Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Just cleared out the glove box for the first time in 40+ years and only just spotted this switch; does anyone / everyone else know what it is for? - and the grommet, have you all got one of them also? - The Service Parts List clearly shows the switch socket but I cannot see if the grommet was original.

On a final note, the contents are always quite interesting...(?) Perhaps a topic for separate posts? Why three tyre gauges and or spare side flasher bulbs that I forgot and therefore have been trying to locate far and wide etc,

It's the 'secret' anti-theft switch (honest) ... Now everybody knows!!

Carl

whoops.. obvious really.. but at least they (the robbers) won't know what is off and on! - have you got the electronic speaker type gizmo below? - and what is the grommet all about?

i've got the grommet but no switch.

Removal of the grommet allows access to the solderless nipple on the far end of the bonnet release cable. Once removed it is a pig to get back in!!

lotusfan wrote:Removal of the grommet allows access to the solderless nipple on the far end of the bonnet release cable. Once removed it is a pig to get back in!!

Thanks for the heads-up Lotusfan; that is a 'shocker'! When every other job on our cars are so effortlessly quick, easy and simple, who would have thought we would eventually stumble across 'a five minute job that takes more like half an hour?

dygm, do you know if your glove box is original or repro? - Either way, you'd best be watching out for the robbers now and - let's be clear - that is totally Pereiac fault

Got exactly the same switch on my 71 Sprint. And it's for the same purpose : anti theft device.

Does anyone have a switch there that actually works? What does it actually do? Both of my S4s had them but operating them had no effect on anything. Does it engage some kind of hidden radio system that calls the police?

TonyCaldwell wrote:
dygm, do you know if your glove box is original or repro? - Either way, you'd best be watching out for the robbers now and - let's be clear - that is totally Pereiac fault

[/quote]

I dont know if it is repro, It doesn't have anything written on it like others' seem to.

what is "pereiac"? I googled it with no luck.

Mine is doing some kind of "Bat-Signal" but with the AA symbol. I guess it's when you're stuck on the m1 on the sunday afternoon !

My 68 S4 had a working one when I first got it.

When switch into the alarm position it isolated the ignition and directed the ignition power to the horn, so the horn would sound if the ignition was turned on . The switch sometime would stop the car working at random times so i disconnected it back in 1975

cheers
Rohan

The switch cut the power to the coil. I have left mine in place but disconnected it as they do become unreliable over time. I do have a remote battery cutoff installed (Had a voltage reg stick years ago that burnt all the wiring under the hood).

I installed Radio Shack 275-0403. Easy to provide a safe guard in case said switch fails.

In the plus two it grounds both the coil, and the horn relay

I always loved it, and changed it to a new part when it died

dgym wrote:

TonyCaldwell wrote:
dygm, do you know if your glove box is original or repro? - Either way, you'd best be watching out for the robbers now and - let's be clear - that is totally Pereiac fault

I dont know if it is repro, It doesn't have anything written on it like others' seem to.

what is "pereiac"? I googled it with no luck.[/quote]
Sorry, in hindsight I should have said it was Carl' fault ( because he actually gave the heads-up to the robbers, as per mails, I only asked the question)
On a final note, great to see Google does not know everything; so - this could open a can of worms - what does ' periac' mean?