The Lotus Grand Tourers

Have not used the Excel for a month or so since I covered it up just before it snowed.

That was until last weekend when I went to take her out for the weekend and discovered the drivers seat and steering wheel covered in some sort or dry grey fungus. Washed off okay but would still like to know what is causing it.

Excel is bone dry inside except for the condensation which builds up on the front and rear screens. This car seems to have always smelt of fungus no matter how mush cleaning of the leather I seem to do.

Anyone know of any chemical solutions to getting rid of this fungus problem once and for all?

Thanks,
Nick

I hate to say it, but condensation on the screens suggests that water is getting in somewhere.

I had huge problems with condensation a few weeks ago, then I sealed up the top of the rear window and it stopped.

To help it all along, the previous owner(s) probably left a nice layer of skin and keratin on the steering wheel and maybe had a touch of fungal jock-itch and a leaky pilonidal sinus to help coat the seat with nutrients.

Once you have a fungus it will give off trillions of air-born spores so it's likely to come back unless you do deep clean (and keep the interior dry).

A good upholstery cleaner should help in the meantime.

When theres an ugly growth with grey fungus on my seat and steering wheel the wife nags me to get a shave.
Bash

I placed a de humidifier (crystals in a plastic tub) in mine only a few quid from B&M in town they use them in caravans. I noticed mine was get a mold while it was in the garage. Seems to have worked.

amarshall wrote:I hate to say it, but condensation on the screens suggests that water is getting in somewhere.

I had huge problems with condensation a few weeks ago, then I sealed up the top of the rear window and it stopped.

What I would have thought but all floors pans are bone dry. I have also aimed a hose at this from every conceivable direction and can not find any water ingress anywhere.

Will try a small electric dehumidfier, see if that helps. Probably just don't use the car enough during the winter.

NickC wrote:

amarshall wrote:I hate to say it, but condensation on the screens suggests that water is getting in somewhere.

I had huge problems with condensation a few weeks ago, then I sealed up the top of the rear window and it stopped.

What I would have thought but all floors pans are bone dry. I have also aimed a hose at this from every conceivable direction and can not find any water ingress anywhere.

Will try a small electric dehumidfier, see if that helps. Probably just don't use the car enough during the winter.

With my rear window, the seal had gone at the top and moisture was accumulating inside the headlining.

It can also get under the rear seats through the mounting holes for the seat belts, when the brackets corrode - but that doesn't sound like your problem.

I did the same with the hose, couldnt find anything..

On a more constructive note after my previous post, when the cars in the garage I leave both front windows down about 10mm to keep some air circulation going.

Bash

I leave both windows fully down when mine's in the garage. It seems to be fine for dryness and no mould, but my Excel is used most weeks and the garage is built onto the house. With regard to rear window seals, when I was looking to buy an Excel I found several with small cracks in the black sealant around the top of the rear screen and drooping or damp headcloth in the rear, adjacent to the cracks. When I bought mine it had been garaged at Pat Thomas' Kelvedon garage and the headcloth had become mouldy at the front during storage - but it has never leaked water via front or rear screens, even when abroad for a week in heavy weather. I suspect that the fabric is very good at wicking any small leaks and absorbs humidity. Leather has plenty of nutrients in it to sustain mould growth but most leather foods and polishes should contain agents to help suppress mould growth - I use Gliptone and it seems to work fine.