run Engine to operating temp, allow the fans to cycle Do not let it overheat - fans should engage at 3/4 mark on temp gauge
6 Manifold - check for leaks
7 Coolant temp sensor - use a multi-meter across it. Should be about 185 Ohms at 100degC.
8 Put in Service mode with Engine running Short the black & white wires on the ALDL
9 Set Base Timing (as per Instructions): 16 Degrees BTDC
10 Set Tickover (as per Instructions) 950 RPM
11 Check Emissions
12 Set CO Pot to achieve less than 3.5% (as per Instructions)

Instructions for 9,10 & 12 are in the wiki

Or

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Base_Timing
http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Tickover
http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/CO_adjustment

[steble]

It might be a silly question, but are you sure you put the paperclip in the correct terminals ie A and B (black and white from memory)?

With the ignition on and the engine stopped, the system should enter the diagnostic mode.

Yep followed the instructions on wikilec

I realised after I had written the above that, the light should come on when you turn the ignition on normally.

So its either broken or at some point somebody has removed the bulb

[steble]

Here is the instruction that I gave my Cypriot Mechanic:

Action Notes
Replace Air filter
Fresh petrol and Injector Cleaner

1 Note Jacking points as per the diagram Do not lift the car on any other areas
2 Check Spark Plug condition and gap to 0.8 or 1.1 Check type for gap - see wiki
3 MAT sensor - Remove, clean with carb cleaner or similar, refit.
4 Coolant temp sensor - use a multi-meter across it. Should be about 3400 Ohms at 20degC
5 Run Engine to operating temp, allow the fans to cycle Do not let it overheat - fans should engage at 3/4 mark on temp gauge
6 Manifold - check for leaks
7 Coolant temp sensor - use a multi-meter across it. Should be about 185 Ohms at 100degC.
8 Put in Service mode with Engine running Short the black & white wires on the ALDL
9 Set Base Timing (as per Instructions): 16 Degrees BTDC
10 Set Tickover (as per Instructions) 950 RPM
11 Check Emissions
12 Set CO Pot to achieve less than 3.5% (as per Instructions)

Instructions for 9,10 & 12 are in the wiki

Or

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Base_Timing
http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Tickover
http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/CO_adjustment

Thank you for this, unfortunately most of it is already done. But I will work through the rest of the list.

[lotusflasherman]

Have you checked your old CTS to see if it was actually defective and contributing to your problems ?

My CTS failed and gave very high resistance (indicating very cold, -40°C ?) and car wouldn't run at all when it warmed up just a bit so interested to know if yours had just gone off a bit...

Items 4 and 7 give you the figures you should see on a multimeter on the ohm range for 20°(3,400 Ω) & 100°(185Ω) but this weather it's more likely to be 4°C and the readings should be 7,500 Ω.

[Rambo]

It might be a silly question, but are you sure you put the paperclip in the correct terminals ie A and B (black and white from memory)?

With the ignition on and the engine stopped, the system should enter the diagnostic mode.

Yep followed the instructions on wikilec

I realised after I had written the above that, the light should come on when you turn the ignition on normally.

So its either broken or at some point somebody has removed the bulb

Aaaah... that's probably the reason then. It's actually entering diagnostic mode but you can't see it

Might be worth checking the relevant fuse as well

[steble]

It might be a silly question, but are you sure you put the paperclip in the correct terminals ie A and B (black and white from memory)?

With the ignition on and the engine stopped, the system should enter the diagnostic mode.

Yep followed the instructions on wikilec

I realised after I had written the above that, the light should come on when you turn the ignition on normally.

So its either broken or at some point somebody has removed the bulb

Aaaah... that's probably the reason then. It's actually entering diagnostic mode but you can't see it

Might be worth checking the relevant fuse as well

I thought that but couldn't see a fuse listed for it :s

[steble]

Ok what am I doing wrong with the CO-pot adjustment?????? I tried this yesterday at the MOT station and nothing happened!!!

