Lotus paranoia... anyone else suffer from it!?

[reubsta]

Hi

On my way to work today - stuck in traffic - and I'm sure I saw smoke/steam comming from the front left bonnet air vent, pulled into garage and no signs of radiator leak/smokeing electrics, although it did smell for a while of burning in the car!?!? Could it have been the heater/rain water spilling onto to radiator from the bonnet? Temp runs between 87-90 degrees (i think thats normal!) it seems fine now but does it ring bells with anyone? Also sure it was'nt exhaust fumes from car infront.

Any thoughs from the clan?

Cheers
Reubs

[tuscan_thunder]

Elises ALL do this! It's moisture on the radiator

[shangani]

Actually that sounds pretty terminal - probably a chassis job (complete writeoff)










Scares every new elise owner. Just water on the radiator - no worry at all (except the frst time it happens).

[jcb156]

I think I was quite lucky in that the dealer who sold me my car gave me a rundown of "what to expect" when I picked her up: Leaking, steaming, gear chatter, chav attention all covered off before I even drove away.

I can smell EVERYTHING when I'm in the car - every lorry, factory, car, field smell comes in. The smell could be anything.

J

[TonyHetherington]

yup nothing to worry about at all!!

Happens worst when finished washing car and take out for run, then once the radiator gets up to temp steam comes up. Also, if you leave it outside overnight and it rains.

Also expect your car to make a weird clicking noise on full lock when reversing. Scared the hell out of me first time too!

[theweeninjaguy]

agreed this is normal but yeah it had me worried for a little while until i ralised waht was going on!

ninja

[nwtony]

I was warned about the steam coming off the radiator by Christopher Neils so i was prepared. I also get the clicking noise in reverse on full lock which I was concerned about but now I'm not I had a little off road excursion four days into ownership and was very worried I had damaged it, so that's a load off!

[shangani]

Have you ever lost a 50p coin under the seat - the vibration noise makes it sound like the car is disintegrating!

[gooby]

shangani said:

Have you ever lost a 50p coin under the seat - the vibration noise makes it sound like the car is disintegrating!

Shangani is sooo cheap, he can hear the difference between a 50p, £1 and a 10p. He then knows if it is worth his time getting the tools out.

[reubsta]

Pheewww... and yeah i've had a pound coin rattleing around for a while too!

Thanks for that everyone

Very relieved Reubsta! well I feel like a bit of a prick actually pulling over to check the rain was dropping onto my radiator correctly... but there u go!!!

[shangani]

You just crack me up! I take my seat out for 2p.

[reubsta]

Is'nt the passenger seat fixed??? mind u if i manage to sustain my growing collection of nuggets rattleing around i should be able to afford the next service/radweld!?!

[shangani]

Yes it is fixed. I mean - UNBOLT the sucker! Take it right out of the car. It is a pain and you need the right tools.

[reubsta]

Aye... save that one until the spring!

[shangani]

For now I suggest sweeping under the seat with something thin - fly swatter etc - you will get some of the rattlies.

>> Edited by shangani on Tuesday 17th January 12:55

[piooly]

Clicking noise !!????, whats that??? mines doenst do that?

[alicrozier]

shangani said:

Have you ever lost a 50p coin under the seat - the vibration noise makes it sound like the car is disintegrating!

Going home last night I braked for a roundabout and keys fell from my bag on the pax seat and forwards over the ribbed alu floor. What a fright, I thought someone had crashed into the car! Franticly checked the mirror, thought maybe it was a gritter lorry or kids throwing gravel...relief when I saw the keys in the footwell.

Ali

[BigNath]

In my first week, I actually went back to the dealer with steam rising from the exhausts - rain on the outlets anyone... I felt like such a D1ck

[theweeninjaguy]

mine makes the clicking noise when reversing on full lock but only if i'm reversing towards the right hand side!

ninja

[cej]

I found some coins,a pair of sunglasses and there still seems to be some kind of book stuck under my passenger seat
haven't had the time to take the seat out ,but I'm sure there'll be a lot of interesting stuff down there