It’s only a small leak, honest

[muley]

I think those Europas are lovely.

I saw one at the London Motor Show when they were released

But, and it's a big BUT +or butt+ ~ I found it very difficult to get in and out. To be fair, I was 3 stone heavier then

I'd love to have one in the garage, though

[Rambo]

Well Jim, I can assure you getting in and out of the Ebola is much easier. If Rambo Replacement hips can do it anyone can

[Saltire]

I think those Europas are lovely.

I saw one at the London Motor Show when they were released

But, and it's a big BUT +or butt+ ~ I found it very difficult to get in and out. To be fair, I was 3 stone heavier then

I'd love to have one in the garage, though

I used to have an early Mk 2 Elise; anything’s a breeze getting in and out compared with that! Especially roof on!!

[Saltire]

A day of two halves . . .

Yesterday I got my act together and stripped down the passenger door window (RHD S2). A bit of a struggle getting some of the bolts undone, but everything came out and I didn’t have to drill any of the screws. It was all very filthy, though, with a wide range of lubricants in the slider channels - MST of them completely unsuitable for purpose.

I spent the afternoon cleaning up, with a view to reassembly today:

Sparkly clean!

Unfortunately . . . When I took the sliders off the glass, to clean them up, I thought the upper front was a bit troublesome. And it turns out that the shorter thread has stripped in the centre boss:

Middle item is the one with a stripped thread

Why they couldn’t make it out of metal, I don’t know.

I did contemplate turning a couple up from some brass rod, but a) I didn’t have any the correct size, b) it’s a faff, and c) SJs can have replacements with me tomorrow. I’ve ordered a couple of lower ones as well - just in case.

I have cleaned up the glass and refitted the two rear sliders:

Two sliders back, two to go

and I’ve started cutting some rod sections to replace the well worn slider bushes:

Looking well worn!

(Modification patent pending D Pink Enterprises).

The motor is working fine, the drive cable looks in great condition, and the centre slider is fine, so I shan’t change it.

All in all, not as bad a job as I was fearing, and I did get the chance to replace the non-functional LHS speaker at the same time.

[Saltire]

Yesterday was fun: 4 1/2 hours to replace the window glass in the door

After several (OK, many) abortive attempts I worked out that the problem was with the rear slider channel. It had fouled on a tiny protrusion of GRP in the door, pushing the channel outward just far enough that the slider would go in, but the roller was jamming at the top of the channel.

Having removed the window (again), a few careful strokes with a small file eased it enough for the channel to move inwards and the slider to go down completely.

That was enough for one day, so the window is now sitting at the bottom of the channels and later today I'll hopefully re-attach the butterfly clip and tighten the channels in their fixings.

On a related topic, the brush strips really need replaced, but I can't find a source of new ones (maybe I'm just searching for the wrong thing). If you've passed this way before, can you recall where you got your brush strip from, and what it was called? Many thanks.

[dapinky]

On a related topic, the brush strips really need replaced, but I can't find a source of new ones (maybe I'm just searching for the wrong thing). If you've passed this way before, can you recall where you got your brush strip from, and what it was called? Many thanks.

Surprisingly, if you just google "car window brush strips" it gives lots of options.... some sold by the meter, others by a set length.

That said, the Lotus part number is A089V6166V, which is listed at the usual suspects. (I got mine from SJs when I did the doors, and used the off cuts to make the small bits needed for the pads on the other side of the glass).

[Saltire]

Thanks, Dave; I Googled “self adhesive brush strips”, and got a pile of things intended for house doors . . .

I’ll try adding “car window”.

[Saltire]

The S2 has behaved perfectly all summer. I was out today, and after about 4 miles, the CEL came on. And then it went off again. And then it came on and stayed on.

And when I pulled out of a junction a bit sharpish to avoid an oncoming HGV, I had a b-I-g flat spot, just for a moment.

I haven’t had time to break out the Elanscan, but my paper clip switch shows 4-1 (Cam Angle Sensor). The HES was replaced 18 months ago.

When I stopped at home to unload, the CEL went off, but then returned soon after I started up to put the car in the garage.

And, most mysterious of all, when I had put the car away, switched off - though not locked it - and gone back into the house, I popped into the garage to fetch something . . . and the n/s headlamp pod was raised. No lights on, just the pod up. Cycled the light switch, and it went down and has stayed down. So far . . .

WTF.

[Saltire]

Yesterday I disconnected the battery (to reset fault codes) and disconnected the pod delay module. Gave the PDM terminals and connectors a good spray of contact cleaner, reconnected the battery and then PDM terminals. I now have no faults showing - but I haven’t taken the car out of the garage or got it hot yet.

Headlamps appear normal atm.

I’m going to SORN the car at the end of next week anyway, so I’ll have a little time to find any problem before the want to use it next. I’d prefer to avoid the cost of another HES though, if I can!

[Saltire]

Muppet!

I misread the paper clip fault code. It’s 1-4, not 4-1, which is CTS. That probably explains why the light only comes on after about 4 miles, I.e. it’s warmed up.

Looking at the options, SJ want nearly £100 including VAT and carriage for an official M100 version. The Esprit one at £35 is supposed to fit, as is the equivalent Delphi/AC Delco item at £10-£20.

Will be scratching my head over the weekend . . .

[Saltire]

A Good News . . . Bad News kind of day today.

In Good News, SJ Sportscars have upgraded the customer care on their deliveries:

Sadly, The box only contained the parts I’d ordered.


In Bad News, our nearby Tesco is redeveloping its petrol station.

The old one has eight pumps, each of which dispenses unleaded 95 RON E10, Momentum 99 RON E5, and diesel. It has a nice man in a kiosk where you can go to pay; he also sells milk, bread, papers and motoring necessities like oil and washer fluid. You can also pay at the pump.

The new one is pay at pump only, no cash, and has six pumps, each of which dispenses 95 RON unleaded and diesel only - no E5. So I now have to go further to fill up the Lotus.

Tesco say this is progress

[Saltire]

Latest Update: Over the summer I’ve been trying to repair my B post caps (the ones with the hinges). The original design is the worst kind of engineering bodge, with a piece of plastic used as a load-bearing member. I’d tried to repair and re-rivet them several times, without much success, and eventually decided to bit the bullet and buy a pair of new ones.

Big thanks to Mike Hopes at South West Lotus; parts ordered by phone at 12:30 on Thursday, and on my workbench by 1:45 on Friday. And what’s more, the new ones (which I think must be an SWL reproduction) are a far superior design - see photo below:

B post caps

[Tuga2112]

it is interesting to see the different design.

my car has the original plastic only without a hinge design. i find it very clever but not suitable for the job. and the NA has the hinges as well but they look like a (i may say, good quality) DIY job which made me think about what to do about mine.

as things stand im more likely to end up 3d printing the replacements for my car than buying something off the shell.

[Simon_P]

Jonathan, I notice the foam strip on the old one -do tell more.

[Saltire]

Jonathan, I notice the foam strip on the old one -do tell more.

Interesting you should ask, Simon. It’s always been like that since I bought the car (coming up 9 years ago now). As far as I can tell, it’s a simple strip of waterproof rubber, a bit like what’s underneath the hood well floor (or Jamie’s seal material).

It never occurred to me that it wasn’t original, but having been out and looked at the car again, I suspect a previous owner may have added it to remove or reduce a rattle.

Both B post caps had one fitted