Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I’ve owned my Elan for about 6 years now and have sorted out most of the mechanical issues. Electrically speaking my car is a nightmare butchered beyond my comprehension but I must say most everything works well. I would like to rewire the car so I can understand what is what. The radiator has been moved forward and the starter solenoid and some other electrical boxes are mounted on a panel.
I would like to know what the two electrical boxes are. The one box is an aluminum ribbed enclosure with (6) wires going to and from various ignition components. The other box marked “transpo” has (4) wires going to who knows where. None of the color coded wires aligns with the factory schematic.
Is anyone familiar with these two boxes?

It is an electronic ignition module - quite an old one, I’d say.

Possibly an after market external voltage regulator made by Transpo Electronics, now owned by a larger company. https://alternatorparts.com/transpo-com ... ation.html

It's a slow day waiting for epoxy to set up.

Wow Bud, that was pay-dirt! I have to add I never seem to be waiting for epoxy to set up; more like frantically trying to finish!

When you add the filler powder to West Systems epoxy it seems to take forever compared to the same epoxy without it. I wish I could say it was a Lotus project, but it wasn't.

HCA wrote:It is an electronic ignition module - quite an old one, I’d say.

Yep, a 'capacitive discharge' electronic ignition module. Capacitors don't age well, and they don't like heat. If reliability of your car is on your list of requirements, I would show the module the door.

I would second the analysis of the Transpo box, its probably a regulator. Do you have an after market alternator fitted? If so, this could be its external regulator.

Frankly, given that many an Elan has been lost to an electrical fire, I would be tempted to rip the whole lot out, tidy everything up with new connectors and fittings, and as a last resort consider a new loom.

+1 on capacitor discharge system, usually they use a special high voltage coil to match. So if you decide to move to a newer arrangement buy all matching components.

It is my plan to replace everything including the wiring harness. I would like to understand how this all works because I want to enjoy the car for a while before I rip the electrics out. Since the car uses a standard points and coil ignition system, what does the CD unit add to mix?

Main advantage of the CD ignition is to maintain a ‘strong’ spark as RPM increases.

A capacitive discharge ignition uses a inverter to step up to an high voltage probably around 400V which charges the 600V capacitor you can see the points are the trigger to discharge the voltsge into the coil giving a very high spark plug voltage work very well as long as your insulation is good and the coil clean of oil and dirt
Ian

Thanks for explaining Ian.

Chris, talking about reliability..... I had found the same setup on a Europa I rescued after sitting decades. I hooked up a battery and the motor started right up! So there must be something good about it for a previous owner to install.