Hi Folks

RE: 1983 Turbo Esprit S3

As you know I got my new car last week and had a slight problem on day one. The problem is getting worse and now the car is a right royal pain in the blar blar..

first issue was trying to get reverse, took car on maiden voyage on a 5 mile journey. All fine untill I went to try for reverse.. No chance, left car to cool down and still problems, pumped clutch and tried other gears which at the time seemed ok.Then I tried putting it into reverse without lifting the stick up and it went in. Drove home.

Now the car will not select 1st or reverse without a real fight. Much worse when the car is hot. I can get reverse when the car is stone cold.

2nd to 3rd is not to bad but 3rd to 4th and the gears grind with a nasty crunch. Trying to go to 5th gear is a waste of time when driving

If ive driven the car for a few miles then 1st gear is not an option at round abouts and junctions,just wont go in.

Two things spring to mind. First I have the old red pipe on the car and imagine that the thing needs changing regardless but didnt expect that, that would cause actual gear crunching noises.

The other thing is if you look at the photos below all the bushes on the gear linkage arms that go to the back of the gear box are very well warn with lots of play in them....... sorry i dont know the correct name for them. But as you can see the rubber is very perrished and its the same on the other bushes on the gear selector as per the one you can see in the photo.

Any ideas folks and where is the clutch slave cylinder as its not where it was on my S1.... ( really need a manual! ) I dont think its enginemounts gone tho.

Please see the photos at www.smoothbeer.com/linkage.htm

Marc

Hi Marc

Yep, you need a parts manual and a workshop manual. Did you check to make sure it has enough fluid?

On my '83 Turbo I first replaced all the rubber and plastic bushings on the gear linkages. From the shifter all the way to the back at the cross shaft assembly. This helped a lot but still some ajustments needed to be made.

I bought a new crossgate cabel extension from SJ Sportscars. The new extension has a rose nipple fitting that will remove a lot of play. Steve is very knowledgeable and a great resource. There are several locations on the cables and linkages where you can shorten or lengthen the linkage for proper alignment.

http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/home.asp

Once you have the new bushings in place you will need to adjust the linkages to proper alignment. If I remember correctly after adjustment the shifter should lean slightly to the right and forward. Not to sure on this and will have to check the manual.

The slave cylinder is mounted on the bell housing of the transmission near the starter. Also got a rebuild kit for it too and replaced the red hose with a stainless braided hose kit from JAE here in the states. Sure SJ would be a source in UK.

After all was done the car shifted smoothly thru all the gears.

Good luck!

louis

'83 Turbo

anyone got a zip file of the manual to hand? none on ebay at the mo

Hello Marc, I reckon you should bleed the clutch first. Its probably a leak at the slave cylinder which is on the R/H side of the engine block in the general vacinity under the starter motor. The fluid supply line is a clear red colour(follow it to slave) Once the car is moving you actually dont need the clutch to change gear .just let up on the power slightly and shift. Getting going from a standstill is a nother matter. If the slave is leaking(common prob after they have stood a while) either rebuild it or fit a new one.

Thanks wayne will give it a go in the morning,

Hi Marc

Just to confirm other posts, had the same on my S2. Was low clutch fluid reservoir. Topped up, bled system and now perfect.

Regards

Mat 79 S2

Hi Marc

Just to confirm other posts, had the same on my S2. Was low clutch fluid reservoir. Topped up, bled system and now perfect.

Regards

Mat 79 S2

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just checked the res and it was low, been for a drive in second up and down the road and the res is still full, ummmm, that would be so cool if its just a bleed, Guess as the car has not been moved much recently that an air bubble could have travelled to the end etc? And as the resevior was low, when it was put on the car transporter some air could have slipped in?, feeling positive! What with all the problems with my last car I guess Im just presumming the worst, but to be honest the car is in such perfect nick everywhere that I bet it might, just might be an air bubble, will get the red pipe done anyway and the bushes just for the hell of it as its about the only thing on the car that needs doing and I, well, love getting my hands dirty

Marc

I still have the red clutch line on my car. I have never had a problem with it. I suspect if it is routed by a hot part of the engine it would go soft or melt. Our Formula Ford also runs the same type of line. I suppose the braided stainless looks great, and is bullet proof, but I wont change mine unless it craps out.

