Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

New ignition switch, coil, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, points and condensor. Picking up voltage meter tomorrow, but is there something I don't know about these cars? It's a '70 S4. Thanks.

Primeaux wrote:New ignition switch, coil, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, points and condensor. Picking up voltage meter tomorrow, but is there something I don't know about these cars? It's a '70 S4. Thanks.

Look very carefully how you have the condenser and coil primary wires connected to the points. If you connect them incorrectly they may be shorting to ground. Distributor cap off, crank the starter with the ignition on, you should see a spark when the points open.

Primeaux wrote: but is there something I don't know about these cars? It's a '70 S4. Thanks.

Are you aware of the Immobiliser switch?

AHM, in the glovebox? Which position is off?

Hi !

I found these two video's useful.

follow the instructions to help you identify what is wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl0Z6kbyI0c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e66tA43wsNo

hope they help!

PS also check that you have the little earth wire from your condenser to the body of the distributor it is shown on the diagram in the manual.

(this is easily missed, it was the problem i had, as soon as i fitted it i got a spark !)

Primeaux wrote:AHM, in the glovebox? Which position is off?

Both probably!

Primeaux wrote:New ignition switch, coil, wires, plugs, cap, rotor, points and condensor. Picking up voltage meter tomorrow, but is there something I don't know about these cars? It's a '70 S4. Thanks.

Did you mean a multimeter as tester?

If so, first test is is there 12v on the 'top' side of the ignition coil (with the ignition switch ON, and anti-theft OFF). Secondly does the voltage on the other terminal of the coil alternate between 12v and 0 volts as you rotate the engine?

Continuous 12v = contacts are not closing
continuous 0v = contacts are permanently shut (or coil is busted = open circuit).


But I think you already knew all that.