S1 MOT fail

[Kinger]

Only just realised MOT due for S1 so hurriedly booked it in to Carden motors in Aberdeen, apparently Lotus friendly. They've had a few local Elises and Exiges in for MOT etc.

Well got the call to say car failed on headlamp alignment, and as the adjusters were seized theyed have to take the clam off to try to get them freed off and adjusted. Decided I take it home to have a look see for myself. I'll have a look tonight as I believe it can be done via the wheel arch or if requires new one's can be fitted via the wheel arch as well.

Any thoughts appreciated as I'll be having a look tonight. (With loads of WD40)

Cheers

[Dominic]

Find a more friendly MOT station.

I'd be surprised if it was a clam off job, should be able to access via the wee hatch in the wheel arch liner. Possibly if the adjusters are seized it may be difficult to get at them with tools through the wee hatch. I am trying to remember if you can get the wheel arch liner out with the clam in situ....

[Stephen]

You can either access by removing the rubber grommet or remove the wheel arch liner. Both are possible without removing the clam.

[Shug]

And "Headlamp Adjusters" is a very fancy term for some plastic wingnuts and springs

Can't see how they'd seize unless some clever sausage had substituted them for metal. I suppose the studs could be solid rust, rather that thread, mind you...

[woody]

Don't need to remove the arch liner, just pull it down. The access grommet is useless.

Shug, think the studs being sold rust is the usual issue.

[tut]

There is a very good chance that you may have to buy new mounting brackets along with the nuts and bond them onto the clam.

They are thin steel and rust away, the force of trying to unscrew them will probably break them away from the clam.

tut

[Stephen]

If you need new ones you may be able to get stainless ones. I know that someone produced them previously.

[Scuffers]

or just buy these:



https://www.eliseparts.com/products/sho ... g-bracket/

as said, no need to remove the clam, just the wheel and pull the liner out the way.

All that said, how do plastic nuts rust?

[Stephen]

As Shug said the plastic nuts don't rust but the studs do and then the plastic nuts strip.

[Ferg]

As Shug said the plastic nuts don't rust but the studs do and then the plastic nuts strip.

^^This

Shug's S1 was obvious pampered too much for the headlights brackets to rot...

The brackets Scuffer's shows are what I did. And coupled with a new set of wings nuts which are far better than the originals you'll be set. The brackets are fixed to the clam with Tiger Seal and are relatively simple to replace. But you MUST take note of the rotational position of the originals and how close they fit to the clam. Tiger seal won't hold the bracket so you need to come up with a suitably elaborate tape and wood support while it dries.

Slightly annoying job but also satisfying. I would advise using sufficient Tiger Seal as the first bracket I fitted came off having not had a good wodge.

[Kinger]

Thanks guy's for all the advice. But it appears to be totally unnecessary. Took the drivers side wheel arch liner off and every thing looked perfect as per attached photographs, the adjusting screws were finger tight. To be honest I was most impressed with the condition of the adjusters. Nearside exactly the same.

So much so for a clam off job !!!!!!

Totally pissed off with Carden Motors, and I'll be letting them have both barrels right after they issue my pass certificate.

It really lets you see how spoiled we are with the service we get from Craig and MMC. I thought it would be pretty safe as it was just an MOT but I won't be going near them again.

[mxvx]

So how did they come to the conclusion the adjusters were siezed?

Are there another set of adjusters?!

[woody]

Think someone's fixed them before. V poor show from the mot station though.

[Kinger]

So how did they come to the conclusion the adjusters were siezed?

Are there another set of adjusters?!

They obviously hadn't even tried, I could reach the top two wing nuts through the large rubber grommet and they were finger tight but could reach the bottom one without removing the wheel arch liner.

I'll be asking how the worked out they were seized ?

Won't be going anywhere near them again.

[Ferg]

The S1 lights are moderately difficult to align well at the best of times. Mainly because you need a wheel off at the time so you can't just sit them in front of the beam measurement thingy and have a fiddle. I think I went back to MMC 4 times once making guestimates as to the adjustments. Once sorted they're fine.