Gearstick snapped

[Bibs]

Wind and movement clean oil off of engine and gearbox parts?

 

Seriously, take notes, and perhaps someone who will understand what is said to them.

[Stimpy]

Depends what you mean by 'associated bits'.  There's the stick, and there's the master gearchange unit.  I'm still not clear on exactly what broke...

 

Ok - this is purely from memory.

After locating 3rd from a red light to get it parked in a loading bay I took the gear out of third and the whole stick broke.

I lifted the centre console - which (annoyingly) happened via breaking the plastic holding it down under the centre arm rest. I did not wrestle with it.  On lifting the stick the rubber gator kindly ripped.  Great.

 

Ok - so I looked down and there was too sockets which meant to have the ball of the stick in it (ball and socket joint - like the human shoulder).  I tried to relocate the stick and then realised that the bit that was part of the car (not the stick) was rotated vertically (looking from above bonnet to boot).  I tried to use the bottom of the stick to rotate that bit and that bit snapped (with very little pressure).  It was made out of alloy.  There was also a cup which was meant to have a plastic insert but that had broken prior to inspection by me.  

 

I should have taken a picture.

You've got a V8 exhaust on your 4 pot Esprit and that makes it easier to top up the gearbox oil?

 

You need to start taking notes during these phone calls...

Easier to get to from the bottom up?

Ummm, the exhaust system has absolutely no bearing on gearbox oil topup.  The special tool is a 10mm female key, and you'll get change out of a fiver.  Wastegate actuator, easy job, £100 for the part.

 

Take a voice recorder!  You're not giving us enough to go on..

Oh, and I'm still dying to know what suspension components are in danger of 'dropping off'!

 

They're on my list of Q's !!! 

[Bibs]

No. A V8 has 8 cylinders, 4 each side where as your car has 4 cylinders just on 1 side so the whole system is completely different. Someone, somewhere is getting this very screwed up...

 

V8....

 

 

4 cylinder...

 

[pete]

sounds like usual "lotus" garage ,know very little about esprits

[Bazza 907]

Is it just me who keeps thinking you should take it to somebody who knows what they're doing?

[Bibs]

You're certainly not alone! 

After locating 3rd from a red light to get it parked in a loading bay I took the gear out of third and the whole stick broke.

 

Also, just to clarify, you were pulling away from a red light in 3rd gear?

 

Is this for real or is Beadle about to pop out?

[Sparky]

Still not getting the gearstick stuff. The stick is a cylindrical shaft that is clamped into a matching hole at the top of the master gearchange unit. To my knowledge the unit isn't obsolete, and anyway it's serviceable. Photos please!

And if you heard correctly about the exhaust/gearbox oil, then you need to start questioning exactly what's going on. I suspect you misheard or don't remember exactly what was said.

[espritmania]

Can you ask for your money back?? Is it still under guarantee??

You seem to have had nothing but problems.

Edited June 24, 2014 by espritmania

[Bibs]

I've read there have been moments of delight, enough to cause deep feelings for the car in other threads, but I feel there's an issue somewhere between the steering wheel and the seat in this case...

[Stimpy]

Wind and movement clean oil off of engine and gearbox parts?

 

Seriously, take notes, and perhaps someone who will understand what is said to them.

No - obviously it won't clean it 'concourse style' however I would have thought that the various forces on the car - i.e. centrifugal, braking, accelerating would cause the movement of a liquid to take various journeys around the place before dripping to the floor whereas a car that is stationary will make any movement of oil follow the easiest route via gravity to it's 'drip point', as it were.

 

For engine oil I guess there is more pressure and more visible (does the gearbox get pressurised during 'work time'?)

 

Also - I may have confused the subject somewhat with the V8 thing - I meant that the car has 2 pipes which I would loosely call 'V8 style'.  Obviously there are no redundant outlet pipes up there.

 

My initial thought was (and forgive me if I am wrong, I'm not writing this to offend) the comment about it being easier to keep topped up could be because of the position of the filler hole in relation to how to get to it if you lay down under the rear of the car.  I don't even know where the hole is at this point.  Anyway - it was a tiny detail to the subject because of the seal being on back order - I just asked if it was easy to keep topped up.

[Stimpy]

Is it just me who keeps thinking you should take it to somebody who knows what they're doing?

 

The chap who is doing the work is excellent.  My explanations and theories might be erroneous. I've made a few mistakes in my commentary - I apologise for not being as good as other people in that regard.  I learned a lot from Sparky and Chris when I visited them (in fact they de-mysified an awful lot of stuff which taught me quite a lot for which I am grateful).

[Bibs]

Not at all. Oil is thick and will just collect dirt. Huge drips may fall off but on the whole, the engine will remain sodden if there's a serious, or any leak.

You mean a twin exit exhaust. Calling it a V8 exhaust just fuels more confusion.

Remember you're speaking with an audience very well versed in the Esprit on here. Accurate commentatary will help and means people can help you. The opposite just makes you look like you've no clue. As rude as it sounds, if in doubt either clarify before posting or keep quiet until you do know.

[Stimpy]

You're certainly not alone! 

 

Also, just to clarify, you were pulling away from a red light in 3rd gear?

 

Is this for real or is Beadle about to pop out?

 

 

Ok - this is a practical question that I can answer - ready?

 

1) Stopped at red light before the right hand turn that takes you onto the High St in Ealing

2) The light went from red to green - by which I don't mean the same light - in fact an amber light illuminated briefly before the green light was visible signalling 'go'

3) I attempted to find first and could not.  The stick was like a loose spoon in porridge 4

4) Aware of the lengthening queue of cars becoming frustrated behind me I was relieved to find a non-reverse gear, it took a while.

