New member from France

[steph68]

Hi all

Long time reader of this forum, I finally just registered as a member today.
I finally bought a '70 S4 SE Federal Elan last week, after being a long time Elise driver (I still own a '09 SC, after doing a small detour with an Evora, which I didn't keep long)
This forum gave me all the answers to the questions I had, before I thought to buy one myself !

I bought it in the south of France, then had to drive back home 850km. Without fear, the car did it well in 2 days, not one single problem, but we looked like aliens in an UFO on the highway, and we enjoyed the trip every kilometer (^H mile, sorry ).

At this time, I'm trying to understand how the electrics work on the car, as my priority is to restore the headlamps functions at least (security, before cosmetics). I will continue to read the board before posting, as most of my questions are probably already answered there - not sure I'll have an original question soon

Here, one photo after driving back home:

[rgh0]

HI and welcome
It looks like a nice car and about the same vintage as my S4

cheers
Rohan

[alan]

welcome to the forum, i live in France also Morbihan

[terryp]

Welcome Steph
I too have a federal Elan in France!

All the best
Terry
(Charente Maritime)

[Mazzini]

Welcome to the forum!

[vernon.taylor]

Salut

Welcome from a +2 owner in Lyon.

@+

Vernon

[diablo]

Welcome from a S4 owner in Normandy
@+
Diablo

[Chancer]

Welcome from an S4 owner in Picardie, where are you based Steph?

[pharriso]

Bienvenue Steph! You have a nice looking car there.

You guys explain why I cannot find any replacement Federal seats here in the US, they're all in France!

[pharriso]

At this time, I'm trying to understand how the electrics work on the car, as my priority is to restore the headlamps functions at least (security, before cosmetics). I will continue to read the board before posting, as most of my questions are probably already answered there - not sure I'll have an original question soon

Check out my thread on making the headlight flashers work on a Federal car (http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-electrical-f38/late-federal-fail-safe-headlight-wiring-t30133.html?hilit=flasher, there's a simplified wiring diagram that should make everything clear... took me a couple of months to get everything right.

[terryp]

Bienvenue Steph! You have a nice looking car there.

You guys explain why I cannot find any replacement Federal seats here in the US, they're all in France!

And very comfy they are too!


You can have your cross over pipes back if you like

[steph68]

Hi
Thanks for the welcome ! I'm from Alsace, east of France. I think we have all regions represented here

pharriso : I used you diagram as a basis, but I think some wires have been changed on mine, as the colors don't exactly match. Plus the previous owner changed the vacuum switch on the dash with a non federal one (without microswitches), so it'll be a bit difficult... But I'll get it working, no worry.

Sorry for the seats... indeed, they're much more comfortable than the Probax in the Elise. I wouldn't have done the same travel in the Elise...

[Spyder fan]

Welcome,
You will never understand the electrics, but perhaps you will get them to cooperate with your needs

Nice car, I can imagine the trip back from the South of France. The ?lan is a rare car on the road in the UK, it always makes my day when I see one. In France it must be as you say, ..... like an alien being has landed