Clarky5150

Quarterly check in. Been using the car a few days a week since the MOT. Running better than ever! Nothing really to report other than the headlight flash has become intermittent (relay I'm guessing as normal usage remains unaffected) and although still functioning the air con isn't cooling at 100% so will need a little top up. Had a nice little care package arrive from SJ that i forgot i had ordered (back order parts). Car now sports the nice Lotus design badges on the front wings, a lid to the fuse box and new caps for the cooling system. My main concern now is the nice lady along the road who has allowed me to use her garage over past Winters has evicted me for her grandson's work van. The Beetle currently resides in a garage in the locale which could take another 3 cars (but full of stuff) and sits on its own plot. The elderly Gentleman who owns the garage refuses to take payment for me using it but also wont entertain selling it.

Had a quick skim through eBay and with import duty and shipping we are looking at around £40 for 8 o-rings!!!! I think the baskets can probably be cleaned in the ultrasonic bath so if anyone can give the correct measurements of the o rings ill get a batch made up from a local supplier.

Thanks Derek, i knew you would have the correct name for the thing. I knew it wasn't the balance adjustment but struggled to put it into context. Put a couple of hundred miles on her since your lifesaving surgery and the engine is now running night and day better for them. Thanks again for the help.

Watch this space. I ordered the carbon two days ago. I’ll let you know the results 👍

No the factory set air mixture screw (adjusts the air gap around the throttle body butterflys when off throttle)I agree, 99% of the time it’s previous owners (or current in my case 😳) who have fiddled with it but this will be apparent with the AICV count (ie it will be low at full operating temp)

Not if the tickover is too high. The ecm will drop the IACV to zero counts and has no further adjustment to lower the tickover. It then has to be lowered with the screw to allow the ecm to control the IACV again. This shouldn’t need to be tampered with as is set at factory however bigger injectors have been introduced and always a possibility of previous fiddling with said screw.

The canisters can be cut open and the charcoal renewed but you would need a 3D printing pen or similar to plastic weld the case back together. Check and double check the breather pipes. I redid mine when i first got the car but within a year one was leaking again. Fingers crossed its not leaky tanks.

Mine was a combination of AICV and and a bad O2 sensor. Also check your throttle cable is either a) not adjusted too tight b) Not binding on anything. On the Freescan check your IAC count once the car is up to operating temp. I recall from a conversation with Sailorbob this should be reading around 45. Im sure he will give the correct figures here. This can be set with the screw underneath the secondary injectors. Also I have RC injectors and not a fan. If you still have the Rochesters try swapping back. Did you use new o rings and happy they are seated as an air leak can cause high/uneven idle.

Anyone here? If not anyone know the car? Seems cheap for a facelift dash model.

Thread hijack, apologies in advance.... How bizarre. I was literally just going to type an identical post. Postie dropped my new 15ltr bath off this morning. Mine however has the RC injectors installed. Does anyone know the correct o ring size for these please as i have a receipt from the p.o which states the Lotus service centre that fitted them upon request of him advised they were not happy that the o rings were the 'perfect' fit. C'mon Sailorbob this has got your amazing knowledge for detail written all over it!

After stripping, cleaning and lubing the rear camber adjusters last year i was aware that i was running too much negative camber at the rear. A new 4 wheel alignment carried out showed waaaay too much. Looked good with the race car stance but those new boots would have been scrubbed in no time. The difference with the alignment and new tyres is amazing. The geo took out the nervous steering and the car now has epic rear grip in the dry compared to before. The 'catch me if you can' oversteer has gone and the chassis is now very neutral. I can even force some understeer into tight roundabouts as those new Yokis grip like mad. Having put a new battery, fresh fuel and few hours driving in the engine has tuned up considerably. First test drive after the brake bleed and battery i was certain the intake pipe or the actuator had failed as there seemed to be a lack of power on boost. Had a good hour hoon on Friday evening (essential journey) and the car is flying.

New MOT this morning with only an advisory for a rigid brake line which ill swap this week. Treated the car to a set of nice sticky rubber for the rear. The old tyres still had 6mm of tread but had gone off over time so i though i may as well go for something that wears a bit quicker and still will probably never get near the wear markers before they expire. The Exige lads seem to like em.

I’d be interested too as mine isn’t at agreed however I would happily take current market value should the worst happen 👍

A great few days tinkering with Old Yeller. Full service including plugs, new front hard lines, brake pads, coolant swap and brake fluid change following the walkthrough to bleed the ABS system which it definitely needed. Special thanks to Sailorbob for pointing out the service notes are for a left hand drive so reverse everything! Brakes are now immeasurable better. Wheels cleaned inside and out ready for new tyres and MOT on Tuesday. Headlamp pods realigned. New braided hoses installed from swirl pot to expansion tank. New jacking points fabricated and bonded on. Clean polish and ceramic sealant. oh and I cooked a belting Chicken Madras for tea. Btw a large pair of long nose pliers makes a cracking replacement for a triple jointed midget.

Ill make sure i have my selection of implements handy. Its going to be a full day with coolant flush also so i best get a few bottles of tonic in

I can just feel it with my finger ends. Is this the 'outboard' nipple as described and is there a secret to doing it?

Is that the one underneath the relay array?

Following on from the success of taming the tick over Sunday will involve an annual service. Its also time to renew the brake fluid. I do get an intermittent ABS light blink to which i thought i would dedicate a few hours trying to resolve with a full bleed following the Delco Moraine walk through. I know the braking system on the S4 is unloved and leaves something to be desired but given the option i would rather keep its originality. Continual problems down the line may seek me to entertain an ABS delete but not at this stage. I might even take some pictures...

Good Job! Naughty Lust Blue. One of my fave colours. I bet that looks amazing on a Sunny day.

Hope its a Cerbera or Griff.....

Looks like the many perished hoses, gaskets and elbows that I replaced chasing down the high tickover would have solved it..... had I not also had a fiddle with the idle screw part way through replacing stuff.... I’ll get my coat. I know Barry, I know. NEVER TOUCH THE SCREW!!!

Tick over has been tamed. Big thanks to sailorbob for giving me an afternoon of his valuable time to nail down the offending issue. Turns out it ‘may’ have been self inflicted while trying to chase down other niggles. Either way tickover is now playing ball again so a steady list of jobs can commence with the target to be a return to the road for the full April unwind. Just a quick spin round the block brought a huge smile to my face 👍

Damn those brackets. I think the captive bolts may well have stripped in one of mine. I will definitely be in the market fir a pair of those if not all the brackets. The thought of removing that front assembly again tho reduces me to tears. What a pig of a job!

Hi. Really interested in these. Can you confirm regarding the diamonds which go in the pod area. Are these to affix the very corners of the front bumper which if not used cause the front corners of the bumper to sag? I removed and replaced the bumper getting a better alignment but the corners still look a little droopy and would like to get this sorted correctly come repaint time 👍

With the Larini and sports cat its just too loud at the moment. I'm wanting to work with a standard exhaust to try and find a better (for me) solution. I have other toys that make your fillings rattle and your ears bleed. I would like the Esprit to be a little more refined than currently.