Followed these instructions - http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/CO_adjustment

this is the ALDL port correct?





and this is the CO pot correct?



i'm loosing the will with this car, nobody seems to want to take the job on. Apart from the local Lotus specialist who is apparently very dodgy!

http://www.fibreglassservices.com/

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Yes, that is the ALDL plug.

You need to put it in SERVICE Mode by bridging the White and Black wires.

Start the car first, then put in the paperclip / Jumper (otherwise it is in diagnostic mode)

Then you can adjust the CO.

Read THIS:

CO-Test and Adjust-b.jpg

[alan e]

Miles at fibre glass services is ok and he will get to the bottom of your problem if you dont mind him swearing he is a bit of a character, but if you want to borrow my elanscan cable and timing light to do it yourself i can drop them off to you next time i am over Chichester way some time in the future, you will need to download the elanscan programme on to a laptop but it should help you find the problem.
Alan

[steble]

Yes, that is the ALDL plug.

You need to put it in SERVICE Mode by bridging the White and Black wires.

Start the car first, then put in the paperclip / Jumper (otherwise it is in diagnostic mode)

Then you can adjust the CO.

Read THIS:

CO-Test and Adjust-b.jpg

Yep exactly what I did, nothing happened

[steble]

Miles at fibre glass services is ok and he will get to the bottom of your problem if you dont mind him swearing he is a bit of a character, but if you want to borrow my elanscan cable and timing light to do it yourself i can drop them off to you next time i am over Chichester way some time in the future, you will need to download the elanscan programme on to a laptop but it should help you find the problem.
Alan

I was going to take it to miles, I work literally round the corner from him. Spoke to him on the phone.

Then somebody in the office told me not to go there, as he's a bit of a errr 'character', also the lotus's in his showroom are customer cars who can't afford to pay him for the work he has done because he changes the price!

Then when I got home, my partner tells me her boss said don't go anywhere near him for similar reasons.

then spoke to two guys in our other factory who used to work for him, they said go to him. but when i mentioned what I had been told, they said yes that sounds about right and he is very very expensive!! does tend to rip[ people off, but is the man in the know when it comes to the M100.

As you can imagine, all of the above has rather put me off.

I phone sportomotive yesterday and they sound trustworthy and have a lot of good reviews by people. I was thinking of taking it down to them, they are now in bournemouth. again had the conversation about Miles with them. (granted they are competition, but initially they said go to him as he was local)

onto your offer of elanscan, yes please that would be very useful. (although i'm not sure my aldl works)

I'm actually on the new estate on the bognor-chichester road. PM when you were thinking? might need you to show me how to use it lol

[steble]

car is fixed and MOT'd cost me a fair bit but its done. I ended up taking it to Cos at Sportomotive in Bournemouth, couldn't speak higher of him. Brilliant guy and helped me out massively, I will be going back their in the future.

Connecting my car to elanscan wouldn't have helped my cause, it turned out that my ECU was fried which was causing my problem in the first place. (no wonder I couldn't work it out)

This is why it wouldn't go into diagnostics mode and do anything I needed it to. Also at some point somebody had removed the bulb from my engine management light. That is now back in place for the future.

Car drives perfectly again now.

[HJ2]

That was a tricky one then!
But now it's time to enjoy Summer

[Saltire]

car is fixed and MOT'd cost me a fair bit but its done. I ended up taking it to Cos at Sportomotive in Bournemouth, couldn't speak higher of him. Brilliant guy and helped me out massively, I will be going back their in the future.

Perhaps next time you go, you might gently suggest that he updates the website - I looked this morning and it still says "Salisbury", six months after the move

[Kathryn]

car is fixed and MOT'd cost me a fair bit but its done. I ended up taking it to Cos at Sportomotive in Bournemouth, couldn't speak higher of him. Brilliant guy and helped me out massively, I will be going back their in the future.

Perhaps next time you go, you might gently suggest that he updates the website - I looked this morning and it still says "Salisbury", six months after the move

I don't think that website has been updated for years! I'm going down there Friday.