Front indicator fallen out...

[nick_j007]

Me again

The front right indicator was looking a little loose, so I moved it and it promptly fell out!

It's the type with the circular plastic clip at the base that holds the lamp in place. The clip had become brittle and the base and surrounds has fractured and come away, leaving what appears to be an irreparable hole and the clip will not fix back to the lamp.

I'd appreciate some advice on my options please. The lamp is currently in place and working fixed into the body work with 1/2 inch gaffer tape. I'm tempted to bond it in somehow, but then I'm stuffed if the bulb goes. Either that, or I buy a new one at £65.00?

Thanks again

[Handbag]

There's a fix for this over in the Techwiki on Seloc:
http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Indicators

Which also contains a link to a fix on sandsmuseum:
link to sandsmuseum

[kevin ritson]

Do the fix or gaffer it in, don't bother giving your dealer the pleasure of £65, it'll happen again.

[Hollywood Wheels]

It's a Lotus FFS, why haven't you got a thick reel of duck tape in the car!!!

[andy_s]

I just used sticky-backed velcro which seems to work a treat. It's a very common character trait.

[nick_j007]

Well I'm new to all this...I'm getting there. Note to self: gaffer tape in the boot at all times.

Thank you all. Will look into the suggestions.

Nick

Hollywood Wheels said:

It's a Lotus FFS, why haven't you got a thick reel of duck tape in the car!!!

[hueandcry71]

It hapened to me and i melted the astic nack together using a soldering iron, it did the trick. I eventuially got a new one and the clips are different as Lotus seem to have cottoned on to the fact that te original design was crap.

[nick_j007]

How about some of this?

http://www.eliseparts.com/shop/index.php?main_page...

Anyone used it for the indicators lamps?

Nick

[hueandcry71]

nick_j007 said:

How about some of this?

http://www.eliseparts.com/shop/index.php?main_page...

Anyone used it for the indicators lamps?

Nick

would it not make it very difficult to get off if you have to change a bulb?

[nick_j007]

Yes I guess it would.

I wonder that if I were to place a new bulb in, and then seal it off it might be a viable trade-off as it will be a really close fit and look neat.

Then again I fear this could be too good a sealant and then a real whatsit to remove when I need to.

Back to earlier suggestions then I think!

Thanks

[marky999]

'very common character trait'

a quaint way of putting it. unacceptable is another!

andy_s said:

I just used sticky-backed velcro which seems to work a treat. It's a very common character trait.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Down to manufacturing tolerances - as AFAIK the front clam is hand laid, so it can vary slightly, in the old style of clips they didn't fully engage if the clam was slightly too thick, meaning they fell out. The price you pay for a hand made car, they knew about it, they designed new fixings, job done.

[Justin S]

why not just use a bit of clear silicon sealant? should be able to prise it out if the bulb fails.

[Bing o]

Justin S said:

why not just use a bit of clear silicon sealant? should be able to prise it out if the bulb fails.

Yep, had that done after 2 failed indicator lamps and got sick of having a £17k car with gaffer tape holding the light in.....

[marky999]

i felt sick when it happened to my 30 grand car (which was 18 months old at the time). oh then the heater packed up in the week i was trading it in. if not under warranty, i might have felt a tad sicker

Bing o said:

Justin S said:

why not just use a bit of clear silicon sealant? should be able to prise it out if the bulb fails.

Yep, had that done after 2 failed indicator lamps and got sick of having a £17k car with gaffer tape holding the light in.....

[Stu_00]

Still if it were a Boxter etc you might fall asleep while driving it, that would be more expensive.

marky999 said:

i felt sick when it happened to my 30 grand car (which was 18 months old at the time). oh then the heater packed up in the week i was trading it in. if not under warranty, i might have felt a tad sicker

Bing o said:

Justin S said:

why not just use a bit of clear silicon sealant? should be able to prise it out if the bulb fails.

Yep, had that done after 2 failed indicator lamps and got sick of having a £17k car with gaffer tape holding the light in.....

[stinkysteve]

[quote=Stu_00]Still if it were a Boxter etc you might fall asleep while driving it, that would be more expensive.


quote]

[Sparxy]

Yep I had the same problem and I'm fairly sure I've got the new design clips!!!

My remedy was to use clear silicon sealant, it's resistant to vibration but not so strong you can't just peel the indicator unit from it when you need to. Just don't use too much.

I did the same when my wing mirror decided to fall off!

Who ever said the build quality wasn't up to much ;-)

[nick_j007]

Right. Clear silicone it is then! The bulb could last ages anyway, so I hope that does it nicely.

Nick

Sparxy said:

Yep I had the same problem and I'm fairly sure I've got the new design clips!!!

My remedy was to use clear silicon sealant, it's resistant to vibration but not so strong you can't just peel the indicator unit from it when you need to. Just don't use too much.

I did the same when my wing mirror decided to fall off!

Who ever said the build quality wasn't up to much ;-)

[JimLP]

I have one Indicator which is now held in place using a long spring attached to the chassis behind - I can pull it forward and unhook the spring to get to the bulb if need be. No adhesive on paintwork issues, but it does need mentioning to anyone working on the car for especially in the case of a clam shell removal.
Jim