Help!! Elan wont start..

[Xen 11]

Hello, I hope someone can help with this.

Last week my Elan started behaving unususally, it would occasionally miss time when starting and then the turbo stopped working. Now the car refuses to start altogether. On turning the ignition the engine whirrs some but cant seem to get up enough momentum to get running.

Im not a car expert but I have tried the following things :

Fuel ignition switch is not triggered
Replaced spark plugs and leads
Got an engineer to check thats its not the immobiliser and that theres power reaching the ingition coil
Recharged battery

Im at a bit of a loss in terms of where to look next. There is fuel getting through to the sparks so I dont think its a fuel issue. There seems to be power getting to the sparks so it shouldnt be electrical...

I would be very grateful for any advice

Will

[Marcus_uk]

Have you checked for any fault codes? All you need is a paperclip.

See here: http://www.lotuselancentral.com/repair/aldl.htm

[Xen 11]

Thanks for that Marcus

Just checked. The car flashes 12 continuously which means 'no error'. Which I guess is good, but leaves me unsure on what to do next

[Marcus_uk]

Have you pulled out the plugs to see if they actually spark? Apart from checking for codes, fuel and spark im a little stumpped, but I am sure there are people on here who will know what to try next.

Did you disconnect the battery from the car when you recharged it? If you did I think it may have cleared any fault codes which had accured when it was running

[Xen 11]

Well Ive had someone else out to look at it, and its seems weve got to the root of the problem:

The ignition coil has packed up for leads 1 & 4 so the car is trying to run off two cylinders. Can anyone suggest where I might get a new coil from, or if it is repairable?

I also need a new alternator...

Thanks

Will

[Specky]

Places to get coils

This may help

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Ignition_Coil

MSD 8224 (You'll require two)

The LEC have used this supplier before

and if you use a State side supplier don't forget the tax man will want his cut, a letter from the courier normally follows for a small %

Alternator

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Alternator

A Lotus alternator Pt No A100E6029S £505.59

A reconditioned alternator from SJ lotus SJ100E0010 Exchange £125.00

The Nippon Denso Alternator Brand new £125 or less.

This is the same item that is normally available on Ebay

As a cross-reference, this alternator is also used on the 1991 Isuzu Impulse.

Also you could ask in the wanted section

TTFN

[Songbird]

From UK

http://www.ignitioncoil.co.uk/searchres ... 1QodvDzqRA

[inkitin]

I also need a new alternator...

Will

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Alternator

The Nippon Denso Alternator Brand new £125 or less.

This is the same item that is normally available on Ebay

Unfortunately, the Wiki link to this ebay seller is dead because the ebay listing it links to is older than three months.

You can contact him directly though. His name is Alan (soss29 username on ebay) and his phone number is 07738 609804. His company is called A.C.W. Electrics. I found him very helpful when I ordered my new alternator directly off him in January of this year.

Good luck.

[GeoffSmith]

Link updated!

[inkitin]

Link updated!

Geoff

Could I have updated the link or is it just the ones with the "knowledge"?

[Specky]

You can... if you have the knowledge...

TTFN

[Specky]

I reckon he has more

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0349144287

TTFN

[GeoffSmith]

Anyone with a WikiLEC user ID can amend or add to the Wiki - that's the whole philosophy of them. I know there have been cases of false information being put up on Wikipedia, but as I see it, it's mainly confined to the showbiz side - I frequently refer to the technical topics on Wiki at work and can't think of a single case where the information has been wrong. Anyway, back to the WikiLEC, the idea is that anyone can register and enter/amend information as it takes the burden off a few and, for example, mistakes can be corrected when they are found rather than someone telling the author who has to find time and remember to correct it. There is a 'play area' for trying things out and a link on the main screen gives some advice on how to enter and/or format data but, to be honest, I usually crib the format from a previous topic. Don't worry about making a mistake / not formatting the data well / deleting everything as other people can offer advice / step in to correct or format the information / run the backup recovery.

[Xen 11]

Thanks for all your help.

Ive got a new ignition coil that im trying to put in. Problem is that I cant get the bolts holding the dead coil out. Using my screwdriver Ive tried 5mm and 3/16" hex which are too small, and 6mm and 1/4" which are too big! Ive been to my hardware store and I cant find any sizes in between that could possibly work...

Does anybody know what size I need and where I can get such?

Appreciate your help

[Xen 11]

If it helps, the bolts look to be the same size as those on the CAM sensor cover

[Marcus_uk]

Try a 5.5mm allen key perhaps?

[Xen 11]

Great news, replaced the ignition coil and car now starts nicely!!!

Thanks for your help.