100G - Engine F#$*€d - just about had enough!

[GordonMasson]

That's about the last straw.

On my way out to the LEGS breakfast club today and got a sudden crunching sound and lost power.

Dipped the clutch immediately but I am guessing it has dropped a valve.

Cam belt is fine.

Lotus had the car for 6 years. It was away for a year getting a full retrim and an engine out job at Lotusbits to get reshimmed new water pump new fuel tanks etc etc had it back one week and now this.

Currently sitting in a lay-by waiting for AA to come.

If it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all with that car.

Had enough!

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

That's serious bad luck, sorry to hear that. 

[Trevsked]

Deep breath and move forward.

Trevor.

[hopo]

Sorry to hear that Gordon... hope its not as catastrophic as first though....

[Nelly]

Hi Gordon,

 

Really sorry to hear your problem.  I know how you feel though, these cars do have a habbit of doing this to you and I for one have done many a "had enough" posts in the heat of the moment, but still have my car.

 

I am sure you will feel different once the dust has settled, you have probably the most special S1 and I know from reading your posts how proud you are of that.

 

Is there any comeback with what Lotusbits did on the engine?

Edited July 6, 2014 by Nelly9000

[iainskea]

I feel your pain mate

[yeller77]

Sorry to hear, Gordon. You've kept the faith more than many. It's a machine, it's fixable. Hopefully after the initial anguish passes it can all get sorted. You're just passing through another "hate" phase of the love-hate that a Lotus brings. Do keep us posted.

[GordonMasson]

Timing is definitely way out so don't know what has happened.

Looks like it is about 4 teeth out.

Car is heading off down south on a low loader back to lotusbits so it's just a wait and see job.

It's not so much the "hate phase" thing that's the issue, had plenty of the love / hate bit through the years and got to say it was loving the car for the short time it was back.

Problem is I have been haemorrhaging money with the respray, retrim, engine work etc etc ands gone way over budget....even in lotus terms and the prospect of another large bill......well best not go there.

[Nelly]

It was the amount of money I have spent on my car that deterred me from quitting - someone else getting the benefit of all the work.  I have still not had a summers use of my car and I have had it five years.  Just had to do the water pump for the third time following a failure - just some leaks to sort and I am back up and running.  Hopefully next weekend!

 

Talking of running, mine had little of that - three years off the road for respray & re-trim, plus another year lost on fuel tanks and overheating.  I think the lack of use catches up and maybe that hasn't helped.

 

Good luck and I hope it all works out.

[ramjet]

Hope it all works out Gordon.

[bingoking]

Hi Gordon,

I am gutted for you. It was good to see you leading us to SpeedFest last week in the car and it certainly appeared that the car didn't skip a beat. Do you have any kind of warranty with lotusbits for the work they did?

I don't know what else to say other than stick in there.

Brian

[Alex Carter]

Gutted for you mate , on the up side I've spent so much on my car now the misses considers it an investment and let's me keep going wonder if we will ever get to a million pound esprit lol

[GordonMasson]

I don't believe it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

What exactly have I done to deserve the wrath of the Lotus God!

 

I took the GT3 out last night and when I went to park it, guess what... no reverse gear...or 1st, 2nd or 5th. 

Drove it home with much slipping of the clutch and tying to judge when traffic lights were going to change, hoping it would be something simple like the cross gate linkage.

 

I was out for the evening but decided when I got back I wasn't going to get to sleep without getting under the car and finding out what was wrong, so at 1:30 am i found out that thankfully it is the cross gate linkage......YAY !!   

 

Please don't tell me "things come in threes"

[Bibs]

I've just seen the Octane piece mate, you'll be pleased as punch when you see it and hopefully all will be better in your world!

[GordonMasson]

Awesome.... I am off to try to find a copy then, Thanks Bibs!!

[Bibs]

It's not printed yet mate, this is a fact check copy I'm just going through. Will email it over.

[Bibs]

 

I wish!! 

[molemot]

If your cam timing is out, then the belt has slipped....too little tension (could be a tensioner failure) and/or the snubbers not spaced correctly from the belt. I've been there.....(!)

Edited July 8, 2014 by molemot

[hedgerley]

When is the Octane issue out Bibs? My two local newsagents, Tesco Metro, Asda and the garage have all stopped carrying it. It is a major expedition to find one these days.

 

Gordon - keep the faith. You've had that car for so long it would be a shame to let it go now.

[mikec2126]

That sucks Gordon, wondered on Sunday that you hadn't shown up.

Hope its a simple sort (and cheap) !!

 

Mike

[GavinT]

I'm thinking the same as John....timing belt jumped.

Best of luck Gordon. Keeping everything crossed it's relatively simple and inexpensive.

[GordonMasson]

Update.

 

GT3

So, looking on the bright side I now have 5 forward gears and even a reverse on the GT3 …. One of the ball joints on the cross gate pushrod had come apart so that’s been replaced and we are good to go.

 

S1

The damage is pretty bad. Apparently one of the cam buckets fractured and broke up and got caught under the cam causing it to lock and the belt to jump. Minimum £2,000 of damage.

Unfortunately nothing was apparent when the head was being shimmed 150 miles ago.

Now it’s a case of getting the engine out, stripping it down and seeing just how bad it is.

 

Well at least the GT3 is on the road again so I guess I should be thankful for small mercies.

[GordonMasson]

Lotusbits did the work but there were no issues when the top end was put back together.

They obviously inspected all the components but nothing suggested there was going to be a failure.

 

Perhaps a lesson to be learned to replace with new components wherever possible!

[GavinT]

That does sound way too coincidental. Mistakes can and do happen in re-assembly.

[andy b]

bet the shim was not in the spring retainer top of valve snug