AA Parts and Labour warranty and HGF
Discussion
Hi All
2002 S2 6 years old, 34.5k miles and (suspected) HGF for the first time.
I really posted this just as another point of reference for people with similar issues or symptoms when they search in future.
Symptoms over a 4 week period in chronological order:
- losing coolant, had to keep topping up the header tank
- oily gunk in the coolant header tank when empty (similar to something posted recently on another thread and no I didnt s
t in my coolant tank either before someone asks)
- erratic temps running at 94-96 instead of 88 then hit 104-109before self regulating like there was an airlock
- finally mayo on the oil filler cap and in the header tank suggesting both oil to water and water to oil contamination.
I know I should have done something more at stage 1 but advice was to see how it behaved as it could be failing water pump, radiator leak etc. Thank the lord I have an AA Breakdown Repair Warranty!
Its also worth mentioning that having owned the car from the new the only trouble I have had in 6 years of motoring have been:
- radiator end pipe burst off radiator and emptied coolant in car park
- Ignition coil pack failed
- blown a few exhausts
- couple of ball joints needed replacing
- couple of windscreens
- 3 flat batteries
- thousands of rattles etc over 6 years, none ever turned out to be anything worse than debris under the seats or a loose bolt and washer rattling against the undertray!
Considering some of the tales of woe I have seen over the years and some of the wild hearsay that potential buyers spout off sometimnes in the forums that they have heard from their mates I just wanted to post a K Series "good news" story (except for the HGF) on a Friday. Even HGF cant dampen the driving experience. I have never wanted for another car, not even another Lotus. Now to explain to my fiance why the only fix for the HGF is a Honda conversion :-)
Stuart
2002 S2 6 years old, 34.5k miles and (suspected) HGF for the first time.
I really posted this just as another point of reference for people with similar issues or symptoms when they search in future.
Symptoms over a 4 week period in chronological order:
- losing coolant, had to keep topping up the header tank
- oily gunk in the coolant header tank when empty (similar to something posted recently on another thread and no I didnt s
t in my coolant tank either before someone asks)- erratic temps running at 94-96 instead of 88 then hit 104-109before self regulating like there was an airlock
- finally mayo on the oil filler cap and in the header tank suggesting both oil to water and water to oil contamination.
I know I should have done something more at stage 1 but advice was to see how it behaved as it could be failing water pump, radiator leak etc. Thank the lord I have an AA Breakdown Repair Warranty!
Its also worth mentioning that having owned the car from the new the only trouble I have had in 6 years of motoring have been:
- radiator end pipe burst off radiator and emptied coolant in car park
- Ignition coil pack failed
- blown a few exhausts
- couple of ball joints needed replacing
- couple of windscreens
- 3 flat batteries
- thousands of rattles etc over 6 years, none ever turned out to be anything worse than debris under the seats or a loose bolt and washer rattling against the undertray!
Considering some of the tales of woe I have seen over the years and some of the wild hearsay that potential buyers spout off sometimnes in the forums that they have heard from their mates I just wanted to post a K Series "good news" story (except for the HGF) on a Friday. Even HGF cant dampen the driving experience. I have never wanted for another car, not even another Lotus. Now to explain to my fiance why the only fix for the HGF is a Honda conversion :-)
Stuart
Edited by abz 7001 on Sunday 20th April 16:01
abz 7001 said:
Hi All
- oily gunk in the coolant header tank when empty (similar to something posted recently on another thread and no I didnt st in my coolant tank either before someone asks)
Stuart
It was me who s#at in my header tank - oily gunk in the coolant header tank when empty (similar to something posted recently on another thread and no I didnt s
t in my coolant tank either before someone asks)Stuart
Thanks for the info, a useful heads up the timeline, I guess i really should get round to sorting that warranty out then! 
Delivered on an AA flatbed truck to Sinclaires this morning much to the amusement of a coach load of women who flashed me and the AA man! Waiting for a call next week to find out the extent of the problem. Will post the details. So glad I got that AA repair warranty, makes it easier to swallow and means I can spend cash on upgrades. Stuart
maybe i'm getting a little old and boring, but should you really be mentioning the fact that you applied for the AA warranty after the issue became apparent to you... surely that's fraud?
i know people do this all day every day, but maybe you shouldn't be admitting it on a public forum.
other than that... hope it gets sorted so you're back on your merry way pdq.
i know people do this all day every day, but maybe you shouldn't be admitting it on a public forum.
other than that... hope it gets sorted so you're back on your merry way pdq.
Yep, agree with the above. I know plenty of people have possibly done this, but openly admitting it on a public forum like Pistonheads, in the Lotus section is a bit daft. It isnt beyond the whit of the AA to come on here and look, and in my experience, they dont just pay out, they do checks on servicing intervals and have in some instances refused to pay out for people. If they come on here and see this, then you could be in bother, plus the AA may see this and think it is a common habit among Elise owners (which is maybe!) and refuse to cover K Series Elises!
Id delete this post asap if I were you mate!
Id delete this post asap if I were you mate!
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