can anyone point me in the direction of...

[minimax]

...an online guide to changing ignition leads on the s1 Elise?

apparently the coil is underneath the bloody inlet manifold (why???) and this means a bit of a difficult job for which i'd quite like some instructions!

..taking it to a dealer is not an option as they're 25 miles away, booked up for over a week, and the car is immobile

help gratefully received

[Monkey boy 1]

try this, it may be of help
http://pdftown.com/PDF-Lotus-Elise-Workshop-Manual.html 

I know it covers MY2001 onwards,(presume yours is before that being an S1) but does have a lot of info on the K series engine.

Edited by Monkey boy 1 on Wednesday 21st May 15:25

Edited by Monkey boy 1 on Monday 16th June 23:53

[minimax]

very informative, that

however I now have a new problem... I have changed the leads and the king lead to the coil (what a complete arseache that was) but the f**king thing still won't start..

I am at a loss!

the fuel pump primes, the air filter is not blocked, it has new leads, a new distributor, I just don't know what it could be! oh, and yes it does have petrol in it

I was thinking the coil, but the man from bell & collvill service dept told me that there is an individual coil sitting atop each lead connecting the dizzy to the plug.. so it can't be that unless there are other ignition coils hiding somewhere?

I am at my wits end, and my employer is losing his temper with a carless employee as I can't travel to any sites!









edited to add: the car was running in a lumpy idle fashion (unusual as I have standard cams) just before it died.. and it didn't start running on only 2 or 3 cylinders so it can't be a lead problem.. this is what was making me think about the king lead as it just...stopped. and wouldn't fire again. the engine turns over on the starter motor fine, btw.

I also noticed some crackly interference coming in the radio speakers rising and falling in line with the revs for the last few days before it carked - I believe this is/was indicative of the insulation on the leads failing? if so, could those leads from Lotus be knackered? how likely is that?

sorry for ranting.. but have been trying to sort this now for nearly a f**king week..

Edited by minimax on Thursday 22 May 14:11

[Monkey boy 1]

Not having an S1 at hand to look at to give you guidance, but have you tried checking all the earth leads, or any loose electrical connections. Check them all in a methodical fashion.
I hope it's something as simple as that, which often gets overlooked.

[OJ]

I agree, sounds like a crap earth. Also bear in mind that the connectors may have electrolysed and disintegrated

Failing that I'd say a dead throttle position sensor, quite common on a Caterham

[Monkey boy 1]

any joy minimax ?

[minimax]

it was the bloody rotor arm! i'm so annoyed... the fckwit garage that did all the recent work to it billed me to change it and generally fettle it, assuring me the rotor arm was replaced... so naturally(?) I discounted it when checking/wondering what the problem might be.

to say I am furious is an understatement. f*cking prick of a useless c*nt garage told me to fck off and "what does it matter, you can afford it with that car" the cretinous thunderc*nt!

so.. had it towed to a recommended garage (big shout to meades motors in Teddington! ) who sorted me out...although had I known it was the rotor arm it would have saved me a pretty penny: rotor arm = £9.52, labour = £276