Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi, Can anyone tell me or even better e-mail me a photograph showing the installation of the switch that turns on the bonnet lights on a +2 ?
I have the lights in the bonnet and all the wiring in place, but do not know about the switch location.

Many Thanks,

Nick 1969 2+2S

The switch in my 73 +2S 130/5 is fitted to the vertical front lip of the bonnet about one third of the width in from the left hand side. It is a small push plunger type switch pop riveted to a hole in the lip. When the bonnet is closed the vertical lip on the body pushes the switch plunger in turning of the light.

The wires to the switch come up from the wiring loom in front of the radiator and then run from the switch up to light on the rear lip of the bonnet

Hard to get to to take a photo of but I can if it helps. If it was fitted on your car the hole to locate it should still be their.

I fitted a small aluminium plate where the switch plunger contacts the lip on the body in front of the body as over the years it had started to grind a groove.

Rohan

Hi Rohan,

Thanks for the reply.

Is the switch mounted to the bonnet or the body of the car ?

Pretty sure by you mail that it is the bonnet which makes it easier to fit. Would you have an idea what diameter and length the switch is ? Is it a Lotus part ?

Many Thanks,

Nick.

The switch was mounted to the bonnet from the rear of the front lip with the plunger protruding though the bonnet lip and running on the front lip of the body. I assume my installation is as it was originally but that does not mean yours was not different. Its only luck if Lotus built the detail like this the same in any 2 cars !!

It is a relatively common door switch style with a plastic plunger that can be pushed almost flush with the mounting. Dont know its orginal source but it similar to what I have seen on Leyland cars of the era.I dont have a plus 2 parts number so I dont kow its original Lotus number but the usual suppliers should know what it is.

Rohan

As a confirmation..
I was looking at mine last night (It doesn't work at the moment)..
Mine is in the same position..
On a similar note however.
What sort of lamp was used under the bonnet, and where was it placed?
I have a lamp holder installed under the front lip of the bonnet.
The lamp holder seems to take a bayonet style lamp with two contacts on the rear.
The lamp holder it self is made of a sort of plastic/rubber compound
Cheers
Tim

Thanks for the reply Rohan and Tim. I will go and have a play tonight.

Tim - the lights themselves in my car are the same as the white ones in the doors. (the oval ones).

They are mounted on either side of the engie bay, 1 near the servo and one by the brake fluid cap. Let me know if you would like a photograph.

Regards,

Nick.

Tim

My lamp is like yours - a rubber holder under the lip of the bonnet nearest the windscreen

The earlier cars had the lamps on the body by the sound of it

Nick
If you lights are mounted on the body and not the bonnet then maybe the swirth was also reversed and mounted on the body

Rohan

Rohan,
What sort of lamp is fitted in the holder (I don't have one to work off as a reference and the one Paul Matty supplied me was probably the one for the white holders)
Cheers
Tim

Tim

I have posted a couple of photos of the globe and holder in the "Rohans Elans" photo gallery.

The globe has 2 terminals on the base to match the contacts in the rubber holder. The base of the globe is 15.0 mm diameter and it is a baonnet (spelling?) style mount.

I cant make out any makings on the globe but it appears to be about a 10 or 15 Watt rating.

Rohan

Tim,

Agree with Rohan. The bulb in mine is 15mm in dia, bayonet fit and has 2 contacts on the base. The wattage on mine is 10w.

The whole thing works fine apart from when I take the bonnet off and have to disconnect the bullet connectors. The car side of the connectors are live all the time and are very close together. Has blown a few fuses.

Regards,

Hamish.

Hamish

I rewired my connectors to the bonnet switch using a female bullet connector on the live chassis side and a male connector on the earth chassis side ( and naturally the reverse on the bonnet side to match).

Now the two cant accidently touch or the live touch the chassis when removing the bonnet.

Rohan

Hi Chaps,

I now have under bonnet lighting !

Thanks very much for the comments on the site.

Hamish - Please could you e-mail me the information that you have for the fuel venting system modification as this will be my next project for these cold nights !!! ([email protected])

Thanks again,

Nick.

Amazing! Under bonnet lighting, really? I didn't even know, I'll have to add that to the list of electrics not working, daunting, as I'm crap at electrics.

- Under bonnet light not working
- interior courtesy light x 2 not working
- map reading light not working (where's the switch!?!?!)
- boot light not working
- Only one fog lamp working
- horn not working

Oh well, never mind, it's not coming out until spring anyway.


Thor

Thor

Switch is built into the base of the light - unfold it and it should turn on.

Same light used as rear passenger light in my Series 3 Jag XJ6

Rohan

Thor,

Do you have the battery connected ?? !!!

Regards,

Nick