Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Have been searching archives but cant find somthing quite like my problem. I have a plus 2 running on webers with the aldon type of ignition. All was running well then suddenly started to get hesitation under load. Starting and Idle ok, revving ok but pulling away gently or hard it's very jerkey and undrivable. I found a lot of dried muck in bottom of carbs so stripped and cleaned all channels drilling out some of plugs. I've now put them back on but still have the hesitation in fact seems worse. Saw a thread that said 80% fuel problems are electrical. Should I be looking this way or have I missed something. Really need some help now please.
Alan.

As if you're down a cylinder? How do the plugs look?

SENC wrote:As if you're down a cylinder? How do the plugs look?

Although far from being an expert, this does sound like it could be plugs. The first time I took the car out this year, it was going fine, and then it started to misfire at medium to high revs. On taking the plugs out they were all covered in soot - putting in new plugs fixed the misfire. I have since checked the plugs again after a good run and they were fine. I put it down to excessive idling in the garage over winter without a proper run. Of course, with the recent weather, it's stuck again in the garage...

Rob.

I'd also check the distributor cap in particular the carbon brush. Can easily be forgotten when it's not running points.

My own experiences are plugs first (I always have a spare set on hand) and distributor second.

I had a similar problem wit my Elan. I had replaced my ignition with a new Pertronix Ignitor 2 and Coil and after screwing around for weeks going through the carbs and looking for a possible bad ground or loose wire it turned out to be the coil. I switched back to stock points and coil and the problem went away. I returned the module and coil to Pertronix and they replaced both and included a report that the coil was bad.

Mr.Gale

Thanks for your replies. I'll get new plugs and coil first and report back.

Agree that most "fuel" problems are electrical, unless your running a diesel. Plugs, coil, HT cables - try the main coil lead first as it affects all cylinders (obviously!) and is cheaper than a new coil!

Nigel F.

Clean the silt out of the fuel pump and change the filler if you have one.

Update. Bought new plugs and coil. Thought I'll replace and try 1 thing at a time .old plugs were very sooty so put new plugs in. re balanced carbs. retuned with colourtune, Checked timing. Still not good. Checked fuel filter in line before carbs looks ok. But. I have electric pump and found another filter before the pump. This is totally blocked with black muck looking like tar. Its sealed so had to scrape the muck out. Runs so much better now. New filter ordered will replace next week. Didn't think I'd have 2 fuel filters.

On an electric pump I removed the built in inlet filter. I replaced it with an inline glass filter which you can watch to see when it needs cleaning.
Alan