Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have been getting around to fitting a new battery to my S4 ever since I bought it over 2 years ago. Well finally did it this week

What a difference. She always started but I always had the feeling that its was a bit of an effort for her. Now she starts immediately. No need for one of those new fangled high torque starters. Also the indicators flash that little faster now.

Before you go spending lots of cash on new starters, cables and gawd knows what else check out the battery then invest in a trickle charger to keep it happy.

Steve,

I've heard that these new fangled high torque starters overheat badly and are in danger of going bad if they have to crank the engine over for a while. I think they are awfully expensive for what you get.

I heard of an alternative from one of the guys in Club Lotus Scotland at the last meeting. He has fitted a pre-engaged starter. It's aparently a two bolt mounting and is fitted "upside down" i.e. with the solenoid at the bottom. He says it works a treat and starts the car easily, even in the coldest of weather.
He got it second hand but doesn't know what make it is. Needless to say he was 'strongly encouraged' to find out.
I have asked around at a couple of local auto electricians but they were a bit puzzled as to what make it might be.

If I find out more I'll post it here.

In the meantime maybe someone on the forum might know.

Regards,

Hamish.

Hamish

I use a Bosch pre-engage starter that was used in early 70's escorts in Australia in my Elan and Plus 2. Its a 3 bolt unit but it mounts Ok on the 2 bolts on the Elan bell housing and mounts with the solenoid to the bottom. The throw of the preengage gear naturally matches up with the Lotus as the relative location of all the starters and flywheels is the same in the Lotus as other 4 cylinder fords of the same era.

The unit used a 10 tooth pinion in the Escort application but I substitute a Bosch 9 tooth pinion which is available to match the orginal Lotus gearing and flywheel ring gear. The 10 versus 9 tooth change is not really critical from a tooth engagement perspective both work OK. Lotus did the change to improve the gearing and aid in cranking over the higher compression twincam versus the standard Ford engines.

The English Escorts of the same era may not have used a Bosch unit but I presume they had an equivalent from someone - hopefully not Lucas !

Aha!

This sounds like what the guy was talking about at the last CL meeting.

Will investigate.

Thanks for the info.

Regards,

Hamish.

Hi

You mentioned the uneven indicator flashing.........If you fit a modern flasher unit (I used a Ford one) you can kiss all that goodbye. Well worth doing.........