Norfolk mustard S4

[Clarky5150]

So a friend of mine popped round this morning to look at my new toy. He's a mechanic and part time British Super Bike pit technician. After a good peruse he raised one eyebrow and with a chuckle said

"You should have bought the Astramax van!"

In fairness I was part way through ripping out the degraded fuel breather hoses so she did look a bit worse for ware but he knew better.

If anyone was wondering, I just bought the 93 press car which was used for several magazines and the infamous Clarkson V plumber episode of Top Gear where he coined the phrase Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious...  what could possibly go wrong?

erm...many things.

 

She's a bit tip toey and a lot grubby.

Driving her home I was convinced the car had the biggest blow off valve that Halfords make attached. Turns out it wasn't so much what was as what was not attached...

[Barrykearley]

Looks great - ignore your mate - he knows nowt.

you need to get that car hooked up to a pc running freescan. It's important to check the TPS runs to 100% as that's where the magic happens ?

[Clarky5150]

Horrendous fuel vapours in the cab which were cured with some new breather hoses. Note the colour coded link hose In Hozelock mustard yellow and for some reason a ford fuel line connector...

[Barrykearley]

 Garden hose - that's almost worse than the original pipe that should be on there 

[cbclotus]

Nice buy .i am sure it will be fun .Nice history being on the tv etc .Mike

[Clarky5150]

A good iron X, tar, snow foam and wash later revealed.....

So the good bits are. Muuucho history and bills including full top end and gearbox rebuild at Lakeside 5k miles ago, RC injectors, sports cats and a Larini exhaust.

Not so good bits a bit longer list including faults with drop glass, heater, oil pressure sender, oil temp sender, one wheel bearing and an interior painted with2 gallons of scuff master using a wallpapering brush. 

[Clarky5150]

Chavtastic sticker removal was no1 job.

 

I know Barry but give hozelock their dues it was the only good bit in there.

Within the bills was a receipt for 388quid from a well know and respected specialist for a repair to the body chassis mount. 

[Clarky5150]

FFS!  It will be reglasses and sandwiched with alloy strips for a proper permanent repair in due course.

Other bills include a £40 charge from the company who have just made over 300 quid refurbishing the wheels to fit newcentre caps..... I kid ye not.

 

Edited October 10, 2017 by Clarky5150

[stephenwhyte]

Welcome to the yellow Esprit club Shaun -I remember the car well from the Top Gear piece with Clarkson......who from memory really fell for that car “once you learn to drive it”

If you come across anyone who takes a liking to your car and fancies one......point them in my direction as my S4s is for sale. All the best with owning your new toy - once you’ve got it the way you want it which doesn’t look too far away, you’ll love owning it - the positive reaction & attention they get is incredible. Here’s mine

[Clarky5150]

Will do. I wasn't actually in the market for a car myself but fell accross the advert and had to get it. I still have the Top Gear episode on VHS somewhere and I guess it was a contributing factor in my love for all things mechanical. Had a few M100s and several TVRs but not had a fibreglass car for years. 

First responses are amazing. Neighbours on my street who have never spoken in 10 years have come to chat. Because of the fumes I only put small amounts of fuel in on the jeourney home but on each of  He three fuel stops someone complemented the car including a guy in a brand new Alfa 4C.

Never get that in the Cayenne...funny that.

 

 

 

[Barrykearley]

Hang on..... you've got a pork as well..... I'd get that sold chap

[Clarky5150]

Love Porsches. Had a cracking 3.2 Carrera that I sold 12 years ago for 7k that would be worth a bomb now. Had all manner of 911s, boxsters,  944s, a Cayenne Turbo for seven years and recently got a Cayenne diesel for the 'family' car (I paid, wife's private plate on it. Go figure!)

[Barrykearley]

Well at least you've now seen the light and got a proper mid engined sports car

[Clarky5150]

quick pick of the interior 'enhancement' carried out by p.o. He was a lovely chap but not mechanically minded in the slightest. He trusted all maintenance to local specialists. Looking at his reconnolising skill that was no bad thing.

