Harnesses :)

[Neal H]

I had to take my car in to get my dead instruments (that's another story) looked at today so a 100 mile round trip in cold, wet weather on wet greasy roads. I decided to use my recently installed harnesses, and WOW what a difference it makes to the way you feel in the car. You're nicely clamped in place and seem to have a much better feel for the car, the whole car just seems to feel more intimate

Despite the awful weather, the wet greasy roads and no working instruments, I arrived home grinning from ear to ear and was tempted to just keep driving. The car is amazing in these conditions, it just seems to grip and go - it really inspires confidence (I stayed in Tour mode just in case!). Very different from the various Elise's I've owned over the years.

I've also noticed that now it has a few thousand miles on the clock, the exhaust note has definitely become noisier (in a good way), and even in Tour it sounded suitably snarly as I pressed on.

After I put it back in the garage, I stood looking at it quietly ticking away to itself, dripping wet and covered in filth and just thought that car is unbelievably good!

Well done Lotus. Now, please fix my instruments

[Arun_D]

Neal's got a crush, I think!

I was pleasantly surprised with the usability now I'm 'forced' to use harnesses all the time in the Cup. Although I had them in my S2, I also had the inertia reels so always chose the latter on the road. But yes, they do make the drive more of an 'event', and are really only a major pain when I want to crank the heating up.

You'll have to let us know what your pre-Spa trackday plan is.

[Neal H]

Hi Arun,

If it had been Valentines day I'd have bought it flowers

I have the inertia belts as well so I can choose which to use, but if I take the car out just for a 'drive', I'll be using the harnesses.

I'll PM you on my pre-Spa plan.

Neal.

[Gashead1105]

What setup are you using for the harnesses Neal, presumably you got a harness bar installed that must be very similar to the S2 one? Who did it for you?

[Neal H]

Hi Will,

The work was done by Allon White's in Cranfield near Milton Keynes. The Schroeth harnesses plus bar were all supplied by Lotus Motorsport. I chose Allon White's because they were re-trimming the seats for me so it seemed the ideal time while they had the seats out.

Neal.

[Gashead1105]

3 minutes ago, Neal H said:

Hi Will,

The work was done by Allon White's in Cranfield near Milton Keynes. The Schroeth harnesses plus bar were all supplied by Lotus Motorsport. I chose Allon White's because they were re-trimming the seats for me so it seemed the ideal time while they had the seats out.

Neal.

Cool, thanks Neal.

[NW76]

Neal, you just made me want a harness as well ;-) ... if the installation wouldnt be such a pain ...

[Kalli]

Neal - what kind of price for the full set up? Bar and harnesses? Have you kept the inertia belts too?

[Neal H]

Hi Tom,

I's hard to say because installing the harnesses was part of a bigger retrim job which involved taking the seats out anyway, but off the top of my head I think the parts, labour and VAT for the harnesses came to about £850. I'll dig the invoice out when I get home which should show the parts prices. I have been able to retain the inertia belts in the car as well.

One thing I am wondering about though is whether I'm going to get a warning light or buzzer on all the time to say the seat belt isn't engaged when I'm wearing the harnesses. I don't know about this because right after the harness install my entire instrument pack failed and is waiting to be replaced under warranty.

Neal.

[Bibs]

You can buy a dummy clip for a couple of quid off ebay  

[Neal H]

9 minutes ago, Bibs said:

You can buy a dummy clip for a couple of quid off ebay  

Good tip, thanks Bibs. I just had a quick look and there's a whole load of "alarm eliminator" buckles available so that seems a nice quick and simple solution.

[LotusPilot]

An even easier (no-cost) solution is to simply disconnect one (of the two) small bullet connectors that are under the rear of the drivers seat - easily accessible with the seat pushed forwards on its runners.

The seat belt warning circuit is "open circuit" with the seat belt tab in the buckle.  Breaking the circuit at the bullet connector has the same effect as buckling the seat belt - and is just as easily reversible by simply reconnecting the bullet connector.

