Lotus Elan Central

by **vin111** » Sat 03.03.2007, 17:32

hi guys, looking for some help here, my elan runs perfectly at normal speed but if i tend to pick up speed quickly the engine stops and the engine comes back on and it seems to run on only 3 cylinders, the engine management light then come on, if i drop the revs the car starts to behave normally again, very frustrating esp if you want to over take, any ideas would be good, the whole process from start to finish is over in about 15 seconds,

by **muley** » Sat 03.03.2007, 18:45

Vin111,

I suggest you do the 'paper clip test' to see if you can isolate the fault.

Cheers

Jim

by **ESM** » Sat 03.03.2007, 19:13

Its probably overboost caused by a stuck wastegate. Look at the boost as you accelerate, if it shoots past 0.65 bar, gets to 0.9+ then cuts that's probably it. It limits you to 4000rpm for a few seconds after the overboost event.

by **clemo** » Sat 03.03.2007, 19:34

vin111
where are you located..
maybe one of us can cast an eye over it..

by **Doug** » Sat 03.03.2007, 22:46

or C-A-S . . .

by **vin111** » Sat 03.03.2007, 22:52

thanks for the advise so far, i have changed my cas only a few months back, my boost gauge is all over the place at the moment, one minute its on the 0 then touching the top, iv tried finding the connection but to no avail, if its a sticking waste gate how would i check it, I live in swindon if there is any one close, i dont mind driving to some one if that ne good either

by **GeoffSmith** » Sat 03.03.2007, 23:40

From what you say, it sounds very much like a sticking wastegate. A useful wastegate write up is here. If the wastegate is sticking, you should get code 31 IIRC but there is a CEL code crib sheet to check any errors.

Ultimatt is out your way, but if you fancy a drive over to Bristol tomorrow lunchtime, the collective braincell of BOLLECKS could be put to good use. If you've got a laptop, I'll even bring an ElanScan cable if you let me know.

Geoff

by **dapinky** » Sat 03.03.2007, 23:43

I can put my laptop and cable in the car if you want me to bring them along?

by **vin111** » Sun 04.03.2007, 16:35

cheers guys , i didnt expect to get a reply so soon as i would have taken you up on the offer, i will have a look at the sticky on wastegate and see if i can sort it out but if i cant yes would love to come down and let you have a look sometime, will post you in the week to let you know how i get on and if its ok can sort out a time to come down, thanks guys for the quickness

by **dans** » Sun 04.03.2007, 21:38

hi Vin11

Don't know if you met up with the Bristol crew today?

I'm at Cirencester and cricklade in the evenings and have a laptop with Elanscan running so can plug in to see what is going perhaps?

Let me know if you want to catch up, around most evenings and next weekend, I think.

Cheers,
Dan

by **Michael** » Mon 05.03.2007, 20:16

I've had a somewhat similar problem.
Solved by a combination of new sparkplugs and using an injector cleaner.

by **johnny** » Tue 06.03.2007, 17:08

Very same problem not so long ago.Mine was as ESM says, stuck wastegate. UB40 sorted it.. sorry WD40... That was crap.. sorry about that. :lol:

by **vin111** » Tue 06.03.2007, 19:02

thanks guys , had a look at the sticky on the stuck wastegate, would like to meet and perhaps try the lap top method 2 be sure,
if dan is available that would be great as its closer to me , post me mate to confirm that its still ok ,

by **vin111** » Mon 12.03.2007, 21:18

hi guys, iv been playing over the weekend and have noticed if i take the pipe off the dumpvalve and cap the end of it, the one that sucks the air in the problem stops, so it must be some thing to do with the dump valve im guessing, im due to meet dan sometime this week hopefully to do a elan scan but if ne one has any ideas before i would be glad to hear them.
thanks guys

by **vin111** » Fri 23.03.2007, 16:32

still looking for clues on this one guys, iv not managed to meet up with any one with a elan scan yet, if i take the small pipe of the dumpvave the car will not cut out when driven at speed, but i must say the performance isnt very good, if i stick the end pipe back on the dumpvalve the perforamnce is there but will cut out when driven at speed, i cant take the dumpvalve off and revert to the standard as i brought the car as it is now, any clues would help thanks

by **Enright** » Fri 23.03.2007, 17:02

Have you done the paperclip test yet? I don't see any response to this from when Muley suggested it before.

by **Michael** » Fri 23.03.2007, 18:37

did you cjeck the sparkplugs in combination with injector cleaner?

by **vin111** » Fri 23.03.2007, 21:14

will try the partclip test tomorrow and also change the plugs and see what happens , thanks guys

by **vin111** » Sat 24.03.2007, 15:18

right paperclip test all done, code 12 and then 31, so i know its theturbo over boost, sticking wastegate, just one question where is it , i know by th thrreads you need either mole grips or some11 year old hands, is there a picture on here to show me what to look 4, iv read the threads and couldnt see a picture,
thanks

by **paza1** » Sat 24.03.2007, 15:48

Have a look at the link. Right at the bottom of the pic you will see a thin bar running roughly horizontal between the turbo heatshield (Turbo written on it) and the turbo body.It is just above the red bodywork in the pic and directly below the rusty bit.
http://www.racetep.com/carpics/lotusbc.jpg

Hope this helps
Mark

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