Help!! Mysterious oil leak on S2 Elise

[type23ste]

Hi everyone.

I am currently in the process of renewing my subscription and gain access to the full site, but can't wait that long, so I'm on here for some help and advice.

I have an '03 Elise, and when I was changing the brake discs and pads the other day, I noticed there was a lot of oil on the top of the rear floor plan. Thing is - I think it has been leaking since before christmas, as thats when I noticed a large oil patch appear on the underside of the rear floor pan, at the back - between the exhausts. I dismissed this as I thought I'd driven over something. The engine oil level is fine, so I'm assuming its coming from the gearbox, but considering how long it has been leaking and the fact that I have been using my car daily, is it? The gearchange is as good as it ever was, and the miles I do are rarely 'leisurely', so is there anything else it could be?

To add insult to injury, the C service is overdue, the MOT is due, and since fitting new pads and discs my handbrake don't work!! I live in Stockton-on-Tees and would like to know of anyone fairly local (or even out of the area) who I can confidently take it to, who knows an elise inside out and who won't have my eyes out. After 6yrs of owning my elise, I've still yet to find someone who I am completely satisfied with to repair/service it.

Any help and advice anyone can give will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
Steve

[LEE71]

Welcome to the club, Steve. Another NE owner

Im not the most technically capable on here to answer Qs, however I do most of the servicing on my S1 myself. My suggestion is just wipe it away and keep an eye on levels.

As for places in this area for servicing. Dunno. People have different experiences. Closest 'specialist' is Falcon at Middlesbrough. Never used them but I think they're a bit pricey. Dan, ex of JPS has started out on his own in Blaydon and Tracktorque near York are well respected.

Sure someone else of a technical disposition will be along soon.

[Mark H]

Hi Steve,

I have used Falcon, they are really good, but expensive. As Lee has said above, Dan Jude has set up on his own: http://www.spsautomotive.co.uk/ he is based near Consett.

There is no-one on your doorstep, but also worth knowing about are:

Pure Lotus - http://purelotusservicecentre.co.uk/index.html based near Wetherby and I have used them for my last service and MOT
Track Torque - http://www.tracktorque.co.uk/ based between York and Wetherby and I have used them for my geo set up. They also have a courtesy car while yours is getting serviced
Revline - http://www.revline.co.uk/ based in Whitley Bay. Not used them myself, but they get good reviews and certainly seem great value for money

If you fancy a chat, a few of us will be at Lordstones cafe tonight (top of carlton bank).

[stripey_si]

Im not the most technically capable ....

[type23ste]

Thanks for the info fella's. I think I'll go an clean it all up and see if I can see where it's coming from - but how can I check the gearbox level?

As for the garages I've used:
I always took it to JCT as I'd bought it new from them and had the 2 yrs warranty, but everytime I got it home, they had done something wrong and I had to travel all the way back to leeds to get it put right.
Then I moved on to Falcon. They are pretty expensive, but very good - and they really look after your car. But, I kept taking it to them with a water leak (over a period of servicing, MOT and other stuff) and they found nothing - telling me to just keep an eye on it and keep topping up the header. This resulted in the head gasket blowing very badly costing me a shit load. From then on I thought I'd best stick to Lotus specialists.
Finally, last year I took it to JPS for an A service and they were terrible! It was badly mis-firing - yet when I collected the car after the service, the guy (young lad) said he couldn't find anything wrong. When I said 'did u take it for a blast?', he hesitated and said 'err, yes'. As I drove it away it was mis-firing. He'd only charged me for the service though so I decided not to take it straight back and go fix it myself - which I did.
I just want someone to look after my car without any of the grief. There must be someone out there.

Sorry I missed you at Lordstones caf, Mark - didn't read the thread till this (fri) morning. If you can let me kno when your next out, I'll tag along if you don't mind. Car permitting.

Steve

[SkipperMac]

Steve, there's a great cafe in Thorpe Arch Industrial Park, and while you're there Jay and Danny at Pure Lotus will happily look after your car for you! I've never taken my Elise anywhere else so can't compare them, but I can say that I can't imagine anyone else looking after your car better and they certainly haven't charged me a fortune for any of the work they've done.
I'm off down there in about 5 mins for a late breakfast ... and a full set of Gaz suspension while I eat

[Matt R]

Finally, last year I took it to JPS for an A service and they were terrible....... so I decided not to take it straight back and go fix it myself - which I did.

Good move, you got off lightly from mine and others experience of that particular JPS employee

Dan Jude has set up on his own: http://www.spsautomotive.co.uk/

I'd use Dan if I was up there

[LEE71]

Im not the most technically capable ....

Actually this is my Stripey learned mechanical advice:


My suggestion is just wipe it away and keep an eye on levels.

AND I actually use mine and dont just wash it Mines still covered in flies from Snett and will be back out tommorow.





[Bowler Hat]

[A7ESK]

Hi everyone.

I am currently in the process of renewing my subscription and gain access to the full site, but can't wait that long, so I'm on here for some help and advice.

I have an '03 Elise, and when I was changing the brake discs and pads the other day, I noticed there was a lot of oil on the top of the rear floor plan. Thing is - I think it has been leaking since before christmas, as thats when I noticed a large oil patch appear on the underside of the rear floor pan, at the back - between the exhausts. I dismissed this as I thought I'd driven over something. The engine oil level is fine, so I'm assuming its coming from the gearbox, but considering how long it has been leaking and the fact that I have been using my car daily, is it? The gearchange is as good as it ever was, and the miles I do are rarely 'leisurely', so is there anything else it could be?

To add insult to injury, the C service is overdue, the MOT is due, and since fitting new pads and discs my handbrake don't work!! I live in Stockton-on-Tees and would like to know of anyone fairly local (or even out of the area) who I can confidently take it to, who knows an elise inside out and who won't have my eyes out. After 6yrs of owning my elise, I've still yet to find someone who I am completely satisfied with to repair/service it.

Any help and advice anyone can give will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
Steve

Hi Steve had the same fault have a look at the gear linkage their is a plastic plug which a rubber cover is attached to the rod goes backwards and forward from the gear box this may have pulled out a little,
And the gear box oil will leak out also have a look at the rubber cover may have a hole in it pull the rubber cover away and pack the insides with grease then replace in back on the plastic insert.
This has stopped mine from leaking on the tray .

Eddie king LDC.