I used a slave cylinder rebuild kit on my S3 because I couldn't get hold of a new one at the time, big mistake as the bloody thing let go on the way to a wedding reception and my GF had to get out and push it in her posh frock, I was not popular I can tell you.....

If you suspect the slave cylinder is giving problems just replace it as they are not very expensive. The red line is also worth doing. Mine never failed but as the engine heated up you could feel the clutch bite point move as the pipe started expanding.

Replacing all the rubber bushes in the gear change linkage will certainly help with feel but make sure you don't loose the shouldered blots as they are over

Bleed clutch no difference then started messing around with the ajuster on the link arm, no better in fact worse, getting that "I wish I lived by steve feeling again"

Anyone fancy taking the job on?

Got all the new parts today inc "good by red hose kit" will be changing the linkage bushes and bolts etc at the same time. And when thats done, the car is perfect

Being curious now - what's the 'red hose' you are all talking about??

Rule of thumb....

Check Lotus Esprit World (or Esprit Fact File) first... ask questions second!!

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EModificat...clutchhose.html

Cheers Robin and noted!! (Added in my pre-purchase fact file - what I mean is I'll remember for now and forget when I go buy one with my rose tinted spec on!)

Hahahah! Yup!!

Setmode = Schoolboy

The last sensible thing I did regarding my car was take 2 people, an Esprit mechanic and a mate who was a trader, with me - let the one check the car and the other talk money .....I had nothing else to do with it! I was far too busy being 12!

LOL

Think i must be far to sensible in that case. Walked away from 2 now, didn't think that would happen!

Hi Simon - is the second one the G-Car/SE?

Why did you decide against it?

FWIW My personal opinion is to make your first foray into Esprit ownership as painless as possible and buy as minty a car as you can afford!

Buy a cream cracker and fix it up yourself- you will be a better(and more knowledgable) Esprit owner for it

Yup unfortunately thats the 1, not given up on it completely yet, just reached a stale mate on price.

Not given up, but feel that what i've offered is more than fair after seeing it in the flesh, its his choice now. Have to just wait and see, i'm not going any higher though.

I'm definately after a fixer upper though. Feel that most of the pleasure is in carrying out the work and seeing the end result.

Edited July 22, 200519 yr by Simon350S

HA! You're all masochistic loons!!

Trust me... most of the pleasure is in flooring the bugger and going around corners at silly mph!! <hums a little ditty> "These cars were made for driving"

They may be fun to fix up but bugger me does it get expensive. I can proberbly say I have the most expensive S3 out there and I still haven't finnished.

I just want to drive the thing round corners at silly speeds like Fishy says

Yup unfortunately thats the 1, not given up on it completely yet, just reached a stale mate on price.

Not given up, but feel that what i've offered is more than fair after seeing it in the flesh, its his choice now. Have to just wait and see, i'm not going any higher though. 

I'm definately after a fixer upper though. Feel that most of the pleasure is in carrying out the work and seeing the end result.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So that car is quite the shed? Does it run/drive ok though?

It runs ok, and reversed off the drive ok. Didn't drive it as its got no tax or MOT and having been done for driving without an MOT last year, didn't want to risk it again!!

The law is so not fair! Being a good citizen as the designated driver on a night out, my mate offerd his car to drive as it is bigger than my fiesta so thought it would be a good idea. Forgot to tell me it had no MOT and 2 bald tyres!!!

Got pulled over for a spot check at 1am on our way home from the pub. Got done! Mate offered to take the wrap and obviously feels very guilty but cause i was the driver..... I GOT DONE!!!!!!!!

Just checked the res and it was low, been for a drive in second up and down the road and the res is still full, ummmm, that would be so cool if its just a bleed, Guess as the car has not been moved much recently that an air bubble could have travelled to the end etc? And as the resevior was low, when it was put on the car transporter some air could have slipped in?, feeling positive! What with all the problems with my last car I guess Im just presumming the worst, but to be honest the car is in such perfect nick everywhere that I bet it might, just might be an air bubble, will get the red pipe done anyway and the bushes just for the hell of it as its about the only thing on the car that needs doing and I, well, love getting my hands dirty

Marc

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi all, Just to add to this thread, I have just purchased an 84 S3 N/A which has all the gear change symptoms mentioned. Looks like a bleed job first, then change seals at both ends (should be easy) then a red pipe change (gulp - where does the pipe go ?).

Progress reports appreciated !

Fix this & sort out the flooding carbs & off we go !