Curious running problem...limp mode?

[marcoos_1]

OK, leads arrived from Rimmer Bros and fitted. Managed to get a few driving hours on the car over the last couple of nights when the rest of the brood were in bed.
And guess what......the dreaded engine management light hasn't flickered once, and no sign of any "limp mode". I can't believe that I had to take of a set of new "better quality" Magnecor leads back off the car, then fit a set of "Rover" ones! Anyway, it seems to have done the trick and I can't say how pleased I am with the car......I just couldn't stop driving!!! Brilliant conditions as well late at night....didn't make it back in until about 1am each night and covered most of Ayrshire I think! 200miles done so far and it's not missed a beat. The wee VVC does go well. Sounds great with the decat pipe on too.

Thanks for all your help.

[robin]

OK, leads arrived from Rimmer Bros and fitted. Managed to get a few driving hours on the car over the last couple of nights when the rest of the brood were in bed.
And guess what......the dreaded engine management light hasn't flickered once, and no sign of any "limp mode". I can't believe that I had to take of a set of new "better quality" Magnecor leads back off the car, then fit a set of "Rover" ones! Anyway, it seems to have done the trick and I can't say how pleased I am with the car......I just couldn't stop driving!!! Brilliant conditions as well late at night....didn't make it back in until about 1am each night and covered most of Ayrshire I think! 200miles done so far and it's not missed a beat. The wee VVC does go well. Sounds great with the decat pipe on too.

Thanks for all your help.

It's happened before ... it'll happen again ... expensive is not necessarily better and the VVC seems to have some idiosyncratic behaviour when it comes to the ignition system

Cheers,
Robin

[campbell]

Fabulous.

I guess there is a dwindling mass of Rover engine experts out there, albeit their units are in enough Caterhams and Elises that you'd think the expertise would live on.

Dreadnought Garage Callander always seemed to know their stuff. Raced various K's etc

Of course there's also our resident Mr Fixit, Craig Moncrieff at Murray Lotus. Albeit Edinburgh not too local for you!

[Dominic]

OK, leads arrived from Rimmer Bros and fitted. Managed to get a few driving hours on the car over the last couple of nights when the rest of the brood were in bed.
And guess what......the dreaded engine management light hasn't flickered once, and no sign of any "limp mode". I can't believe that I had to take of a set of new "better quality" Magnecor leads back off the car, then fit a set of "Rover" ones! Anyway, it seems to have done the trick and I can't say how pleased I am with the car......I just couldn't stop driving!!! Brilliant conditions as well late at night....didn't make it back in until about 1am each night and covered most of Ayrshire I think! 200miles done so far and it's not missed a beat. The wee VVC does go well. Sounds great with the decat pipe on too.

Thanks for all your help.

Great stuff - can't beat a summer's evening blast in the countryside in an elise

[marcoos_1]

Great stuff - can't beat a summer's evening blast in the countryside in an elise

Too right....it's very addictive! Ordered a cambelt and tensioner from Elise parts last night....better do it before I get too carried away!!!

Also, went to take it out the other night and it just started to rain slightly....I switched on the wiper at the traffic lights in Stewarton and it was completely useless......I just turned back and drove into the garage as there was no way I could have driven with it the way it is. Did a bit of digging on the forums again and I've now ordered the wiper blade/arm/jetwash upgrade from Eliseparts as well. I thought a decent wiper might be of some advantage in Scotland....

[Dominic]

Great stuff - can't beat a summer's evening blast in the countryside in an elise

Too right....it's very addictive! Ordered a cambelt and tensioner from Elise parts last night....better do it before I get too carried away!!!

Also, went to take it out the other night and it just started to rain slightly....I switched on the wiper at the traffic lights in Stewarton and it was completely useless......I just turned back and drove into the garage as there was no way I could have driven with it the way it is. Did a bit of digging on the forums again and I've now ordered the wiper blade/arm/jetwash upgrade from Eliseparts as well. I thought a decent wiper might be of some advantage in Scotland....

S2 elise wiper and wiper arm conversion works well for me.

[robin]

Ordered a cambelt and tensioner from Elise parts last night....better do it before I get too carried away!!!

If you haven't changed a cam belt on an elise then you've got some fun ahead. Also if you haven't changed a cam belt on a VVC note there are two belts and you need to be very very sure you know what to align with what before you remove the old belt(s) and fit the new ones.

Cheers,
Robin

[woody]

I've a shortened 22mm socket here for the crank bolt. Need a shorter one for access. Also have a cam locking tool, but tbh if you've half a brain I don't think you need one on the non vvc engine at least. It's not a favourite job of mine to diy as the car need to be right up on stands to have clearance for torque wrench.

[marcoos_1]

Cheers guys, thanks for the advice and the offer of some special tools. I might well take you up on that woody. Not too sure yet when I will tackle that....gulp!Dreading it already.... Is it easier to take the clam off? Never done this on a lotus, but anytime I do anything serious on the GT40 it's off with the clam straight away......it really saves time in the long run. What do you reckon?

Received my Eliseparts jetwash wiper system tonight. Got it all fitted and grrrrrrr.......they've sent me a left hand drive one!

On the plus side....it doesn't look like I'll need it on my late night blast tonight!!

[robin]

There is no need to take the clam off - you access it from underneath and through the wheel arch liner. A set of ramps will make it much easier, but failing that you need to jack it up a long way to be able to get the torque wrench on the crank pulley bolt.

Cheers,
Robin

[marcoos_1]

Good stuff....cheers Robin. I'm lucky as I've got a 4 post here, so that should make life a bit easier then.

[woody]

Good stuff....cheers Robin. I'm lucky as I've got a 4 post here, so that should make life a bit easier then.

With a shortened socket it shouldn't be any more difficult than changing a belt on a Rover hatchback then

[marcoos_1]

Robin, just a quick question.....you said there was two belts? The kit I ordered from Elise parts only came with one belt and a manual tensioner (I made sure I ordered the VVC kit as well). Is there another one I need other than the Alt belt (I changed that already with the new alternator, but I assume this is not the one you refer to?)

[marcoos_1]

Good stuff....cheers Robin. I'm lucky as I've got a 4 post here, so that should make life a bit easier then.

With a shortened socket it shouldn't be any more difficult than changing a belt on a Rover hatchback then

Fingers crossed then!!! I always hate doing these....was tempted to be lazy and put it in somewhere, but I think I'd actually rather do that myself (although I probably won't be saying that after a few skint knuckles etc!)

[Kayfur]

Robin, just a quick question.....you said there was two belts? The kit I ordered from Elise parts only came with one belt and a manual tensioner (I made sure I ordered the VVC kit as well). Is there another one I need other than the Alt belt (I changed that already with the new alternator, but I assume this is not the one you refer to?)

I've got a short belt for a VVC which came as part of the kit when I replaced the timing belt on my (non-VVC) Caterham. I have no use for it so you can have it FOC.

Belt is marked : Gates Powergrip HTD 5417XS 68 x 23mm.

PM me with your address if you want it.


Kevin


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