The Lotus Grand Tourers

After trouble free running since i bought the car in September/November (coh thats flown) i finally need a new bit.
My door latch is worn and works occassionally and occassionally doesnt.
Im baffled by the various parts that come up when you search for door on the various specialists.
Anyway, i need a new one of these.


Do they come from a donor car? What car?

Cheers, Ben.

It's a modified Triumph part.

Before you give up on it - I had the same problem with mine soon after I bought it. I undid the four bolts and eased the catch out a bit then used WD40 followed by 3 in 1 oil on the rods and connections just behind the catch. It has worked perfectly ever since. The oil may drop down onto the door light - I think I removed mine while I was doing it. Watch out as there are spacers behind some of the bolts that may drop out - but its not too hard to get it back together.

Might not work for you if the catch is really worn out but possibly worth a try.

Mark.

My dad had the mechanism apart and told me it was warn. I didnt see it but i trust his word. I think i need a new one.
No idea how it has worn so quickly!

Where can i source another?

Benbay001 wrote: No idea how it has worn so quickly!

They are only guaranteed for 28 years. I see your model is a 1986, so 29 years is just out of warranty -

Benbay001 wrote:Where can i source another?

Southwest lotus may have one near you - else LB for definite.

Rimmer Brothers is also a good source of Triumph parts - but you'll have to do a bit of work on anything they supply.

I have obtained used catches from Lotusbits. Trouble is, they can be nearly as worn as the one you want to replace!

When you say the catch works occassionally - do you mean the central locking?
I had a problem with my central locking where it would lock/unlock/lock/unlock... for ever.
It just needed a good clean and some oil, and has worked perfectly ever since.

Mine is manual locking.
No idea what is wrong with it, my dad literally did all of it. Conclusion "you need a new latch".
Lotus bits dont have an online shop do they? Do i need to phone and buy?

Benbay001 wrote:Mine is manual locking.
No idea what is wrong with it, my dad literally did all of it. Conclusion "you need a new latch".
Lotus bits dont have an online shop do they? Do i need to phone and buy?

Someone's disabled or removed your central locking mech. That hints at lock problems in the past.

Best way to deal with Lotusbits is always by phone. They get so many emails per day that they can't handle them all in between working on cars and answering the phone.

You saying my car should have central locking? :-/

I was under the impression that all Excels had central locking, but you can check easily enough - the actuators are down towards the bottom of the door under a large oval cover. If they're not present, but the wiring loom plug is, then they've been removed. Equally, you can look for the extra rods and pivot lever which connects between the actuator and the latch/handle mechanism.

Spoke to my dad earlier, he was adament there were no electrics running through the door that would have been for CL.