The Lotus Grand Tourers

Just returned from a local car show and noticed the Excel making a peculiar ticking noise. Took off the bonnet and found the cambelt had a row of teeth missing.

I have only just recently had a new cambelt and tensioner fitted. Oh well, no damage, but it could have been expensive. I have no idea what could have caused it though. Is the Excel engine prone to this sitting up front unlike the Esprit or was it just chance?

I've not had nay issues on any of the ones I've owned, there was the belt failure on the very first Excel I owned but hat was a previous owner not changing the belt (Trapezoidal type).

Just checked up in my log book (I keep an entry for every journey and work) and found that the car has only completed 458 miles since the new round tooth Gates belt and tensioner bearing was fitted.

There is a line of 6 consecutive teeth missing!

I will take the opportunity to take the water pump out and send it off for new seals at the same time.

I'd suggest that one / both of the cams got stuck and that sprocket moved relative to the belt, shearing the teeth off.

Can I have the numbers for next weeks lottery please

Check the cam & crankshaft wheels for damage before you fit a new belt. I had a similar problem a few years ago and the teeth had become sharpened to the point where they could destroy belts.

No idea of the cause, but it happened shortly after a new belt was fitted - incorrect tensioning/tensioner fitting was suspected but never proven.

The only thing that I can think of was the other morning when starting the car the engine turned and seemed to go solid, like it was firing before t.d.c. and the engine tried to turn backwards against the starter. I will check everything before the belt is replaced and also check the timing as I had a feeling that it may be too far advanced for some reason. I still fail to believe that the belt had less than 500 miles on it. It was a high quality Gates belt but I am going to check with the supplier.

Lotto numbers;- 4, 7, 11, 41, 43 and as a bonus 26. Half you winnings please.

If it seemed to go solid on start-up , could you have had a hydraulic lock-up (water leak into a cylinder over night). Are you losing any water?

No, no water leak. I am sure that the mechanic told me that he had to advance the timing as it ran rough on idle, so I think that as the engine was cranking, the piston fired and tried to push the engine to run backwards stripping teeth off at the crank.

I have just removed the plugs and carefully turned the engine over with a spanner to t.d.c. and thankfully the cam pulleys line up. I cannot believe how lucky I was.

I will post pics of the 500 mile belt as soon as it is off.

snafu wrote: Lotto numbers;- 4, 7, 11, 41, 43 and as a bonus 26. Half you winnings please.

deal!

Just had to