003a

Thanks good idea. Just checked CarVertical and .gov.uk for that plate and both confirm the V6 FPB plate isn't a valid plate. Also checked the previous owners paperwork which confirms it was the same vehicle as the invoice was from Sratton Motor Company on the current plate AU09 AKK.

@jep, will try to look some out. @mcdonaa, yes years ahead of the Lamborghini Sterrato @Rambo, yes you guessed it but have pulled out the throttle body, given it a good clean and the idle has dropped to normal levels, codes cleared and it's now driving well without the codes coming back. Will need to monitor. I have had a low level oil leak from somewhere for some time, not enough to cause concern but when I got the throttle body off there was clear evidence of oil in the supercharger so suspect that may be the source but at a loss at the moment to understand why it's getting in there - more work needed I think. @21gg, yes I believe so - I think it's the same one that @JayEmm reviewed in this video https://youtu.be/pvrl7UdrqEo?si=OLNXm081dpAf5iqf but the number plate is different (V6 FPB vs AU09 AKK - it doesn't look like a trade plate so note sure. I wonder If @JayEmm can remember? Interesting you note it as a GTE engine as, despite finding the engine number, I've not been able to definitively confirm which model the engine is.

Hi all, Bit (very!) late to the party but my son and I have AU09 AKK which was the first registered one I think and also the main press launch car (affectionally called Hero by the chaps at Lotus since it worked so hard apparently) https://youtu.be/ZHcLP0wvENQ?si=XIjMd2cULJ7hDCp - Top Gear https://youtu.be/r6Bi5wb45sk?si=7Xer0MRCUwX7ZdTZ - Fifth Gear Plus also in a few magazines. It's a little bit different to when it had it's original engine (003a) which got destroyed by the press. It sat in Lotus for a while before they sold it to Stratton Motorsport who fitted one of their test engines so currently pushing 393 bhp (sub 3 sec 0-60 and 173 mph top speed - from dyno not open road ! ). Interior was red but now black (although red remains under the current black) and much of the interior was ripped out (door cards, rear seats, side panels, most of the dash) and replaced with carbon, including a carbon roof and carbon wing. Exhaust was also Stratton manufactured but my son wanted the Plack (came with the car when we bought it) fitted - bit too 'lairy' for my liking but it turns heads and I drive it as quietly as I can in built up areas. Currently off the road due to throttle body engine codes but hoping a good clean will sort that out this weekend. Let me know if you need any further detail from the car. One of my favourite photos of the car:

So I have found the engine number - it's clearly not the original engine (003a). It's not easy to read the photos I managed to take but it looks like J418811XJC5E. Does anyone know how to relate an engine number to an engine model?

There's a couple of local exhaust specialists so will speak to them to see costs of a custom downpipe. Would still be good to find the engine number. Maybe next time I get the tray off I'll have a more detailed look. Thanks for the help/suggestions.

Yes that's the point 🙂 @21gg, I'd like to retain the Swindon, the Plack will be temporary. Does anyone know where the engine number is? - I can then check which model this is and which manifolds it normally has.

@21gg, yes I believe you're correct they just got the engine in a crate, but without finding the engine number on the installed unit I can't confirm whether it matches the original engine number (003a) or was a replacement. Intention here is only to remove the Swindon exhaust (single unit) and replace with the Plack but since Plack is only from the downpipes forward I need to identify the model of the engine to ensure when buying downpipes that they are the right model. So replacing one piece exhaust (Swindon unit which includes downpipes) with two part exhaust; Plack end - which I have and downpipes, which I need to buy.

@21gg, the exhaust and downpipe are all one unit, the flange that would be at the midpoint in a standard exhaust is the braided flex joint you can just see behind the cross member. The Plack would fit on the end of the normal mid flange. The exhaust is also Swindon - you can just see the identifying plate on the pipework that goes into the silencer, lefthand side of the third picture down. @Bruss, it's a Swindon engine but I can't identify which model the donor engine was from - and not being able to find an engine number makes it more difficult - the Evora manual shows the position of a normal engine number plate but I can't find similar on this engine (or I'm looking in the wrong place)

Hi, This may seem an odd post but I don't know what engine I have in my Evora. Long story short it's the press launch car and the 'original engine' may have either been upgraded or replaced when purchased by Stratton Motorsport (original engine having been blown whilst being driven by the 'press' alledgedly). Stratton don't have a record of the engine and all I have to go on is a video from JayEmm when it was for sale. I have a Plack to fit but the current exhaust is a Stratton manufactured one, a single unit and the downpipes joints are not at the same angle as what the original engine would be based on what I've found in the parts catalogue. So I have the Plack but no idea which middle assembly (ringed in red) I would need to buy. I can't locate the engine number so struggling to even use that to identify what the engine is. I have uploaded some photos in the hope they'll be of some help to someone more knowledgeable. Any assistance gratefully received.

So after a bit of further investigation.... I was just preparing to remove the starter motor and carry out a DIY refurb when I noticed that one of the solenoid connectors seemed loose. Removed it and put it back on, made sure it had a solid connection and it now starts without fail. I'm going to have to monitor over the next few days but if the resolution was as simple as this I'm a happy man. Updates to follow and thanks again for the suggestions.

@Scotsdave looks like you got it. After trying a few things which didn’t work I gave the starter motor a light tap with a hammer and it started up. Subsequently seized up again but at least I know and can get it out to repair it. Thanks @TomE and @Bruss for the suggestions.

I need to understand a bit more the circumstances that lead to this but it started yesterday and was preceded, perhaps coincidentally, by an issue with the drivers window. Lotus Evora (2009) - press launch car. Engine is the original but was 'tweaked' by Stratton Motorsport before I bought it. Car is driven regularly (1-3 times a week). Issue occurred after a short journey of about five miles. Yesterday took the car out for a short drive down to the shops with my son. I popped out to the shop and when I returned my son mentioned that I hadn't closed the door properly. In my absence my son reported the auto window open/close kicked in repeatedly which meant he had to get out of the car to close the door properly. Returned home, parked in the drive and popped into the house. About an hour later I went to put the car into the garage. Ignition key turns, usual lights flash and pre-ignition noises. However on the final twist nothing. Tried various combinations of start up , in gear, out of gear, clutch depressed, not depressed in the vain hope that may have an impact but nothing. Couple of hours later tried again and started up without issue so parked in the garage, turned off and tried the ignition again immediately to find the same fault. I have yet to try today and I'm sure I'll find that it's only happening in certain circumstances but in the interim any guidance as to possible root cause so I can start to narrow things down? I will report additional detail as I find it, thanks in advance.