Lotus Elite / Eclat / Excel

I've used a "Dis-carnect" for years. Just remove (and pocket) the thumbscrew from the battery terminal and the car is dead until you replace it.

I have found that selling (or, indeed, buying) a car on the internet can be fraught with danger. Twice in recent years, on attempting to sell cars, I have had to cope with at least two scammers for every genuine enquiry. My rule of thumb is that if the other party is reluctant to meet you, you are, ...

The toggle-type switch in my 87MY Excel looks unfinished. Should it have a knob on the end of it? S J sell these switches, but again, no knob!

If anyone in my neck of the woods is looking for a garage to work on their Excel, I can recommend Classic Car Solutions of Gibralter Farm, Luton. I used them for the first time this week. They are real enthusiasts and go the extra mile to give you what you want. They kept my car a few days to do a n...

The car I bought 16 years ago for £4750 is now probably worth at least £10000. Although I have never been reluctant to spend money on keeping it in good shape, its higher value now means it makes more financial sense to do so. If other owners feel similarly, the cars that are left must now have a be...

Yes, SJ Sportscars tell me that Protechs are repairable, IF you're prepared to wait and have the car off the road for an indeterminate period of time. I feel, in any case, my money would be better spent on a new set!

[quote]Have your Protechs leaked or are they knocking or just gone soft?[quote]

The knocking alerted me to the fact that something was amiss. On removal I find there is half an inch of free movement, i.e. undamped travel, on the offside unit.

The Protech rear dampers I had fitted five years/8000 miles ago now need replacing again. Not impressed! Hoping to find some Spax this time.

Nice looking job! An attractive alternative to an expensive respray!

Scared myself witless the other day when, driving enthusiastically, the throttle stuck wide open. Managed to bring the car to a halt; no damage done apart from smoking brake linings(!). Problem was not at the pedal end and when I looked under the bonnet the problem had resolved itself. However, ther...

Thanks, Angus, I'll make it a defniite booking!

This is quite near me so I may pop along anyway.

Thanks for the input, guys. I will probably bite the bullet and get a new tank; S J Sportscars have them available off the shelf.

No, I don't think it's that serious. The loss is not "total' as it remains in the second (overflow) chamber until, of course, that overflows as well! When I can be bothered I siphon what's in the second chamber back to the first, manually.

Interesting suggestion, Angus! However, the caps (on my model, anyway) are not interchangeable. The pressure cap is on the second (overflow) chamber.