Lotus electrical nightmare of all nightmares...another one..

For all those wiring gremlins we love, this is the place to discuss them.

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omendata
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Post by omendata »

No immobilisisr
Will be working on it tomorrow so ill let u know what happens.

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omendata
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Post by omendata »

Just an update
After the car was forcibly taken back from the garage and I tested it on sunday - No voltage at coil now in any position yet the garage insisted it was the amp but have now completely buggered it up!

Id like to have seen it after they fitted the amp and tried to start it with no voltage at all at the coil
Garages these days are the pits - Anyone ever encountered an honest or competent one?

So once I return from my holiday in Italy Im going to strip the entire electrical system and work it back from scratch.

I suspect a wire has been faulty connection to the ignition barrel as everyone has suggested and the ahem "electrical engineer" has tugged it loose during his fiddling with the car!
:shock:

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alanmoss
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Model: Celebration
Colour: Marque Lotus Green
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Post by alanmoss »

Too far for you perhaps, but my car is fully dealer serviced at Peter Smith Sports Cars near Derby. I have only ever received great service. The chief technician there, who has been with them for over 25 years, is excellent.
Alan
Excel Celebration, 1999 Mini Cooper S, Dacia Duster 4x4

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omendata
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Post by omendata »

Cheers nothing is too far to find a good Lotus engineer so im told.
Im gonna rip the car apart if it kills me ill fix it!

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omendata
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A big thanks to all...

Post by omendata »

Hi folks
A big thank you to all

I managed to fix it yesterday

Plugged in a new ignition amp , cleaned , removed and checked every wire in the engine compartment and it fired up first time!

A very big thank you to Dpryder who provided me with info on the electrical wiring which allowed me to ascertain where every wire was supposed to go - Thanks very much Dave.

Had a bit of a problem with the fuel jets - quick blast of jetex and she is running as smooth if not better now with the new coil and ignition amp which only cost £30.

As opposed to the garage who diagnosed it and wanted £500 to fix it!

Cheers guys!
:P

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omendata
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Post by omendata »

Just in case anyone is interested it seems removing the engine rev limiter has cured a misfiring issue.

Will open the box when i have time and see if there are any loose connections or rust inside it - Wasnt sure whether you needed this connected for the car to start but it seems not!
:shock:

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Dr_G
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Post by Dr_G »

Omendata:- Glad to hear you've got your Mums car fixed. There are a fair few Excels in Glasgow, particularly the Cambuslang (And a Dutton!) and East Kilbride area. If you fancy a chat or a get together then feel free to send me a PM.

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omendata
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Oh dear

Post by omendata »

The non starting issue has reappeared...

Does anyone know where I can get a distributor or what donor cars use the same one?

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Tango190
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Post by Tango190 »

Just from a problem I had before .....

Check the reluctor ring on the distributor shaft is not loose or broken, also, check the wires coming out of the dizzy are not getting traped or are broken.

my 2p worth :)
Bob
Silver '83 Excel #121 - maybe

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omendata
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Im feeling dizzy

Post by omendata »

I Completely removed the distributor yesterday and checked all the wires

The two wires merge into a contact block in the distributor
There seems to be oil within the cable itself.
I measured the continuity from both the wires to the small brass ridge on the contact block (where the spark must jump to the 4 brass ridges on the rotor arm) and i couldnt get any continuity??????

There is also no voltage to the ignition amplifier now!

Seems faults are appearing all over the bloomin thing - I got it running perfectly for a week then nowt - even the original symptom is gone where if you turned to ignition position the engine would run - now it isnt even starting! feck me im at the end of my tether - ive got better things to do - like rebuilding my own kit car etc etc etc

I am having one last go tomorrow then if it fails we are going to tow the Lotus to the local quarry , smash it into little pieces to vent my anger today,set it on fire and dump it!!!
>;o)

I've had enough its been dragging on for months - The local Lotus garage has closed down - my mother phoned 17 local garages and they have all refused to look at it as they say (LOTUS - Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious - Electrical issues seem to be the Lotus main faults) so there is no-one to take it to now in Scotland apparently except one place in Edinburgh but as we have already spent £1500 on the piece of old junk thats enough - you reach a point where enough is enough and cost overrides everything.

Shame but thats it!!!
:shock:

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omendata
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No reluctor ring

Post by omendata »

Its a 4 lobe cam!
:(

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