Copious amounts of cleaner and some gliptone leather conditioner revealed a really nice leather with just the right amount of patina for its age. 2 hours work and a third of the cabin done.. long day at work hampers any progress today.

 

Ps. Anyone got a fix for the banana shaped console lid??

[Bibs]

Looks like the car is in a safe pair of hands now, it'll be lovely once you're done mate

[Clarky5150]

Managed to get  a few hours on project painful this afternoon. New rear hatch rams fitted so the broom handle is back where it belongs. Boot now raises half way when the lever is pulled.... Nice!

Had a quick look at the HVAC system. Pump running constantly. Checked the T piece in the O/S/R wing and found when I block the cabin pipe the pump runs correctly and stops after 30 secs. Hopefully then this explains two problems away I.e just cold air blasting from centre vents,no temp or direction control and secondly wooden brakes. Will take her a spin tomorrow to see if they are any more responsive with the cab pipe feed bunged.

finished stripping the scuff master from the interior and whaddaya know the interior is charcoal grey, not black at all.

The head unit the previous owner raved about has been removed and will be placed in the 'bling bling head unit' section of t'eBay. Scouring for a suitable 90s head unit to replace it. The stereo harness has been butchered and front speakers not even connected. Soldering fun later this week then. Rear speakers have been replaced at some point with some marine spec drivers in white which will be the next to be removed. They will be going in the back garden for outside music in the summer.

drop glass silicone lubed and not auto reversing now.

not bad for a few hrs graft.

[Bibs]

5 minutes ago, Clarky5150 said:

just cold air blasting from centre vents,

That's standard. Heat only comes from the screen and footwell blowers. 

5 minutes ago, Clarky5150 said:

no direction control and secondly wooden brakes

That indicates a vacuum leak. 

[rocket63]

Good job Shaun. Keep going bud and you will get your just rewards

[Barrykearley]

Look under the steering wheel - to the left hand side - there will be some thin black vac pipes - a couple of tees and some elbows. It by the bonnet release coat hanger - They will all be split or have fallen off the pipe. Nice easy fix that one

[Chillidoggy]

Out of curiosity, does the S4 have an engine-driven vacuum pump, or an electric one? And does it have the Delco brake system?

[Clarky5150]

Delco brakes electric pump.

 

[Clarky5150]

FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM !!

Happily fiddling away with the vacuum t pieces under the stereo console isolating the bad elbow. Turning ignition on and off to check 30 second prime of pump then.... nothing! No dash lights, no ancillaries, no central locking, nada.

i know it had an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser removed due to starting issues by po but surely this wouldn't kill the central locking. Took top of steering cowling off and can't see anything untoward. Would there be anything in the colnsole area that is a master fuse/relay which could cause this?.

 

 

[Clarky5150]

Battery showing 12.3v by the way. Complete electrical shut down including hazards...

[Chillidoggy]

I can see a lengthy refurb thread in the making!

Shaun, first off, if you haven't already got a parts manual and Lotus Service Notes you would be well-advised to invest in them, they will be a great help both now, and in the future.

As for the electrics, 12.3V is not really enough for a good, fully-charged battery, but that won't have caused your current issue (no pun intended). It's very difficult diagnosing this kind of problem online, hence having the wiring diagrams will be a Godsend.

Incidentally, I can see there's a rubber elbow missing on the vacuum valve in your second photo, unless it's one you've already removed?

[Clarky5150]

Hi Ian. All elbows goosed so waiting for new ones. Not a battery issue for certain. I would put money on it being aftermarket intervention but the full shutdown is what is vexing me. I have a manual on cd rom. Got to get the old desktop up and running as I moved solely to iPad a few years ago. Knowing it's already been tampered with and the fact that when they removed the auto watch unit they also removed the lotus security makes me think bite the bullet and get a mobile auto leccy in to go through the dash wiring get the last of the old alarm out and fit a current basic immobiliser system for piece of mind.