Elan S4 electric window wire slack

[itsricht]

Hi
The electric windows on my S4 failed. On investigation the wire was not broken but had just come off the runners. I got it back on with the window half way up, but when I operate it (by hand0 the wire goes slack at the very top and very bottom of the window's run.
Any idea on what is wrong?
Thanks

[gjz30075]

The cable needs to be tightened but it's not an easy job. The window frame needs to come out of the door
(a job in itself). Then, find the spot where the two ends pass through the 'eye' bolt which is bolted through
the glass. Most likely it it rusted. Once that bolt is loosened, the ends of the cable can be pulled tight.
It takes four hands to do this task. A newer style bolt is now manufactured which allows tightening on the
cable rather than tightening on the glass. The workshop manual will lay this all out.

Others will chime in as to where to get the new style bolt and other techniques.

I've been thinking about improving this cable arrangement for some time. I'd love to see a spring loaded
arm, with a pulley, at the bottom of the frame, accessible through the door, which will take up the slack
when the cable stretches with age and it wouldn't so critical to have the cable tight when first assembled.

[ericbushby]

Hi All,
The new style window cable fixing bolts which I make are in stock at Mick Miller Classic Lotus. They allow you to tighten it onto the cable separately without overtightening on to the glass. All proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3 DHC

[reb53]

Or, you can simply arrange that the ends meet in the middle of the longest run and join them together with a copper sleeve, sometimes known as a "crimp", ( which you carefully hammer flat).
You make the cable as tight as you can, then gently tighten the bolts that go through the glass.
This also makes it easy to align the glass with the frame before tightening the bolts.
I was always a little leery about clamping the ends tightly through the glass as I was sure the glass would shatter.
The sleeves, and cable for that matter, can be obtained through marine supply shops.
I did this 30 years ago, and so far, so good !

Ralph.

[itsricht]

Thats really useful, many thanks for all your help everyone.

[atthelimit]

Hi All,
The new style window cable fixing bolts which I make are in stock at Mick Miller Classic Lotus. They allow you to tighten it onto the cable separately without overtightening on to the glass. All proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3 DHC

Eric,
I bought some of these from Sue recently, top quality item thanks for that, I didn’t know funds are going to Cancer research which it makes them even better.
Thank-you

[ericbushby]

Atthelimit,
Thankyou for your kind comments and extra publicity. It all helps.
Eric

[steve lyle]

Atthelimit,
Thankyou for your kind comments and extra publicity. It all helps.
Eric

Any USA vendors?

[billwill]

Atthelimit,
Thankyou for your kind comments and extra publicity. It all helps.
Eric

Any USA vendors?

They are only tiny things, so fit easily in a padded bag. So you might as well order from the UK.

[ericbushby]

Hi Steve and Bill.
I started making these screws as a small project to solve a problem with our cars, occupy my mind and hopefully raise some funds for charity. Also as Alex Black could not continue making them, it seemed that we had lost something.
I did not relish the idea of packing parcels and sorting out problems with overseas posting. When discussing this with Sue Miller, she said that she could market and distribute them readily as part of her normal business. Sue also takes no profit from these and passes all the sale price onto me. Even the 20% VAT which UK buyers pay is cancelled by the 25% Gift Aid added to charity donations by the UK government. So far Sue and myself have sent £1000.00 to Cancer Research UK.
I don`t suppose many people buy just these when ordering parts from Sue, so in effect they usually travel for nothing.
I know some have gone to a US dealer and others to Europe and Australia but I do not ask.
The only other source is myself at the pub at a Club Lotus meeting.
Thankyou for your interest,
Eric