Lots of trouble.............?
Discussion
Yesterday was the best day of the year so far so I took the Elise down the coast to be serviced by Fibreglass Services near Arundel who I can't recommend enough - real enthusiasts who know the car inside out.
On the way back I stopped at the beach and when I got to the car park I walked round the car to be greeted by bright green coolant pouring through the undertray at the front left
Called Miles at the garage and asked if he'd seen anything and he reported that all the levels were fine when I left so it must have happened on the journey to the beach (about 15 miles). He suggested it was a holed rad from a stone or the header tank had split both meaning a new rad and a sizeable bill
Called the AA to get the car taken back so it could be fixed and he found that one of the rad hoses had come of having never had a jubilee clip on it (the hose was unmarked)
Now the questions..........
Should there have been a jubilee clip there?
If so do I have any redress with Lotus as they didn't build it properly in the first place (the car is 4 years old but has done less than 5000 miles)?
Will I have damaged the engine? The temp gauge didn't alter and the coolant was still coming out when I stopped. There must have been some coolant left in there as thge level of the rad is higher than most of the engine so the block should have stiull had coolant in it - right?
>>> Edited by cuzza on Friday 30th May 12:14
On the way back I stopped at the beach and when I got to the car park I walked round the car to be greeted by bright green coolant pouring through the undertray at the front left
Called Miles at the garage and asked if he'd seen anything and he reported that all the levels were fine when I left so it must have happened on the journey to the beach (about 15 miles). He suggested it was a holed rad from a stone or the header tank had split both meaning a new rad and a sizeable bill
Called the AA to get the car taken back so it could be fixed and he found that one of the rad hoses had come of having never had a jubilee clip on it (the hose was unmarked)
Now the questions..........
Should there have been a jubilee clip there?
If so do I have any redress with Lotus as they didn't build it properly in the first place (the car is 4 years old but has done less than 5000 miles)?
Will I have damaged the engine? The temp gauge didn't alter and the coolant was still coming out when I stopped. There must have been some coolant left in there as thge level of the rad is higher than most of the engine so the block should have stiull had coolant in it - right?
>>> Edited by cuzza on Friday 30th May 12:14
1. Yes, there should have been a jubilee clip there.
2. No, you have no course of redress with Lotus - out of warranty, and there's no evidence that they missed the clip off. It could have come off at any time.
3. If your temperature didn't rise, you're probably lucky you stopped in time and the engine/head will be fine.
2. No, you have no course of redress with Lotus - out of warranty, and there's no evidence that they missed the clip off. It could have come off at any time.
3. If your temperature didn't rise, you're probably lucky you stopped in time and the engine/head will be fine.
Richard I have an S2 and had something similar happen.
A leaking pipe in the engine bay drained the system whilst wellying it round the M25 (within the legal limits m'lud)
All seemed well til I came off the slip road and stiopped at the lights and the temperature strated to climb and climb, switched off when it was flashing over 111 or 115. Started moving again and it cooled down as there was still enough in circulation. A lighter foot and a convenient service already booked in for the next morning got it sorted and have seen no ill effects since. Lotus diagnostic found no problems, just lucky I guess. As innacurate a s the temp gauges are if everything stayed normal you were probably lucky. It allexpands when you stop due to the heat so you might be lucky and it popped off once you stopped hence why you only noticed on returning to the car!!!
HGF is a russian roulette anyway, dont panic just yet
A leaking pipe in the engine bay drained the system whilst wellying it round the M25 (within the legal limits m'lud)
All seemed well til I came off the slip road and stiopped at the lights and the temperature strated to climb and climb, switched off when it was flashing over 111 or 115. Started moving again and it cooled down as there was still enough in circulation. A lighter foot and a convenient service already booked in for the next morning got it sorted and have seen no ill effects since. Lotus diagnostic found no problems, just lucky I guess. As innacurate a s the temp gauges are if everything stayed normal you were probably lucky. It allexpands when you stop due to the heat so you might be lucky and it popped off once you stopped hence why you only noticed on returning to the car!!!
HGF is a russian roulette anyway, dont panic just yet
Thanks guys,
I feel better now you've confirmed what my brain was telling me.
IMPORTANT NOTE if you ever find yourself stranded with your Elise:
The AA said that the Elise is not to be towed in any way (by rope, bar or even on one of those frames that lifts the front wheels. It should only be taken on a transporter so if anyone trys to tow it - just say no!
I feel better now you've confirmed what my brain was telling me.
IMPORTANT NOTE if you ever find yourself stranded with your Elise:
The AA said that the Elise is not to be towed in any way (by rope, bar or even on one of those frames that lifts the front wheels. It should only be taken on a transporter so if anyone trys to tow it - just say no!
sagalout said: Surely the people who "serviced" your car should have spotted the missing clip.
No, the offending hose is at the front of the radiator, tucked right at the front of the clamshell. You can only just get your hand on it, never mind see it - but not enough to put it back - I have the marks to prove it!
If anyone is to blame - it's the factory as I don't believe there has ever been a clip there as the end of the hose was totally unblemished.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff