8 replies to this topic

[JulianT]

Happy new year folks,

Jumped into my usually dependable S1 Elise last night to return home from work and noticed it start hunting badly at tick over. Once I started driving, it felt like it was running on 3 cylinders and at low revs it was missing badly. It had been raining badly all day so I put the problem down to water collecting by the spark plugs. I've had this before where the water manages to get through the spark plug cover and into the spark plug hole(?) nearest the cam belt.

Anyway this morning to had a quick look but there was no signs of water. However, the car was still missing during the run into work this morning.

Any ideas?

I'm going to borrow a spark plug socket at lunch time to see if I can tell which cylinder has the problem. I've never brought any HT leads so I guessing they're 12 years old now and probably in need of replacement. It's just a bit of a coincidence that it was really wet yesterday to have them suddenly break down. Are there any other areas to check?

If I get a set of new leads, are there any recommendations?  I only really use the car for road use so I don't need any high performance ones. The local car parts place have some standard 7mm K Series ones for £24 which seem ok.

Thanks

Julian

[Steve J]

When was the last time you cleaned the IACV?

You may also have a leak in the manifold or exhaust.

[Martin R]

Make sure its dry inside the distributor cap as well.

[JulianT]

Typical, drove to the car parts place to pick up the new HT leads and literally as I'm about to pull in, the engine completely changed its tone and went back to normal. I've driven it round since and it seems fine now so must have be water somewhere I guess. Probably the distributor cap as you've suggested Martin

I'll wait for the weekend and give it all a good clean.

So, HT leads.... Should I be changing them as they're 12 years old?

[Martin R]

Depends how flush you are feeling. It will not do any harm. Stick with the OE ones would be my advice    

[JulianT]

Thanks Martin.

To be honest as it appears they're OK and as I haven't a lot of spare cash laying around, I wasn't that fussed to change them unless it was necessary. I was just really curious if you thought they were too old and I was asking for trouble? I read somewhere that HT leads should be treated as consumable items. Elise parts have them listed in their Service Items section.

I'm already panicking over my rear toe links after reading Ollies post :S

It's a good job i only use it to drive to work and the odd weekend blast.

[Steve J]

If they work I wouldn't bother, especially if money's tight.
Bit of water dispersant spray in the dizzy cap will help and an S2 engine cover will stop water getting into the plugs.

[JulianT]

Thanks Steve, just looking at your S2 engine cover suggestion. Might be the way forward

[willgriffin1983]

Get it hot and spray plenty of Holts damp start on the dizzy cap, leads and spark plug cover and you should be good to go.

This stopped the same problem with mine last winter.