Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

The interior lamp doesn't work, so I checked the wiring and found the Brown wire not attached to a conector in the back of the ignition switch.

The S4 wiring diagram shows this Brown wire should go to Terminal 1, along with the Brown and Blue wire.

Upon inspection, there's only 1 terminal at position 1 on the rear of the switch, so can anybody advise how this is normally connected, or is the S4 wiring diagram not correct for a '72 UK Sprint ?

The obvious option would be to add a 'piggy-back' spade connector, but as the wire was already in the switch area, where could it have possibly been connected to previously?

Several of the other switch positions have double connector terminals - but not the one I want !

Your assistance would be appreciated,

Regards,

Phil.

Sometimes my Lotus makes me cry!

Is that the original ignition switch?

Ah is this the steering column mounted version? If so I think you are going to have to employ one of those 'piggy back' things until an S4 owner turns up in this thread...

Simon,

Thanks for your interest and reply.

I always seem to test the forum with issues that haven't been 'Threaded ' before.

Yes, it's a column mounted switch, that I had course to remove whilst replacing lost keys.

The previous owner had been fighting with the steering lock, and damaged the alloy column mounting bracket, so I had to remove the switch and connectors to replace the ignition switch barrel etc.

I thought I'd marked the cable with masking tape and switch positions correctly, but noticed I'd marked the small brown wire with ' Terminal 3 ' ??) - obviously thinking it would be easy to establish where it should go 9 years later on - (during the present re-build).

So there should be two cable at switch position number 1, with only 1 no. x spade / lucar connection.

Could do with an S4 / Sprint owner just popping off the rubber shroud on theirs, and peeking to see if there really should be both cable at position number 1?

As is often the case, someone will probably confirm it was modified at Lotus, and really does go to Terminal 3 !!

Help required please !

Regards,

Phil.

Sometimes my Lotus makes me cry.

If you haven't already seen my painful posting regarding my Sprint ignition switch, here it is. It includes a photo of the back of my ignition switch as well. Maybe something in this post will help.

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/elan-f14/more-electric-gremlins-t13652.html

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

Gary,

Thanks for the info and previous thread.

I see what you mean, about the two brown / blue wire(s) going to what I assume is position 1 on the ignition switch?

But how are they connected, by one of those 'piggy-back' lucars I mentioned, or are the two spades actually originally connected together?

I guess mine may have initially been connected, and have just broken appart at some point?

The observation and question is that there are two wires needing to be connected to one terminal - How?

By the way, I've done an altenator conversion, so will be looking out for the problems / issues you had with great interestm !

Thanks everso for your post and reply, much appreciated.

Regards,

Phil.

Sometimes my Lotus makes me cry.

From what I can see in the two pictures (yours and gary's) you have your switch wired differently. If it was wired like his you would not need a piggy-back. I am not 100% on this as the pictures are a little tricky to compare. Additionally Gary was having problems of his own so you can't take his picture as gospel (sorry Gary).



These are probably 180 degrees different to each other or (somebody has inverted their image) but this would make them even more different.

The thing might be that the numbers 1,2,3,4 on the switch you have don't correspond to the numbers on the wiring diagram. It is odd that you have a terminal with nothing attached

I would take the switch out (carefully noting what goes where) and use a multi-meter (or a small battery and lamp) to very methodically work out what the switch you have does. Make a chart to show which of 1,2,3,4 are connected in each of the positions.

Can you also post a better - bigger picture of your switch and it's connections/cables?

Simon

This thread should help.

elan-f14/ignition-switch-connections-t24891.html

Alan.

Plus 1 on being careful with the embossed terminal numbers. Had the same issue on my Plus 2 replacement ignition switch. Didn't want to post details as gets pretty confusing between Lotus models, and I have never worked with the column type.

Don't know if this will help or confuse...

http://www.classic-car-accessories.co.u ... LS076.html

Can't really see your pic clearly, but

• Brown is Hot at all times, unfused - main supply to the ignition switch.
• White red is for the starter solenoid, so should be hot in start only (springed start setting of the key).
• White is hot in run and start, unfused, so sould be connected to the first on setting of the key.
• White / Yellow (may vary in colour, check your coil or immobilizer switch) is hot in run and start, unfused and runs to the coil, so should be connected to the first on setting of the key.
• Accessory wire colour to radio (if present) varies. Connected to the terminal that is hot with the key in the far left position and hot in the first on setting of the key.
• The hot in the first on position terminal is also hot when the key is in the spring loaded start position

I found the diagrams on this supplier site very helpful, but be careful trying to correlate the diagram terminal numbers to the embossed numbers on the switch as they didn't mtch on mine.

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product_list/136

HTH & doesn't confuse.

Gents,

Sorry to confuse the issue, but the Brown, and Brown/Blue wires are not shown in the picture, so as to enable the single terminal to be seen at position number 1.

To show I only have room to connect one wire - not both of them.

The Brown and Blue wire was definately connected to Terminal number 1, and the spare terminal at position 2 (in the picture) wasn't occupied (I think?)

I notice that the two pictures clearly show that the wiring is different for the White wires, so this may have been Gary's problem, as I believe mine's wired correct in that instance.

Having thought about it, perhaps the two Brown, Brown/Blue wires were originally connected by a piggy back lucar, I will check to see if it's obvious where they may have once been joined.

But would still like an S4 owner to have a look where the two Brown wires are connected ?

I'll take another look tomorrow and photograph any results.

Thanks to you all for your imput, it is appreciated.

Regards,

Phil.

Sometimes my Lotus makes me cry.

Some more photos of a Sprint ignition switch. The brown braided type cable isn't part of the wiring loom, it goes to the radio.

Alan

Alan,

Thanks for the pictures of your switch.

Can't quite see the numbers on the switch too clearly, but I think it's
wired thus ? :-

Terminal 1 = White and Red wire.
Terminal 2 = Brown & Brown / Blue wire.
Terminal 3 = White wire
Terminal 4 / 5 = White / Purple wire.

Can you confirm please?

Seems I owe you an appology Gary, as your wiring is identical to Alan's - so mine must be wrong - Heaven knows how I got into this mess, the only thing to do now is go with the flow and wire the same as you Guys.

Tomorrow, I'll try to wire it as yours and Gary's and 'suck it and see' !

Problem is my engine's not running yet after the rebuild, so I'll be spending some more time on it in the future I can see !

Observation - how many hours pass by in a quiet garage, checking wiring ? - I just can't believe where the time goes !

Thanks to everyone who's stuck with me on this one - I'll let you know how I get on.

Best regards,

Phil.

Sometimes my Lotus makes me cry.

Thats right except there is no terminal 4, white/purple is terminal 5

Alan.

Well I re-wired the switch and 'Hey - Presto' - it worked ! Everything seems to switch on and off.

I still have a few minor issues and have found the majority of faults are Earth path problems.

The Main and Dipped beams work (micro-switches work too), but however, when I switch of the Light switch on the dash and lower the Headlamp pods, the Headlights switch on - in the closed or Pods Down position. ?

I think this is an Headlamp Flasher relay / switch problem, - I'll investigate at the next opportuity.

Thanks for all the help, Stu, Gary and Alan.

Regards,

Phil.

Sometimes my Lotus makes me cry.

Phil, glad you got it sorted.
"Sometimes my Lotus makes me smile."

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida