Fed Spec

[cellaway]

Still no movement on the D plug but the timing belt is finished, engine oil changed, all the bits back on and the engine starts and runs well. However I’ve just had an email from the authorities, the certificate of conformity is too old so I need a new one. As far as I know this is sourced from Andy Graham at Lotus Archives. The latest e mail I have is Andy.Graham@eu.lotuscars.com

Can anyone confirm the email ?

[cellaway]

This is the new email address, AGraham@lotuscars.com

[cellaway]

I’ve just read about using the gear selector aperture to change the oil. Is this viable. I don’t think I know how to access it.
Any advice ?

[dapinky]

It is possible, but I wouldn't do it that way (because I can undo the D plug!).....

..... The selector housing is an alloy block on the top of the gearbox, down by where the coils sit - it is where the cables join to the box. It is held to the top of the box by (I can't remember how many) short bolts, which are fairly easily accessible.

Whenever I have removed them, they are always fairly well stuck and need some persuasion to release!

That gives you access to refill the gearbox without any great problems.

There is a gasket between the selector housing and the gearbox, but I have never seen one listed for sale, and have just reassembled with gasket paste.

[cellaway]

Cheers Dave,
I think I’ll give it a miss and ask you to post your D plug tool to me when I’m back in Torquay. Unless I can get some 30 mm inside dimension steel tube. I suppose it’s another fall back position In making a D Plug Tool, trying to reduce some 35 mm to a circular profile with the facilities I’ve got is bloody difficult.
In Torquay you can see the herds of Wildebeest trecking across the Serengeti. Well maybe not but it’s what John Cleese said.
Chriso

[dapinky]

Cheers Dave,
I think I’ll give it a miss and ask you to post your D plug tool to me when I’m back in Torquay. Unless I can get some 30 mm inside dimension steel tube. I suppose it’s another fall back position In making a D Plug Tool, trying to reduce some 35 mm to a circular profile with the facilities I’ve got is bloody difficult.
In Torquay you can see the herds of Wildebeest trecking across the Serengeti. Well maybe not but it’s what John Cleese said.
Chriso

Reducing 35mm to size is (sort of) what I did - I cut a piece about 2" long from a tube, then used an angle grinder with a thin disc to cut along the short bit of tube and take out a piece, then using a very technical instrument (2 lb hammer) closed the ends together. Can't remember if it was right the first time, or I had to take another sliver out, but it got there, and then just run the welder along the seam. Add a run of weld to form the flat bit, and weld an old axle nut over the open end - voila!

[cellaway]

Well , I've heard from Andy Graham and it appears that I can't get a certificate of conformity for the fed spec because it was built for the American market. He didn't understand why I had been issued with one in the first place. From what I can gather, I need to get in touch with the DREAL department, at Perpigny, near La Rochelle, and apply for a reception a titre isole (RTI). This should certify that the car complies with European regulations. The things you learn in the world of Lotus

Chriso

[cellaway]

I still couldn’t budge the D Plug so have called a halt on that and went back to the Speedo drive. Torque Horse commented that whilst he had the prongron out he was able to get some leverage on the drive using a 7/8’s spanner. Not wanting to take the prong out, I made a prising tool to try and lever the drive out from behind the engine using the diff casing as a fulcrum. Eventually after taking the flex out of the design, the drive popped out. What a relief. Obviously the D Plug is a much better solution to filling the diff even if it’s only once every 30,000miles. The French bureaucracy has ground through another step on the way to allowing the car to be driven in France The DREAL department, near La Rochelle have confirmed that they’ve received my documentation and will now study them so hopefully I’ll be issued with a Reception a Titre Isole in the near future.

[cellaway]

Tha car is running well but because this Elan was built for the USA market, no Cerificate of Conformity is available , so no Carte Grise (log book). Instead I've applied for a Reception a Titre Isole. This involves another Controle Technique (mot) an inspection of the documents and then hopefully they will issue an acceptance cerificate which means I can reapply for the Carte Gris. This happens tomorrow at Perigny, near La Rochelle. Wish me luck.

[Jamie N]

Sounds like a hell of a palaver Chriso, hope it all goes well.

[cellaway]

Hi Jamie.
Well it almost went well. Two issues were raised, the wing mirrors were flat and they need to be concave. Phoenix wing mirrors sell left and right sides for £20 ea, so I’ve ordered those. He also pointed out that all reflectors in France must be red. I think he made a mistake and for some reason or another thought that the side indicators were reflectors. As he doesn’t want to see the car again, I’m tempted to cover the indicators with cling film and paint it with some of Jennifer’s nail varnish. Or maybe I’ll send him a video of the indicators working.
As you said “what a palaver”. I’ve moved forward but it feels a marginal gain

It rained whilst I was driving up, your seals worked well so we stayed dry. The passenger door glass needs adjusting but apart from that, all was good

[cellaway]

As the trip this morning was the longest in 17 years I thought I'd check over the engine. She seemed to be running a little rich and the tickover was around 1100. The only thing I noticed was at the back of the plenum near the Mat sensor. There are two outlet spigots. Ventilation system take off and cam cover breather hose. The breather spigot has a right angled rubber boot, split and perished, the hole through it looks to be around 3 mm. There didn't appear to be any homeless pipes. Placing a finger over the spigot slows the tick over. Any ideas ? I can't figure out how to attach a photo to the post

[Tuga2112]

As the trip this morning was the longest in 17 years I thought I'd check over the engine. She seemed to be running a little rich and the tickover was around 1100. The only thing I noticed was at the back of the plenum near the Mat sensor. There are two outlet spigots. Ventilation system take off and cam cover breather hose. The breather spigot has a right angled rubber boot, split and perished, the hole through it looks to be around 3 mm. There didn't appear to be any homeless pipes. Placing a finger over the spigot slows the tick over. Any ideas ? I can't figure out how to attach a photo to the post

you found it already. theres a vacum leak there.

i would put some electrical tape over it for now. and start trying to find otu a replacement

[cellaway]

Cheers Tuga
Looking at the workshop manual, sect EMK 3 page 31, it looks like the spigot could be an alternative take off for the ventilation system. Without taking the plenum off I would have thought that it's proximity to the MAT sensor must make a difference to the operation of engine management. The right angled rubber termination looks like it should have a pipe attached and there is no sign of a blanking plug and after a searching, no sign of a "spare" pipe.

[KenS]

Hi Chriso, the other engine management manual with cat section EMJ2 page 24 may match your car, which shows the second take off being used for fuel supply purge. On an S2, the non return valve is hanging in line down the back of the engine.

[cellaway]

Hey Ken
I'll have another look tomorrow. Hopefully the thing has just comeca drift. Have you any idea of the routing of the pipe ?
Chriso

[KenS]

Just tried to get a photo of the non return valve, but cannot get a phone near, its too tight to get any view of it at all. The valve is like in the manual, its about 3cm diameter and is almost straight down, below the EGR valve, I can feel that its near the corregated wiring sleeve and a smooth hard fuel line. Somewhere like the purple markup.

[cellaway]

Thanks Ken, I'll get under the car and look today.
Chriso

[cellaway]

I found the little blighter. I couldn't see at one way valve and the pipe went down the middle of the rear of the engine rather than the left hand side. I couldn't see where it finished up but it went into a bigger tube protective covering.

[cellaway]

I found the little blighter. I couldn't see at one way valve and the pipe went down the middle of the rear of the engine rather than the left hand side. I couldn't see where it finished up but it went into a bigger tube protective covering.