broken down

[ailwyn]

loss of power, erratic rpm, cut out, strong smell of unburnt fuel, won't start. brief cel but now clear no es or paperclip handy any ideas?

[paulwatkins]

Certainly sounds electrical Ailwyn.

Check your leads, spark plugs, spark generator thingymejigs.

Could be the CAS

Check the earth connections

Check your vacuum hoses on the plenum

[Rambo]

Not much help Ailwyn but if you're near a house try and beg a paperclip from someone. Or a bit of old wire - or try bending the wire clip on your key ring - a fault code will certainly narrow it down

[Specky]

Not much help

Beg, borrow, steal a piece of wire or a paper clip...

I guess your limited on tools to...

TTFN

[ailwyn]

On m4 tow truck called. I suspect cas because of the erratic rpm. Could be coils but they wouldn't normally go in pairs.

[Specky]

Bugger...

Too slow....

What Rambo said..

TTFN

[Rambo]

If you do beg, borrow or steal a paperclip (the relay guy will have one) her are the error codes

Error Codes

Code Fault
12 None
13 O2 sensor (or circuit) malfunction -- see CommonParts replacement
14 High Coolant Temperature (relative to other measurements)
15 Low Coolant Temperature (relative to other measurements) -- see CTS write-up
21 Throttle Position Sensor (Signal Voltage High)
22 Throttle Position Sensor (Signal Voltage Low)
23 Manifold Air Temperature Low (relative)
24 Vehicle Speed Sensor
25 Manifold Air Temperature High (relative)
31 Manifold Absolute Pressure (Turbo Overboost)
33 Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (High voltage / Low vacuum)
34 Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (Low voltage / High vacuum)
35 IAC error IAC motor not controlling the engine to the desired speed
41 Cam Angle Sensor (Hall Effect Sensor) -- see CAS write-up
42 Electronic Spark Timing circuit
43 Electronic Spark Control (Knock Sensor Circuit)
44 Lean exhaust
45 Rich exhaust
51 ECU Fault ($$$OUCH$$$--get a new ECU)
53 Over voltage (system voltage high)
54 CO-Potentiometer circuit
65 Fuel injector driver circuit (or output) problem

[ailwyn]

Already on the way home will hook up es this afternoon

[ailwyn]

Made it home, now safely tucked up in the garage.

In an effort to avoid some arctic using the Elan as target practice while stuck on the hard shoulder I had the hazards and sidelights on which have run the battery down to pretty much flat.

I have it on charge and hoping that it retained enough juice to keep the error code.

Will check later.

[Beats]

This happend to me, turned out to be a poor connection on the MAP sensor where the clutch cable had rubbed against the wires.

However if you do need coils I've got a pair of new unused ones in the for sale section.

Good Luck.

Beats

[Paul.P]

This sounds a bit like Gary's when the temperature sensor went tits up ?, if it is i have a new one you could use & replace later Ailwyn.

[Gary]

Yes, sounds exactly what happened to me, was the temp sensor (about £20 if I recall). The paper clip test should tell you

If it did start, strong whif of fuel, lots of horrid smoke and erratic , but wouldn't run for long.

[Paul.P]

Yes, sounds exactly what happened to me, was the temp sensor (about £20 if I recall).

Its £20 from USA Ailwyn, £55.92 from SJ's or Lotus !

[Gary]

oh yes forgot that bit. Still I'm sure you can have Paul's spare for a tenner

[GeoffSmith]

CTS £56! Must be worth finding an alternative.

[Gary]

THey are really cheap from the US - infact I think the postage is more than the parts !

[John_W]

Ailwyn,
Sorry to hear of your troubles. My vote goes for checking all ignition wiring for a short or something fallen off, failing which replacing the Hall effect sensor in the CAS.

I'm sure it won't take a man like yourself long to suss out what the problem is once you have the car back on home soil, and only a moment or two more to fix it, so please let us know who's guess came closest.

Best of luck,
John

[algirdas]

Dear Ailwyn:

If you need anything from this side of the pond, speak now. I have a package (finally) that I am readying for Geoff and Muley. I can get some coolant temp sensors (the ones that control the fans) from Dickman as well as a CAS from Merlin and drop them in a box to you and the gang.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[DaveT]

Hi Ailwyn

Did you have to paddle to the car, cos if the water is more than 2ft deep your **cked mate.
Suggest ripping out all the dead animal products from your car and collecting live ones, two by two, cos your going to get a lot more today.

D

[ailwyn]

I have been moving house this weekend, so no chance to delve any deeper yet.

Hopefully things will settle down a bit during the week (still boxes everywhere and a stressed out & pregnant wife - not a good combination) and I'll be able to take a closer look.

I think I'll grab all the possible culprits now so that they are on hand when I get to do the work.

Paul,

Do you have a link to the correct CTS in the US?

Thanks

Ailwyn