Lotus Elite / Eclat / Excel

Ever since I have had my Excel, I have had to top up the coolant regularly. It seems that when the coolant expands with the heat, some is transferred, as it should, from the first chamber of the header tank to the second chamber. However, it does not return, as it should, to the first chamber when i...

[quote="bash"]I presume you've tried the old fashioned quick fix, twatting it with a two pound vernier adjusting tool ?/quote]

Yes, of course, that's worth remembering! It could get me out of trouble if I find myself stranded.

Thanks, Angus. That's just the steer I needed!

This morning I went to start my SA, it started to turn over but came to an abrupt halt - the starter's jammed! Unfortunately, being an auto I can't "rock" it free. I can get the breakdown service in who will free it for me - until the next time! Has anyone replaced a starter motor recently? Are they...

I have seen a black Excel with the golď JPS lettering and coachlines. I just can't remember where!

Rust in the tank? Blocked fuel filter? Broken throttle return xpring?

I have been following this thread with interest. Having owned my Excel for only 15 years, I had not twigged that there was a battery warning light in addition to the voltmeter - it has never worked! I had wondered about the "lazy" voltmeter when starting off in the morning but it was no hardship to ...

I'm none too impressed wirh the Mann fuel filter replacement element. The one I received had a malformed seal! After struggling to fit it satisfactorily, I found a pool of petrol on the garage floor, and I believe I may have deposited half a gallon along the A6. ( I eventually re-fitted the old seal...

Ah, that's where they went wrong!

MOT pass today. Emissions given:

CO - 0.004
HC - 20

Too good to be credible?

A young passenger of mine has said she can hear a high- pitched metallic graunching noise at motorway speeds from the rear. ( It is outside my - rather elderly - hearing range). Could this be wheel bearings (I've not yet re-greased these)? Any other suggestions?

It's a '78 so I'd be concerned about the chassis.

Important update : Halfords have changed the design and/or supplier of the HOF202 filter which I have used for the last 4 years (after they originally looked it up on their computer system as their recommended type). The thread of the revised design is more recessed away from the seal face and it w...

Auto mpg on a run is around 30 in my experience. In town, it will drop to around 20. Overall, I get around 24/25.

Unwrapped Santa's present of a Lotus calendar this morning. As usual, a very profesional looking product. However, there must have been a shortage of submissions for the calendar this year; three of the twelve pictures feature the same car and one picture is a carry over from the previous year.