5) Heavily slipping the clutch I caused the car to move forward up to about 5mph

6) I dipped the clutch and used the momentum achieved to rest the car in a loading bay car parking space on the right of the road

7) There was a nasty smell of clutch after stopping and turning off the engine.

 

It is possible to pull away in 3rd and it was my only option despite having to ask the clutch to work extra hard - I did it for a short period just to get out of the traffic news on the radio - if you get what I mean

[Bibs]

Poor car!

[Stimpy]

Still not getting the gearstick stuff. The stick is a cylindrical shaft that is clamped into a matching hole at the top of the master gearchange unit. To my knowledge the unit isn't obsolete, and anyway it's serviceable. Photos please!

And if you heard correctly about the exhaust/gearbox oil, then you need to start questioning exactly what's going on. I suspect you misheard or don't remember exactly what was said.

I REALLY WISH I had taken photos of the state of the stick and the innards - I've missed that opportunity unfortunately.  Re: the g/box leak - Taff - along with ordering a new seal - will be trying to find out why the leak has come about amongst other things.

[Stimpy]

Can you ask for your money back?? Is it still under guarantee??

You seem to have had nothing but problems.

Head versus heart on this one.

 

This is the exact model in the exact colour etc.  And it is a fantastic drive.

I believe these issues (which - if you look at it - is actually 3 - the faulty fuel pump, snapped gear stick, leaking g/box oil).

Once Taff has gone over the car with a different unbiased approach to the original salesman based 100 miles away I should have a -sort of - list of things to get sorted ASAP and other stuff that can be fixed more leisurely.  My hope is that the list is short!

I've read there have been moments of delight, enough to cause deep feelings for the car in other threads, but I feel there's an issue somewhere between the steering wheel and the seat in this case...

 

A big 'Thank you' from a person that's only asking for advice

[Bibs]

What advice are you asking for exactly that's not been answered?

[fflyingdog]

Mate you come across as some one who has a flair for theatre, just give the facts and then people will probably be able to help or at least offer a concise opinion,its baffling trying to sift through all the padding. I too would also suggest that you take your car to a proper specialist who can advise you ,topping up your gear box when it leaks is not an answer ,for a start what duration are you going to leave it in between top ups?  is it going to be dangerously low ? a full gearbox rebuild is going to sting for the sake of getting the correct seals.but I suppose if you pull away in 3rd then you may as well bank on a new clutch whilst the box is rebuilt.

 

 

Nick S4s

[Iconic Ride]

At the risk of taking massive amounts of flak for saying this, perhaps we ought to grant Stephen a bit more slack with some of our comments. Not all Esprit owners are natural born gear heads, but most are open to educational explanations...and the learning curve can be challenging for some of our brethren. That said, it would be helpful for our inquisitive mate to provide the requested photographic documentation sought by our more mechanically blessed responders, though Stephen has stated that the opportunity for much of that evidence has passed into history. 

 

As for pulling away from the crimson illumination traffic management fixture in 3rd gear, I seriously doubt that, for a car as light as an Esprit, much damage was done in the brief amount of travel performed...and he has stated that it was (apparently) the only forward motion gear available at the time. Abandoning the car while stranded at an intersection may not have been a valid option. 

 

Despite a relatively short period of ownership, he seems to have become quite enamored with the car...and weren't we all upon initial procurement...and more than willing to put up with the "joys" of Esprit upkeep in order to retain possession. This forum's basic reason for existence, if I understand it correctly, is to assist fellow Lotus owners with answers to often perplexing issues inherent with the marque. The availability of the combined knowledge and experience of a large pool of talented colleagues is a priceless asset for those in need of it.

 

Trust me, Stephen, these guys really do want to help out. In the end this will all be sorted, and your current difficulties will be but a distant memory. Courage!

[jimblob]

Here you go buddy your chance to shine some pics so you can tell as what it is that's broken

 

[sailorbob]

Don't worry about the clutch, the odd occasion of slipping it won't be a issue. Early on into my Esprit ownership I drove15 odd miles with only 3rd and 4th gears available thanks to a translator ball joint failure. Luckily most of the route was rural with only just over a dozen standing starts and the clutch survived.

[jimblob]

or a real photo if you wish (borrowed) 

 

[DanR]

With you John. I'm a luddite when it comes to computer stuff.  My problems and questions to those who know can be met with disdain at times.

 

So Stephen keep firing away and photos would be a benefit to those who are trying to help you. Actually my wife can describe car problems in baffling ways that lose me until I check out the issues for myself.

[Chillidoggy]

I hope I don't have the same experiences as Stimpy. And I hope he gets his car sorted out very soon.

[Vanya]

I'd say Stimpy has been UNUSUALLY unlucky in his Esprit ownership thus far. Although 1 or 2 weekends in the hands of some of the wizards on this forum will put an end to a whole lot of woes with his car.

 

Also highlights the dangers of buying an Esprit with zero service history - you can gamble and get lucky, or you can end up with this kind of experience which will result in having to learn a lot in a very short time.

 

Stimpy, hang in there - I feel for you, especially when you're new to the Esprit mechanicals it's easy to be misunderstood. For a laugh dig up some of my posts from 2012 when I just got my car - I was clueless about cars in general. I remember when I posted about my cambelt saying the workshop had put a V-belt on instead, when what I wanted to say was "trapezoidal toothed" belt....