New member in Bicester, Oxfordshire

[geralddaniels]

Hi All

I've recently taken on the challenge of getting an Elan S2 (no. 312) back on the road after being dry stored and SORN'd for over a decade. Lots of small jobs to attend to as you would expect, which will be challenging enough for me as a novice, so expect I'll be a frequent visitor here seeking knowledge.

The car has covered a grand total of 1,300 miles since new (1995), and still has all the original factory fluids in it! A new battery and she started up on the first turn of the key (although getting past the immobiliser was a different story!)

Here she is after lifting the cover and rolling her out of the garage. Needs a good clean and polish after dealing with the oily bits.

[rip]

Only 1300 miles is a real find. The fluids will have suffered from old age so I hope you have renewed the lot along with the belts & tyres?

[epipete]

Welcome Gerald

I agree with Rip above that durables will be best replaced, are the tyres original as you may want to consider them as well.

I hope you have many trouble free miles of motoring though of course your car is a great test case for the rest of us to discover the effects of under usage I hope you will keep us enlightened.

[rip]

your car is a great test case for the rest of us to discover the effects of under usage I hope you will keep us enlightened.

It's been SORNed almost as long as Dico's Elan.

[epipete]

Yeah, but I understand that that one is still a non runner, a situation, allegedly, unlikely to change!

[geralddaniels]

Thanks for the welcome all.

Yes, a change of all fluids and the cam belt are all on my list, all hoses and brake lines also need careful inspection and possible replacement. Amazed it's in as good a condition as it is really, the engine oil looks really clean, although it will have degraded beyond sensible use. I'm sure an MOT will reveal more.

[tb10]

The car has covered a grand total of 1,300 miles since new (1995)

Wow and Welcome

Regards


John

[maz_r]

Welcome aboard Gerald.

Wow indeed. When you've got your feet under the table, so to speak, I'm sure we'd like to hear how you found the car and it's history. Good luck getting it back on the road.

[geralddaniels]

Very happy to fill you in on the car's history, but not much to tell really.

It's a one owner car from new and has been "in the family" all that time. It was my father's second M100 Elan, having originally purchased a calypso red SE new in 1991, which he did a good number of miles in until "upgrading" to the S2 (#312 also calypso red) in 1995.

He then lost interest and I ran the car for a short while in the early 2000's until my kids arrived. The car was on the road until 2004 when it failed an MOT (hazard warning lights and seat belt damage caused by mice) and has been dry stored ever since.

With dad turning 65 this year, I thought it would be nice to get it back on the road for him.

[maz_r]

Hi Gerald,

This Link might be useful to you regarding getting the seatbelts refubished if you can't find any new Lotus ones. They were available from Lotus a while ago, but I don't know if they still have any. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct me

[geralddaniels]

Thanks for the link. The seatbelts are a job I've already tackled (start with the easy stuff!). Had fantastic service from FDTS, posted them the old unit on a Thursday and it was back with me and new webbing on the Monday. Total cost £45 including courier, and a perfect match of both colour and weave on the new belt. Couldn't have been more pleased, would highly recommend them to all.

[Enright]

Blimey, I've done more miles than that since I resurrected my current Elan this time last month!
Was wondering how it could possibly fail an MoT given so few miles until I saw the mention of mice.
Might need to take a blowtorch to that wastegate - I think it'll be welded shut!

Oh, and welcome by the way - thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself.

[TrevorB]

The car has covered a grand total of 1,300 miles since new (1995)

Wow and Welcome

Regards


John

Double WOW

Welcome to the Forum.

Trevor

[geralddaniels]

A little update since my original post:

Been busy getting the car in shape for its first MOT in over 10 years. Overhauling the braking system (lots of surface rust but no leaks or concerns), engine (persistently mis-firing - but sorted itself out after some new fuel and a good run - (ECU reset perhaps?)), new seatbelt (old one nibbled my mice), fixed hazard warning lights (not the switch or relay in the end, but just a poor connection in the instrument binnacle). All fluids and cam belt changed.

Followed a handy online 75 point check list for a pre-MOT inspection and amazingly the car sailed through the MOT, with no advisories. Now to get some miles done over the rest of the summer and see what else develops. Very surprised that the turbo wastegate was not ceased after 10 years of sitting around unused.

Thanks to all that have offered helpful advice on here so far. Will let you know how things go.

G.

[Fredjohn]

Great result following what was clearly methodical detailed work to pre-empt issues before they arose.

Well done: now enjoy the drive

[Steve A]

1300 miles that's amazing Gerald

Welcome to the fun

[DavidEJM]

How did I miss this post previously!
That must be a real time warp car, I look forward to seeing it sometime.
You say dad originally had a 1991 SE, I wonder if that car is still around?
I'm just one junction down the motorway from you so maybe see you around sometime.
David

[Enright]

Hey Gerald, that 75 point pre-MOT check that you mention, do you have a copy of it?
It could be a useful copy and paste that we could use as a sticky for people.

[geralddaniels]

The checklist I used is here: http://carcaremadeeasy.com/75-point-pre ... klist.html - Sure there are other/better ones out there, but it did the job for me.

[Specky]

Thanks for the link. The seatbelts are a job I've already tackled (start with the easy stuff!). Had fantastic service from FDTS, posted them the old unit on a Thursday and it was back with me and new webbing on the Monday. Total cost £45 including courier, and a perfect match of both colour and weave on the new belt. Couldn't have been more pleased, would highly recommend them to all.

That's brilliant news, it's good to know they're still around.

TTFN