Heavy clutches

[AER]

Hi guys,

I've just recently got my Elise, a 96P in Tic-Tac Orange. Wow! What a drive.

...except in traffic, where the clutch is becoming a pain in the leg.

It's a relatively high miler, at 58K so I'm suspecting that the friction plate is getting a little on the thin side, increasing clutch pedal forces (possibly a non-wear-compensating pressure plate?)

Any comments from anyone about clutch pedal effort? How do your cars feel wrt mileage, compared to say, a standard steel-box-on-wheels?

[Nightmare]

Hiya,

Ive driven a fair few S1s, and the clutches have always been very light...even compared to some 'normal' cars - think you might well be right about the friction plate!

Night

[Adeewuff]

I've been following these forums for quite a while but have never posted to 'Hi!'. I know this sounds very basic but are you sure the heavy clutch is not just friction in the pedal. I left my Elise out in a light shower of rain and water seeped in and made the pedal action very heavy. Nothing WD40 couldn't cure but have you considered this?

[timh]

my clutch seems quite light compared to a normal car, there was a problem with the hoses on early cars which made the clutch heavy when the car was hot, it could be that your hose has not been changed (if it was one of the effected cars?), I think the hose should be a braided one if it has been changed?

[adrianr]

The hose thing was the mythical Lotus "red hose" problem, where the clutch pipe would soften/expand on hot days in traffic and make gear selection difficult. Not all cars suffered from it, and there were a variety of mods culminating in replacement by a braided stainless steel one. However I don't think this would increase pedal effort - perhaps even the reverse.

Early clutch pedal bushes did have a habit of sticking and making the pedal very stiff, eventually to the extent that you pushed the clutch pedal down and it stayed there.

Cheers,
AdrianR

[gold man]

I've also driven quite a few Elises and have always felt the clutch to be light. Check with your dealer.
Best of luck.

[Simon.G]

Hey AER, want to buy a new number plate?? I've got L2 AER on my Elise at the moment if you want to make me an offer??

Cheers Simon.

[AER]

I've got L18 LOT on mine at the moment - pretty happy with that for now. But thanks anyway!

[scribbler]

Mine is a tick tack orange Elise too! (High Five!). Simerlar age, but fewer miles.
Thing is the clutch is light normally, but, as one respondent suggested, in the heat the imfamous red tube softens under the increased fluid pressure when the clutch is used. There is a braided hose retro-fit item. Details on Rob Colerigdge's excellent site under 'problems'.
You will notice it 'comes on' as the car heats. Ininner city traffic in the summer the effect on mine was pronounced. Drop in to 1st ASAP on drawing up if it's tricky, and look to having it sorted.
You can find the offending item under the front bonnet, drivers side, under the scuttle - looks like it's full of Ribena.
Mine does it too, and I've not yet had it sorted - waiting till I find a nice independent Lotus specialist (not many here in Germany) to do it for me.
As with most things it's not a factory recall, but an upgraded on later models thing. So tough. Thank you Lotus...