Lotus Elan Central

by **davidjt** » Mon 23.01.2006, 17:17

Here we go........

by **Sy V** » Mon 23.01.2006, 17:23

Yep, another thread enters the realms of innuendo and double entendres!

by **Sy V** » Sat 04.02.2006, 18:54

Another fruitful day in the land of Cats.
Head's back on and engine's running fine - still have the code 42, but we're going to drop the exhaust and get rid of the water therein first.
Stripped headlight motors out and removed windows from doors so I have a few spare lift motors at the present.

by **Sy V** » Sun 12.02.2006, 08:39

Just sometimes it pays to hesitate (not my normal plan, I know) but these are now on special offer and will be the Cat's dry footwear.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... 075b803658

by **Darren** » Mon 13.02.2006, 22:10

Sy V wrote:Head's back on and engine's running fine.

Dibbly,

Who did your head for you ? & If you don't mind me asking, what sort of money did you pay?

I'm still not convinced that mind doesn't need one, it's past a hydrocarbon test and a pressure test but I'm still getting a brown deposit in the expansion tank.

I guess it could be a rust deposit i.e given how long it's been standing, so when I fit my new hoses, I'll give it a good 'blow' out and if that fails to resolve the issue, then it looks like a new head gasket, cam belt etc.

Darren.

by **Doug** » Tue 14.02.2006, 03:30

Darren wrote:Who did your head for you ? & If you don't mind me asking, what sort of money did you pay?

well, if he can't tell the Belize brothel story, how do you figure he will tell us this?! :-D

by **Sy V** » Tue 14.02.2006, 09:49

As a UK resident, can I take the 'fifth' on this one?

by **Stef** » Wed 15.02.2006, 12:16

Darren wrote:
Sy V wrote:Head's back on and engine's running fine.

Dibbly,

Who did your head for you ? & If you don't mind me asking, what sort of money did you pay?

I'm still not convinced that mind doesn't need one, it's past a hydrocarbon test and a pressure test but I'm still getting a brown deposit in the expansion tank.

I guess it could be a rust deposit i.e given how long it's been standing, so when I fit my new hoses, I'll give it a good 'blow' out and if that fails to resolve the issue, then it looks like a new head gasket, cam belt etc.

Darren.

Oooo That's what I have had for the past year or so.

Blipi's head has now been taken away and fixed. She was using a little water but, after a few heavy long runs, she started to use a lot. Yep HG issue.

I wonder if there will be an age / mileage pont when they start to go?

by **Darren** » Thu 16.02.2006, 12:00

I guess that's my dilemma, as I'm not loosing power, oil or water ? It's passed the hydrocarbon test and compression test but there's still this brown residue in the header tank.

I think I'm just gonna flush the whole system out, fit the new hoses and see if it returns. If it doesn't then I guess it's just rust in the system. If it does, then I'll go for the head gasket swap.

By that time, I'll have had time to get Dibbly in a head lock, long enough to establish the details of his head gasket replacement. As the man from Dudley has ways of making the 'country bunckle' talk.

"Do you hear me Hill Billy Boy ?".

Darren.

by **Sy V** » Thu 16.02.2006, 18:13

Well, we put a certain gasket set to good use! :wink:

by **Sy V** » Fri 17.02.2006, 16:57

Not a good day today.

Rear right wishbone is creased and needs to be replaced. The upper adjustment arm is bowed (may be able to straighten), but will probably need replacement. Swapping out the coil hasn't cured the code 42, so the ECU may well be shot. And, the PAS pumps leaking.

Oh well, onwards and upwards!

by **Sy V** » Wed 15.03.2006, 06:41

At last some concrete diagnosis. I swapped Neil's ECU in for a test yesterday evening and the car ticked over all the way up to the fans kicking in - no CEL illumination. New ECU needed.
Thanks Neil, ECU ready for return on Friday
IIRC, all the times I've removed the ECU from Stripey (for chip changes), there's been an earthing wire attached to the right lower securing pin on the ECU. The Cat hasn't got one.
Can someone confirm that my memory's not playing me up and let me know where that earthing wire should go (any specific place or just to the nearest suitable chassis point?).

by **Sy V** » Wed 15.03.2006, 12:03

Good news - SW Lotus will be taking 10 ECUs to Donington at their normal show sale price of £100 (versus £200+VAT).

and the SJS normal price of:

Engine | Engine electric
ECM, TURBO NON CAT A100E6279F EACH £480.62 + VAT!

by **Enright** » Wed 15.03.2006, 12:26

That is good and excellent news.
I was feeling quite guilty about not being able to let that ECU go, but now that you've found a good deal I'm just glad to have helped you diagnose the problem. Nice easy fix too!

by **Paul.P** » Sat 25.03.2006, 07:35

So has the new ECU sorted the problem Sy ?

by **Sy V** » Sat 25.03.2006, 07:38

My mate's unit is crammed with fee-paying customers' cars at the moment Paul. I'm hoping to get in tomorrow and fit front brakes a rear wishbone and top arm and the ECU.

I'll let you know.

by **mikeh2** » Fri 19.05.2006, 12:28

How is the S&H project progressing?
As you probably know, Jane Millward competed with a road going M100 a few years ago. Her best time at Shelsley was about 42sec I think. Her comments can be found at: http://www.paulmattysportscars.co.uk/
A common incident in this type of motorsport would be to understeer into the Armco barrier. Hate to sound pessimistic but have you costed out the repair for this type of damage to the M100? I did, which is why I am staying with TRs & Scimitars.

by **Sy V** » Fri 19.05.2006, 15:41

I find that if one costs out every possible eventuality, one reverts to a stagnated state of inaction and pessimism.

If I do eventually compete in her, I'll be competing in a Lotus, because that's where my heart lies. Winning is not the be all and end all; and I'd prefer to fly the M100 flag as my favourite vehicle of the marque.

You stick with your TRs and Scimitars. I'll stick with my Elan, thank you.

by **Nige** » Fri 19.05.2006, 16:13

Stripey or the Cat at Castle Combe next weekend?

by **GeoffSmith** » Fri 19.05.2006, 16:24

Do you want me to look at your ECU Sy?

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