Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi all,

While I have a few minutes to myself I will try to rebuild Sophie,Ive already discovered the new wiring loom fuse box and ECU get in the way of finishing off the dash so a few mods to do I think,Ill post pics to explain later. So now its the lights that are my next cause for concern,they are not connected at all..!!

I was aware that there was an air leak causing no1 pot to leen out on the rollers so it was blocked off. today I had a quick look to see if it was a loose joint, what I found was a plastic T peice on the air chamber not connected to anything, 2 plastic pipes coming from the dash (and lightswitch) but the ends were tucked away and again not connected, lastly in the box of bits some more tubing.

So where does it all go too,the 2 vacum pods are connected together though.

I really need to find my manual

Paul

Hi

My T piece was = one from the inlet manifold, one into the cross-member and the other to the left vacuum pod. A pipe then came from the left pod to the right pod.

Mine is a 1968 +2.

They never worked well as the left pod had a hole in it.

Jason

Jason,

Thanks,I tried to follow your route but they are still not working. can any one shed some "light" on the matter? (oh dear,couldnt resist)

Paul

Hi Paul

I have PM-ed you a drawing that should make it all clear.

Jason

Jason

Many thanks for the diagram,Ill check when it stops raining...But I think it is the correct way as per diagram,so probably means I have a leak in the system somewhere.I hope its not the crossmember.

Ill keep you informed,

Paul

When mine was like this I had a leak in the switch and a hole in the pod.

Motors are more reliable.

Do you have motors in yours? where can i get them from, mx5 possibly?

I had a problem with the lights not openning and finallly traced it to a couple of cracks in the (spyder) crossmember where the lower wishbone mounts. I took it to Spyder who welded reinforment patches onto the cross member. I notice however that if you by a spyder chassis now the cross member already has these reinforcement patches in place. Mine is an old service exchange unit from spyder at some time (1980's ??) in the cars past and did not have any reinforcement in that area.

I would recommend checking that area, even if you dod fit eletric lifts you don't want cracks in that arrea of your car.

Regards

Andy

maybe this will help

Tried the route in the pic but still not working.but to be honest the lines were just pushed into place,although this is how they were when it was working I think I will secure with jubilee clips.

I'll see how that goes,

Ta guys,

Paul

I know this may amount to heresy but try replacing all of those pieces (seven of them in the diagram) of tubing labeled (26) with new vacuum hose and see what happens.

Are you thinking they could be collapsing or damaged?

Old and leaky, kind of like myself. Maybe try running the vacuum tube direct to the vacuum canister with the single tap on it then if it works, work your way back until you find the source of your vacuum leak.

Gary

People in the past on here have connected a garage compressor to the system and listened for the leaks. Not tried it myself but it sounds like a good idea?

Jason

Jason1 wrote:People in the past on here have connected a garage compressor to the system and listened for the leaks. Not tried it myself but it sounds like a good idea?

Jason

Hoses won't always respond the same way to internal pressure as they do to vacuum. A collapsed hose, for instance may prevent full vacuum where you want it but it will open under pressure!