Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Just discovered my gauge has no probe and tube (has obviously been cut off the gauge a long time ago). I have ordered a new unit but was wondering where exactly to route the tube and probe. Any help gratefully received!

Welcome. It is fasten in the front of the nose somewhere near the air box I think. The tube runs down the ledge of the fibre glass body that just above the chassis and under the carbs. I think it is fastened with screw on black plastic wire fasteners on my car.

(Presumably to avoid the weight & cost of another fastener) I believe that one of the filter box fixing bolts was used to secure the terminal bulb.
Gordon

A couple of pictures of the mounting for the sensor on my 73 plus 2S 130/5.

It mounts in a brass strip formed into a loop and retained by the top bolt of the support strut into the air cleaner body at the front

cheers
Rohan

Thank you all, this really helps. Do you have a picture of where the tube runs in the engine bay and out of which hole in the bulkhead it comes out of?

Mine came out through a hole big enough for the bulb to fit through and then with a rubber grommet to seal it on its own below the LH bonnet lock and followed the wiring loom down to the nose along the LH side. You can see it in the bottom RH corner of the attached photo

cheers
Rohan

My bulb was just behind the lower lip of the grille opening in the center. The bourdon tube was routed out the right side of the fire wall, even though the gauge is on the left side of the dash. Currently what remains of the bourdon tube is currently coiled up under the dash awaiting a proper repair.

My '70 +2 (Fed) has the same hole location and routing shown in Rohan's photo, seemingly original. The bulb was located in the nose, but simply clamped to the lower fiberglass behind the grill. I don't know if that location was original or not.

thee bulb was fixed just inside the radiator opening and clipped the base just under the lip I can take a photo if you would like me to regards david

A picture would really help. Thanks, Roy

Mine comes out of the same hole as the speedo cable, just below the offside bonnet catch then runs down to the body ledge on the inner wing under the carbs, passes under the radiator side bracket into the nose and is then cable tied to the air filter trunking until it gets to the bracket on the filter case as Rohan has described.

Robbie

Hi Roy here is a pic of the outside air temp probe this is the correct position as this car was sold by me when I was a dealer back in the day and is unmolested the clip is none original but fixed in the original position Kind regards David

Again, this really helps. Many thanks, Roy

DavidLB wrote:Hi Roy here is a pic of the outside air temp probe this is the correct position as this car was sold by me when I was a dealer back in the day and is unmolested the clip is none original but fixed in the original position Kind regards David

HI David
I am sure it was original at some time on some cars
So what model and what year ???? Lotus are notorious for un-documented changes, so more details are really needed. This site does a great job of teasing out all those variations where possible

cheers
Rohan

Hi Rohan October 1973 build.