This was discovered when my dash seat belt warning apparently stopped working.  One of the bullet connectors, on its short connecting cable, had simply worked its way loose - and had disconnected itself when the seat was moved forward on its runners.  Having identified the cable, the fix took about ten seconds.

Edited February 21, 2016 by LotusPilot

[Arun_D]

As Derek says really. This is what I did when I used to run both harnesses and inertia reels in my S2, and is probably exactly what they do at the dealership at PDI when the intertia reels are ditched in favour of the harnesses in my Cup. 

[alias23]

On 17 February 2016 at 18:44, NW76 said:

Neal, you just made me want a harness as well ;-) ... if the installation wouldnt be such a pain ...

The installation isn't too bad if you go for the V-Force bar from Sector111 also supplied by Seriously Lotus here in the UK. This is a straight fitting bar which requires no cutting or removal of any interior parts, covers, or speakers. 

With the seats removed (can be done by just removing one seat if you wanted) its a 15minute two bolt job. I've been super chuffed with mine

Removing seats just takes a bit of care and time. The only challenge I had was retaining my inertia belt with the lap belts of the harness, if you want to retain both belts you need to shave down the washers used for the lap belt bolts to make enough room for the harness mounts to slide onto the bolt. If that makes sense...

As per LotusPilot note easy to remove the belt warning light by pulling the two bullett connectors and securing them safe unplugged.

[Hangar 111]

16 hours ago, alias23 said:

The installation isn't too bad if you go for the V-Force bar from Sector111 also supplied by Seriously Lotus here in the UK. This is a straight fitting bar which requires no cutting or removal of any interior parts, covers, or speakers.

That looks a bit sketchy to me, just to save having to trim the rear panel.

Dave

[alias23]

1 hour ago, Hangar 111 said:

That looks a bit sketchy to me, just to save having to trim the rear panel.

Dave

What makes you think that Dave? It secures into the main seat belt points...

[Hangar 111]

43 minutes ago, alias23 said:

What makes you think that Dave? It secures into the main seat belt points...

It just looks complex having to add the anti-rotation bit and lower the height of the bar.  The loadings on those outer "ears" might get a bit fruity in an accident, but its probably safe enough.  If it were me, I'd suffer an extra couple of hours to fit a straight bar into the harness mounts on the roll bar.  Just my opinion however.

Dave

[Gashead1105]

1 hour ago, Hangar 111 said:

It just looks complex having to add the anti-rotation bit and lower the height of the bar.  The loadings on those outer "ears" might get a bit fruity in an accident, but its probably safe enough.  If it were me, I'd suffer an extra couple of hours to fit a straight bar into the harness mounts on the roll bar.  Just my opinion however.

Dave

Dave, what's your thoughts on the warranty impact? I'd have you fitting them already but I don't want to risk a warranty claim being declined on the basis that harnesses suggest I've been caning the car every month on track (which is not the case!!)

[Hangar 111]

1 hour ago, Gashead1105 said:

Dave, what's your thoughts on the warranty impact? I'd have you fitting them already but I don't want to risk a warranty claim being declined on the basis that harnesses suggest I've been caning the car every month on track (which is not the case!!)

Hi Will.  Give us a call to discuss this...

Dave

[Gashead1105]

58 minutes ago, Hangar 111 said:

Hi Will.  Give us a call to discuss this...

Dave

Will do...

[Bibs]

Lotus are very cool in respect of this, I wouldn't be worried about the warranty if a harness bar is fitted. 

[Neal H]

On 21/02/2016 at 20:55, alias23 said:

As per LotusPilot note easy to remove the belt warning light by pulling the two bullett connectors and securing them safe unplugged.

These are the connectors under my drivers seat. Is it the two connectors covered in the clear blue plastic that need disconnecting? My car also has heated seats so i don't want to pull the wrong thing.

[Arun_D]

It'll be one of the pair of clear plastic bullet connectors.

[LotusPilot]

Strictly speaking, you only need to disconnect one of the two plastic-sleeved bullet connectors.  Doing so prevents the disconnected flylead finding itself "disappearing" somewhere that it shouldn't.

[Neal H]

Thanks chaps