Discussion
Well, I fitted a hurricane induction kit to the S2 this morning, making sure that everything was in full working order before going on a test run.
Anyway, everything warmed up nicely, took it easy to begin with and then I was travelling on a dual carriage way just coming off the slip road. Going hard in 3rd, at 6500rpm when suddenly coolant literally covered the windscreen and I narrowly avoided hitting the central reservation.
Managed to coast to along get off the dual carriage way and stopped. Coolant was pi$sing out and temp went up to 105c. Got to a garage, put some water in and coasted home.
The car is now in the garage were I took the front "fins" off so that I could take a closer look at the radiator. I filled the coolant bottle with water and went round to the front of the car to look at the radiator where I can see water seeping out quite quickly from the plastic side of the radiator and not the connecting hose!
Basically I have two concerns, one being engine and whether it is buggered/HGF (no water in the oil etc which appears to be a good sign?!) and also the fact that the radiator might be shot as it appears to be gushing from the radiator itself ( I cannot be totally sure as it is difficult to see.
1)Can anyone also assist with the best way to actually get to underneath the radiator and all the hoses?
2) Is the coolant in the S2 pressurised? and is so am I right to assume that you cannot simply fill it up IF I manage to find the problem?
3) Lastly I do not believe that it is connected to the hurricane fitting.
Been onto SELOC and posted the above and have been advised that it is a blown radiator which would appear right as the it is p$$ing out of the side. Any other ideas?
Anyway, everything warmed up nicely, took it easy to begin with and then I was travelling on a dual carriage way just coming off the slip road. Going hard in 3rd, at 6500rpm when suddenly coolant literally covered the windscreen and I narrowly avoided hitting the central reservation.
Managed to coast to along get off the dual carriage way and stopped. Coolant was pi$sing out and temp went up to 105c. Got to a garage, put some water in and coasted home.
The car is now in the garage were I took the front "fins" off so that I could take a closer look at the radiator. I filled the coolant bottle with water and went round to the front of the car to look at the radiator where I can see water seeping out quite quickly from the plastic side of the radiator and not the connecting hose!
Basically I have two concerns, one being engine and whether it is buggered/HGF (no water in the oil etc which appears to be a good sign?!) and also the fact that the radiator might be shot as it appears to be gushing from the radiator itself ( I cannot be totally sure as it is difficult to see.
1)Can anyone also assist with the best way to actually get to underneath the radiator and all the hoses?
2) Is the coolant in the S2 pressurised? and is so am I right to assume that you cannot simply fill it up IF I manage to find the problem?
3) Lastly I do not believe that it is connected to the hurricane fitting.
Been onto SELOC and posted the above and have been advised that it is a blown radiator which would appear right as the it is p$$ing out of the side. Any other ideas?
first of all ...you fitting the hurricane is nothing to do with what has happened!
FROST DAMAGE!!!! probably to blame...ie no anti freeze in your water system.
your engine may not be damaged depending on how long you drove it without water in it.....if you have drove a long way with the temp up at full you may have buggered your head gasket.
first of all you need to replace the broken raditor and then run the car but keep an eye on the tempreture... if the temp goes high or your water pipes expand and go hard...sorry it will be a job for the garage!
FROST DAMAGE!!!! probably to blame...ie no anti freeze in your water system.
your engine may not be damaged depending on how long you drove it without water in it.....if you have drove a long way with the temp up at full you may have buggered your head gasket.
first of all you need to replace the broken raditor and then run the car but keep an eye on the tempreture... if the temp goes high or your water pipes expand and go hard...sorry it will be a job for the garage!
Definitely does not sound like HGF. Either the radiator went pop or pipe to the radiator has come adrift. Given the suddenness of the event, check all the pipes. Remove the access panels - if no joy there, you will need access via the wheel arch. If the radiator needs replacement, it is a front clam off job. If the spray came up on the passenger side, it is most likely to be the passenger side padiator hose that has come off. Radiator leaks usually start small. This sounds much more like a pipe attachment or pipe failure. Don't have hear failure tonight - it is likely to be a simple fix.
Tomorrow, jack the car up - remove the left front wheel and then wheel arch (10 min job with a cordless screwdriver and a spanner (8 and 10mm iirc) You will then have a better view of the radiator hose. The radiator on the S2 is pressurised like the S1 and they do sometimes go pop.
