OVERHEATING PROBLEMS with the LOTUS ELAN PLUS 2 'S'


The main problem I have had which was due to overheating was when it was impossible to start when hot. I tried everything I could think of and  had 3 different garages look at it (one of which was an official 'classic Lotus 'service garage).The main thing we all looked at first was the ignition so I started with plugs , points and timing all of which seemed ok anyway but it was a starting point. Everytime they were serviced or changed it did seem to make a slight differnce. It sometimes started first time after being left for a few minutes or not atall for about an hour before it had cooled down again. Very frustrating especially if it stalled at traffic lights !!
I then checked the cooling system flushed it through backwards to clear any blockages . The temp gauge wasn't showing any overheating faults but it was another thing off the list. I also fitted a cooler thermostat. All of this did cool it down a fraction but I still had the fault.
 Next thing to check was the fuel mixture and carb balance .I do this occasionally myself but will admit it runs better if left to the experts(most of the time).From experience the average service garage usually set the mixture too weak and it pops and splutters when going down hills with no gas pedal being pressed.
The mixture had been reset and checked many times but still the problem occured. Next thing was the distributor. I changed capacitor,rotor arm also all HT leads and ignition coil. I Still had the problem.
I was begining to give up and only used the car when I knew I would be leaving it for more than about an hour so It would cool down. My wife bought a car from a local man who just happened to race Elans !! My luck was in, I asked about my problem and he put me in touch with the mechanic he used for his cars and after a couple of hours testing the problem was solved.
        At some point the lower radiator hose had been changed and was squashed up against the ignition coil this made the coil so hot that when the ignition had been switched off the coil could not give enough spark to fire up again untill it had cooled down . A new coil put in a different, cooler position cured the fault.