Just picked up my S1 and it needs some TLC

[chrishill16]

Hi

Newbie here - I've just taken the plunge and bought myself an S1. I've had it looked at by a really helpful chap from SELOC and he's recommended that I get a suspension refurb/upgrade in the next 12 months. After driving it for a bit it feels as though I've got a more pressing issue with the gears though. I struggle to find 1st gear from stationary (unless I put it into 2nd first) and gear changes generally feel quite sloppy (2nd to third is pretty unreliable which makes driving in traffic a bit of a nightmare).

I think I'm going to go for the elise parts gear linkage upgrade to see if that helps, but I dont really know where to start. I live just around the corner from Pure Lotus (Harrogate) but I'm guessing they'll charge me an arm and a leg for doing the work. Is there anyone on the forum that does this sort of thing in their spare time? I'm more than happy to pay for anyone's time, but ideally I'd like to avoid taking it to a specialist to get the 'simple' stuff done! Not sure if its the done thing on here, but thought it was worth checking before taking it to a specialist.

Any help or advice is much appreciated!

Thanks

Chris

[Moggy]

Welcome on board. Do you have gear change problems all the time or only when it has been used fora while and well warmed through? If it is when warm then it'll more likely be the original clutch hose which was Red and most cars will have had it changed by now. The Elise parts gear linkage upgrade isn't a huge Job, Why not get Jay from pure Lotus have a quick look and give you a quote (he is a member on here)?

[Si_F]

Chris, where are you based? There are a number of people that can help depending on where you are.

Don't be to quick to splash money until you get someone to look over it as it may just need a little adjustment at the selector. The shift on most Elise's is pretty poor but can be improved upon, I think I've got the bushes that go in the k series gearbox on the shelf that you can have, they are of no use to me as my car is honda powered.

[chrishill16]

Welcome on board. Do you have gear change problems all the time or only when it has been used fora while and well warmed through? If it is when warm then it'll more likely be the original clutch hose which was Red and most cars will have had it changed by now. The Elise parts gear linkage upgrade isn't a huge Job, Why not get Jay from pure Lotus have a quick look and give you a quote (he is a member on here)?

I have gear change trouble most of the time. Earlier today I parked up for ten minutes after a 2 hour motorway run and it wouldn't go into 1st when I started it up again. Had to pull off in 2nd but I did manage to get it into 1st at the next set of lights. Very frustrating because its making it a nightmare to drive round town!

Edit: forgot to mention that the clutch hose has already been replaced.

[chrishill16]

Chris, where are you based? There are a number of people that can help depending on where you are.

Don't be to quick to splash money until you get someone to look over it as it may just need a little adjustment at the selector. The shift on most Elise's is pretty poor but can be improved upon, I think I've got the bushes that go in the k series gearbox on the shelf that you can have, they are of no use to me as my car is honda powered.

I'm based in Harrogate just round the corner from Pure Lotus. Thanks for offering me the bushes but I'm not sure what parts I need yet. If it turns out I need them I'll definitely take them off your hands It would be great if someone could look over it, not only from a cost perspective but because I'm also really keen to learn how everything works.

Thanks again

[Dennis]

I am sure someone in nyloc will have a spare box hiding behind all the vhpd engines

Seriously we are a helpful bunch and people will be happy to give advice, if you do not get it sorted quick and can make it pop to the buckles on club night and someone (possibly even a lotus trained tech) will offer assistance

[Bod]

Mine is doing the same thing! Just fitted the short shifter and that works a treat. Its just this first gear prob, its a pain in town, next job is to replace the clutch for a normal one (its got a race one in at the moment) and replace the worn gearbox/engine mount as it judders when setting off. Then I just want to use it for what its designed for.

[LEE71]

Welcome to the joys of S1 ownership. Its all worth it

Probs just needs a bleed and/or fluid change. Not the end of the world

[Dennis]

Mine is doing the same thing! Just fitted the short shifter and that works a treat. Its just this first gear prob, its a pain in town, next job is to replace the clutch for a normal one (its got a race one in at the moment) and replace the worn gearbox/engine mount as it judders when setting off. Then I just want to use it for what its designed for.

Are you sure it is the gearbox mount that has gone, the little round rubber ones on the tothere side may be the ones that have agone and they are only about £15 for the pair, I did mine yesterday

[softlips]

Bleed it first and see how it goes.

[Dennis]

I always have the brake fluid changed each year but last year when doing the service myself (with my mate) we did it and the fluid out of the clutch was black,clearly people had only been bleeding the brake lines and leaving the clutch fluid

[chrishill16]

Thanks for all the advice. I dropped it off at Pure Lotus a couple of days ago for a diagnostic on the gears. Turns out one of the cables needs replacing as its just about snapped! Get it back on Monday fingers crossed.

[pmyhill]

Hope they gave you a quote on pricing first as the gear cables are not cheap at over £200+vat each !!!

Be worth looking at these:-
http://www.eliseparts.com/products/show ... ar-cables/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;