Elanmi update / breakdown (Literally!)

It has been some time since I have updated on the Lotus, some ups and downs as a classic would.

Since taking the car back from my workshop, the seals which at the time I hadn't had done, came to bite me once again. Actually, not the seals fault but more our mistake when we were trying to seal up the opening between the seals and the window. That piece we used stuck the window and this time took the seal out with it.

Being said, my workshop had also tried to change out one of the headlight motors with a used unit (which doesn't work either). Just for a while had my car have an incorrectly positioned headlight.

 

 

No mind for it for the time being.

 

Afterwards in a later date was getting a rough estimate from Classic Motorworks in Carros to start getting the work done to have the car more watertight.

 

 

Spotted by a fellow Lotus owner

 

 

 

 Collection before CNY; the waterproofing work done and ready for collection. Work done included:

1) Additional canvas lip sewn onto the existing softop

2) Modified aluminium angle bar to act as rain guard

3) Wrap canvas material to aluminium angle bar, plus leak testing

4) Water repellant coating to softtop

 

Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. Just a Lotus being a Lotus

Whilst returning from Carros, had a bizzare issue whereby it would suddenly just shut off. Clutch in, revs drop to idle, and it would just turn off. It happened twice or thrice, and there was little sputter, so not like a stall; seemingly the car would just turn itself off.

 

A troublesome girlfriend, one might put it. More still on the day itself to drive out again, the issue presented itself again but without stalling, then it never came back. It never did, even until now at the time of publiciation. An ex-owner suggested I clean the MAF sensor and clean the throttle body. I assume it was because the car may have sat for a while, but I find it very odd. Elanmi may have been unhappy I left her in a new environment. Hah.

Eventually would have the headlight remounted and the throttle body cleaned. The car does not have the MAF sensor, otherwise Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) for the Elan. That may have been why the car had died so easily, as my mechanic showed that a simple tug would just kill the ignition.

 

The intake of the Isuzu motor sounds super chio.

 

As I'd come to find out on a different drive, the waterproofing work is not 100%. Under very heavy rain, it still leaks at a specific location at the seals. But, light / medium rain, its vastly different. Again, it isn't a 100% fix, but it is 90%. Only a few droplets.

 

 Small photoshoot with a friend and his Honda Civic Type R. Interesting location I would like to put.

 

 

And yesterday.

The first time since installing the new radiator have I seen the temps return back to the 3/4 mark. I'd believe I may have pushed the car too hard on this day.

 

Coolant pipe burst :(

The art (Left) and the artist (Right)

This is the first breakdown I've experienced, within my 2 years of ownership. Admittedly in spite of my newbie ownership, bad decisions, youngster shenanigans, Elanmi was able to put up all of that for that amount. I sometimes do doubt the ownership experience and its ability to perform as a car or daily, but I'd rather backtrack on those. Its a great little car.

 Next update with Elanmi will come as my workshop lets me know about what needs do be done. Best case scenario will be to one-shot replace all hoses as preventative maintainence, though there are other issues already in the way, namely potential steering pump issues or steering-related issues.

 Lots of vibration when turning at low speeds / carparks, doesn't occur at normal driving speeds unless cornering at faster rates.

 Additionally a hissing sound at the dashboard area.

Timeline is a bit inaccurate but I did destroy the lip going over a bump. I'll include it here so I myself can laugh at the event some few years in the future.

 So that's all for this update. Hopefully things get better in the coming future. 

 ~Linus

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Read More: Dropping off Elanmi + Seal lookover

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