Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Good afternoon all,

Hoping to find some indications of what could have gone wrong.

Here are the symptons:

Wanted to go for a little drive earlier so went to the car. Turn the ignition on and starter motor works but engine doesn't fire (nothing out of the unsual here it always takes 2 or 3 attempts to get it fired). Turn the igniton off and back on a couple more time with starter motor working. On last attempt and ever since, nothing, zilt, the starter motor don't turn, only a single click nose as if battery was dead. So I plug the booster on and same, nothing but that ONE click. Thinking that could be the starter motor stuck and having read that rocking the car back and forward could unstuck it I try and the car would not move one inch! Then i put the car in neutral and try move the car out of the garage and it wont move either, looks like it's stuck in gear but the gears are operating.

Any clue on what could be going on here?

Thanks.
Bruno

Do you press the clutch pedal when operating the starter ?

Can you roll the car with the clutch disengaged ?

Can you turn the engine with a socket on the front pulley bolt ?

Presuming you have an original type starter, one possibility is the bendix has jammed in the ring gear. You may need to loosen/remove the starter bolts to check, but the car should be free to move in neutral/clutch disengaged.

Typically the click is the starter solenoid operating, turn the headlights on and see what they do when you turn the key. If the lights are very dim check for a flat battery or bad earth, if they are bright then dim when you turn the key, the starter is trying to turn but can?t.
Try to turn the engine with a spanner on the crank pulley bolt, if it won?t turn, get someone to hold down the clutch and try again. If it still won?t turn, try to turn the starter with a spanner on the square shaft, if it?s jammed, try to turn it clockwise which is the opposite direction to normal and should unjam the bendix if it?s the problem. Once the starter shaft can be turned easily try the engine again, if it?s now free with the clutch depressed, you?ve pretty much tied it down to a gearbox fault.

I?ll leave to gearbox experts to advise on that.

I seem to remember a similar symptom from a poor earth so worth checking your engine earth strap and chassis earth.
Richard

Bruno,
i've had this happen before.
Run an extra wire from the Body of the Starter Solenoid to one of the Camcover Studs.
Try it, takes 5 minutes.
Alan

Tournesol wrote: .......
Then i put the car in neutral and try move the car out of the garage and it wont move either, looks like it's stuck in gear but the gears are operating.

Any clue on what could be going on here?

Thanks.
Bruno

If you really are getting it into neutral and it's still stuck, then mustn't it be something other than or as well as the starter?

I think you have several problems.
Car has been standing in damp area for a while and Brake Pads rusted to Disks.
Earths for Starter Solenoid need cleaning and Ignition System .
There's a good chance the Clutch will be rusted to Flywheel also.
Alan

Alan

I think you have several problems.
Car has been standing in damp area for a while and Brake Pads rusted to Disks.
Earths for Starter Solenoid need cleaning and Ignition System .
There's a good chance the Clutch will be rusted to Flywheel also.
Alan

Yes, I forgot the brakes seizing, put a jack under the rear and try to turn each wheel by hand. If successful raise just one wheel and with the gearbox in neutral try to turn that wheel, in theory the prop shaft should turn and turn the output shaft on the gearbox. If you can?t turn it get someone to depress the clutch and try again. Should help point to where the problem is.

If you can't turn the wheel then the Brake Pads are stuck to the Brake Disk
Alan

Thanks for help and advice. Car can roll, it was the brakes stuck indeed, and was able to rock it back and forward which unstuck the starter motor. Unfortunately the engine still dont want to catch. Starter motor is engaging now though. Ahhh well time for a trip down to the vet and see whats wrong.

Good news that you are making progress.

Whip out the plugs and give them a clean or replace them. They coke up very easily and can stop it starting even though it was fine the last time you drove it.

Good luck Rich,
have you managed to start it yet
Alan

If it's not been used for a while put some fresh fuel in. I had to do this with the Elan and my last Caterham after the winter lay up.

TonyR