Bad news already
Discussion
Posted this over at seloc also but just need some more advise/opinions on the matter.
Im meant to be collecting a 2005 111S this weekend, its been to pheonix motorsport for a once over and Ollie has discovered early signs of headgasket failure and that the re-circ button on the fans doesnt work.
I'm not to concerned about the re-circ button but the dealer has agreed to get the headgasket done at his own expense, what are peoples thought on this? Once done am i in for some trouble free motoring? Should the re-circ button be a big issue?
Really gutted at the moment.
Im meant to be collecting a 2005 111S this weekend, its been to pheonix motorsport for a once over and Ollie has discovered early signs of headgasket failure and that the re-circ button on the fans doesnt work.
I'm not to concerned about the re-circ button but the dealer has agreed to get the headgasket done at his own expense, what are peoples thought on this? Once done am i in for some trouble free motoring? Should the re-circ button be a big issue?
Really gutted at the moment.
My re-circ button went on my exige, iirc it was not an expensive fix but i still think it is worth doing and the dealer should pick up the tab. With regards to the head gasket, at least it has been identified and should not put you off. You could walk away from this car, find another and later that head gasket goes. Piece of mind that you know it has been done recently and if you get problems with it (you shouldn't provided they fix it correctly) can always take it back, doubt this will be the case- Phoenix have a good reputation. I'd say go for the car and enjoy it 
Edited by tanman on Tuesday 16th October 18:50
Ive been told its around £800 for the headgasket to be done by Ollie, i can either take the car as is or have that of the asking price but i'd rather get it done. The re-circ thing is bugging me but then how often do you use it, the car is mint otherwise, the best ive seen by far.
Removing the front clam doesnt look to painful and its something i could tackle myself come the summer so i may see what i can get of the price we had agreed before these issues were found.
The cars from a trader who specialises in lotus.
Removing the front clam doesnt look to painful and its something i could tackle myself come the summer so i may see what i can get of the price we had agreed before these issues were found.
The cars from a trader who specialises in lotus.
Depends on how well they do it - there are a LOT of different versions of the gasket and parts used to fit it.
I'd view it as a positive if you could persuade them to take the cost of replacement off the value of the car and then take it somewhere yourself, or you can get them to tell you exactly what they're going to do. I'd far rather know that the gasket has gone and been fixed with the right bits, than have a car on which it's never gone.
How difficult it is to remove the front clam depends on how many and which bolts need to be drilled out because they've corroded.
I'd view it as a positive if you could persuade them to take the cost of replacement off the value of the car and then take it somewhere yourself, or you can get them to tell you exactly what they're going to do. I'd far rather know that the gasket has gone and been fixed with the right bits, than have a car on which it's never gone.
How difficult it is to remove the front clam depends on how many and which bolts need to be drilled out because they've corroded.
un1eash said:
The work will be done by pheonix motorsport. I'm expecting a call from the dealer this morning about what we're going to do. I'll then be ringing pheonix to ask their opinion, what parts should they be using and upgrading when doing the headgasket?
Depends on what they find when they take the head off - could be anything from just a new gasket to a whole new head if it's porous. Generally though, they should be testing the head hardness and replacing if necessary; checking liner heights and rectifying the problem if they're not right; replacing the plastic head locating dowels with metal ones; and then using a good gasket to put it all back together.
There is a lot of debate about which gasket is best, but from what I could find out when I had mine done, it depends on the liner heights. MLS gaskets are thicker so they need higher liners to work properly; the latest elastomer ones are just as good but are suitable for slightly lower liner heights. There's also a new kit taken from the N-series which was only just coming out when I had mine done, this includes a new oil-ladder in the bottom end, a different type of stretch bolts and a different gasket again.
Some people recommend fitting a PRRT, but an equal number of people seem to say it will make things worse and it's not really part of the same job anyway.
While the head is off anyway, you may as well get the belts and tensioner changed; and while the belts are being changed you may as well get a new water pump fitted.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 17th October 08:38
Just a quick one on this re: the re-circ button - is that anything to do with the heating resistor pack?
I can't remember where it is.
On my 111s my fans failed after the infamous burning smell in the cabin.
The resistor pack needed replacement and is a front clam off job - NOT CHEAP.
And you need the fans just to de-mist if nothing else!
I can't remember where it is.
On my 111s my fans failed after the infamous burning smell in the cabin.
The resistor pack needed replacement and is a front clam off job - NOT CHEAP.
And you need the fans just to de-mist if nothing else!
boobles said:
I remember being told that once the headgasket is fixed, it's very unlikely to fail again.
Assuming it's done properly - skimmed flat and a good quality updated gasket used.Mine was done just before I bought the car so assumed I was good to go. 14k miles later it blew again because the head wasn't skimmed last time and they'd just used a standard old gasket.
Now with a MLS gasket and the head skimmed, hopefully it'll be good for some time.
I've spoken to Ollie this morning and he's assured me that the headgasket will be done right, the heads coming off, being skimmed, pressure tested etc and there using a multi layer gasket kit, new bolts and replacing all belts also.
The re-circ button he's quoted around 5 hours labour plus parts, apparently its the actuator that uses a rubber belt to control the flap thats failed. It doesnt seem it'll be that expensive to fix so trying to re negotiate the price if it isnt done.
The re-circ button he's quoted around 5 hours labour plus parts, apparently its the actuator that uses a rubber belt to control the flap thats failed. It doesnt seem it'll be that expensive to fix so trying to re negotiate the price if it isnt done.
willld said:
"I think a 2005 car should have the later resistor pack which doesn't sit in a puddle."
Not on my 111s - Dec 2005. perhaps they were different on the R?
Hmm, curious. I thought it was an MY05 change but maybe you're right and it came in with the different radiator, clam, etc. for the Toyota engine. Not on my 111s - Dec 2005. perhaps they were different on the R?
It's retrofittable to earlier cars though - well worth doing if you ever have the front clam off a car with the older pack.
willld said:
"I think a 2005 car should have the later resistor pack which doesn't sit in a puddle."
Not on my 111s - Dec 2005. perhaps they were different on the R?
A S2 111S that was registered in 2005 will have been "built" sometime before that. 111R's are avaiable with a "53" plate on which was for the period from September 2003-February 2004.Not on my 111s - Dec 2005. perhaps they were different on the R?
I'd be inclined to look elsewhere. Find it strange that the problem is revealed by a second opinion as it were. Would have thought any main Lotus agent would have been aware of the problem and fixed it before putting it up for sale. Previous owner possibly had an inkling. Probably part exchanged as a result. Even on price its not exactly a bite yor hand off deal.
Think I would regard it as a plus actually that the car had just had a proper head gasket job done by a reputable specialist. It is no slight on the car that the HG is going, and buying one that has not had a failure is surely more risky? (I do say that as an owner of an HG virgin K car myself). To be fair to the selling dealer, Phoenix identified early signs of failure, so perhaps not difficult to miss?
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