New one (uprated aluminium) www.eliseparts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=252
Probably 4 - 5 hours or so to fit - and thats your worst case scenario. BTW, unlikely to be related to the hurricane, unless you were revving the t*ts off the car while enjoying the new sound and had not waited for the engine to warm up etc etc. Say again - not directly related.
>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 28th December 20:02
Tomorrow, jack the car up - remove the left front wheel and then wheel arch (10 min job with a cordless screwdriver and a spanner (8 and 10mm iirc) You will then have a better view of the radiator hose. The radiator on the S2 is pressurised like the S1 and they do sometimes go pop.
New one (uprated aluminium) www.eliseparts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=252
Probably 4 - 5 hours or so to fit - and thats your worst case scenario. BTW, unlikely to be related to the hurricane, unless you were revving the t*ts off the car while enjoying the new sound and had not waited for the engine to warm up etc etc. Say again - not directly related.
>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 28th December 20:02
Thanks chaps!
Ther spray came from the drivers side only and I warmed the engine up nicely before giving it full beans!
Only drove a mile after the problem alot of it was with with the engine off. From what you have said and what I have learnt from SELOC & BBS, it would appear to be the radiator as the actual hose does appear fine (yet to properly check this). I actually filled the coolant tank with 2 litres when I got back home and it was seeping from the entire side of the rad. This leads me to believe that it is indeed a blown rad.
Funny really because I have never heard of this before and had no idea about it being common, although I am familar with the general coolant issues of S1/S2.
The Elise parts rad is really out of my price range as it is not a job that I feel confident in tackling myself so will probably cost £400/£500 quid to fix and the other half will probably go nuts! Bear in mind that the hurricane was her present to me and having sold my S1 (due to financial concerns) only to go out a month later and purchase the S2 (naturally more money than what I sold the S1 for) the marque has become a swear word!
Ther spray came from the drivers side only and I warmed the engine up nicely before giving it full beans!
Only drove a mile after the problem alot of it was with with the engine off. From what you have said and what I have learnt from SELOC & BBS, it would appear to be the radiator as the actual hose does appear fine (yet to properly check this). I actually filled the coolant tank with 2 litres when I got back home and it was seeping from the entire side of the rad. This leads me to believe that it is indeed a blown rad.
Funny really because I have never heard of this before and had no idea about it being common, although I am familar with the general coolant issues of S1/S2.
The Elise parts rad is really out of my price range as it is not a job that I feel confident in tackling myself so will probably cost £400/£500 quid to fix and the other half will probably go nuts! Bear in mind that the hurricane was her present to me and having sold my S1 (due to financial concerns) only to go out a month later and purchase the S2 (naturally more money than what I sold the S1 for) the marque has become a swear word!
Hurricane? What hurricane? 
I would appeal to Lotus through the dealer - they may help. Didn't someone warn you that Lotus stands for "lots of trouble, usually serious!"
Actually the radiator is not one of the more common issues, but does happen. Worse in icy conditions as the contents freeze if you do not have antfreeze in the coolant. The expansion cracks the radiator. As it melts - pop - contents exit.
I would appeal to Lotus through the dealer - they may help. Didn't someone warn you that Lotus stands for "lots of trouble, usually serious!"
Actually the radiator is not one of the more common issues, but does happen. Worse in icy conditions as the contents freeze if you do not have antfreeze in the coolant. The expansion cracks the radiator. As it melts - pop - contents exit.
When my rad blew it was just the same - one side of screen and scary.
What happens is the plastic end caps and the alloy rad expand and contract at diff rates and eventualy seperate one side or the other (great design).
I had a long chat wih lotus engineers about it, and looked at alternatives (all alloy and racing rads) before deciding to replace with OE standard. It cost me £500 (200 for the rad and the rest getting the car apart and back again).
My sympathies - about the rad but especially about telling the missus.
What happens is the plastic end caps and the alloy rad expand and contract at diff rates and eventualy seperate one side or the other (great design).
I had a long chat wih lotus engineers about it, and looked at alternatives (all alloy and racing rads) before deciding to replace with OE standard. It cost me £500 (200 for the rad and the rest getting the car apart and back again).
My sympathies - about the rad but especially about telling the missus.
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