Gray14 Posted May 2 Report Share Posted May 2 Out for a drive today and the driver's side headlamp starts going up and down continuously. The lights were off, think I had just indicated, maybe flashed when it started and it continued even after parking up with the engine turned off. Good job I have a battery isolator fitted. Restarting, sometimes it stopped for a while, then started happening again. Has part of the headlamp mechanism failed? TIA G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXCEL V8 Posted May 2 Report Share Posted May 2 Sounds like a problem with the relays or the contacts in the motors themselves. I'd start by replacing the relays - easiest part first! Pete 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exeterjeep Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 I had something similar many years ago on elite s2, it happened overnight, burnt the wiring out. Was not the motor but seemed to be water getting into the wiring in the rh pod where the wiring was almost under water. Had it been raining? Had to have an auto electrical garage replace part of the engine bay loom. (Lotus dealer just wanted to change the motor, but I had already tried that.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave excell Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 I had the problem with my 1984 Excel. It was caused by the fact that there is no relay fitted and the headlight switch takes the full current. If a higher wattage bulb is used, the switch overheats and gives up. Cured by fitting a relay so the swith only carries the relay current. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambo Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 This is a common problem with the M100. It is usually due to the motor gear bushes having disintegrated (basically 3 small plastic rods that have disintegrated after 30+ years of use) I'm guessing it could maybe be the same in your Excel? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Escape Posted May 3 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 3 It's the Stevens Esprit that uses the same motors, with the failing plastic rods) as the M100, the (late) Elite/Eclat and Excel use some Toyota stuff that's quite different. I prefer the Esprit/M100 system, it might need a rebuild from time to time but is easier to access/adjust and seems less troublesome. Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXCEL V8 Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 The Eclat Series 2 is on TR7 motors don't forget! Pete 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drawfiler Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 If you have those electric motors that look like wiper motors, the limit switches in the motor gearbox can play up so have a look at those. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray14 Posted May 3 Author Report Share Posted May 3 Whereabouts are the headlamp motor relays located on the 2.2s? Not covered in my manuals. TIA G 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Benco Posted May 3 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 3 Hi, my relays are in the drivers side pod. 2 1 Quote Ongoing restoration photos on the Dropbox link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painterdave Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 I've had this when the excel had a low battery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Escape Posted May 4 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 4 20 hours ago, EXCEL V8 said: The Eclat Series 2 is on TR7 motors don't forget! Pete Right, I forgot about those! I thought they went from vacuum operated to Toyota motors. I should check if the early/Eclat Excel has TR7 or Toyota motors. 1 Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunc Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 narrow body excel is on TR7 (Lucas) motors and wheelboxes. TVR wedge also use them and have published an excellent user guide online. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray14 Posted May 9 Author Report Share Posted May 9 Returned home and it had stopped, but pod was not sitting fully home, slightly proud. Had a look at it the following day and it was sitting back as it should. Very strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painterdave Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 Sometimes electrical things on my excel tend to fix them self 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Escape Posted May 10 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 10 As @Drawfiler said, probably a bad contact in the limit switch, possibly due to moisture. 1 Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray14 Posted May 10 Author Report Share Posted May 10 Spoke too soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Escape Posted May 10 Gold FFM Report Share Posted May 10 2 hours ago, Gray14 said: Spoke too soon It's back to moving continuously? Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray14 Posted June 4 Author Report Share Posted June 4 Ok so I've found this only happens when I, usually mistakenly, activate the headlamp flasher. When I use the main or dipped beam they raise and lower correctly. I think that indicates the motor and it's relays are ok. Is the headlamp flasher relay located in the driver's side pod as well? Or could it be the switch? Many TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 The flasher relay is in the drivers side footwell Had a similar problem with mine ...one of many problems I have had with the Lucas motors! Every time I threaten them with MX5 motors they start behaving again😂 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 Just also check the main earth connection from front wiring to chassis. I had very odd headlight pod behaviour in my Esprit that was due to this! 1 1 Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray14 Posted June 8 Author Report Share Posted June 8 Thanks everyone for the replies. Paul, I had a look in the driver's footwell and found these relays. The wiring doesn't match the colours in the wiring diagram in my manual, but I'll have a 2nd look as someone on the Excel Forum has also said the headlamp flash relays are located here. I matched the wiring to one relay, the orange one which is for the Radiator Fan, no idea what the strange looking one on the right is, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painterdave Posted June 8 Report Share Posted June 8 That white one look as if it gets a bit hot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbharcourt Posted June 9 Report Share Posted June 9 Looking at mine the silver one should be the flasher relay. The white one you have is different to mine but is possibly the intermittent wiper relay. I have written on each of my relays in indelible pen or tipex what they are for future reference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray14 Posted June 9 Author Report Share Posted June 9 Thanks Paul, I'll check that out. I think the big white one on the right is the radiator Fan Fail Module, as I just noticed the wire colours match this in the circuit diagram. I'm having doubts about what the orange relay is. Will check and report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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