1994 Lotus Elan problems
Lotus Elan is the name of two separate ranges of automobiles produced by Lotus Cars. The first series of cars was produced between 1962 and 1975 as a rear-wheel drive vehicle. The second series was produced between 1989 and 1995 as a front-wheel drive vehicle.
Timeline
The first range of cars (1962–1975) comprised:
- Two seater sports cars: Lotus Type 26 drop head coupé (DHC) marketed as the Elan 1500, Elan 1600, and Elan S2 (Series 2)
- Four seater sports car (rear seats suitable for children): Lotus Type 50, fixed head coupé, marketed as the Elan +2
After the S2 was released the original Elan 1500 and Elan 1600 models were typically referred to as the S1 (Series 1) although the car was never explicitly marketed as such. Today, all models (S1-Sprint) are often cited collectively as the 1960s Elans.
The second range of cars (1989–1995) comprised:
- Two seater sports cars: Lotus Type M100 drop head coupé, initially marketed as the Elan S1 and, later, for the UK market, the Elan S2
This second model was also produced in South Korea by Kia Motors between 1996 and 1999, rebadged as the Kia Elan.
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Common 1994 Lotus Elan problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Lotus Elan 1994, here are common problems with this car:
- Hood (Soft Top) Wear and Tear:
- The metal mechanism of the hood rubs against the hood material, causing wear and tear each time the hood is operated.
- If left unaddressed, this issue can lead to the metal mechanism piercing through the hood material.
- To prevent this, additional material can be stuck on the inside of the hood to reinforce it and reduce friction.
- Front and Rear Wishbones Corrosion:
- In Series 1 M100s (1990-1992), the suspension components were painted but not adequately protected with Dinol wax.
- After a couple of years, rust could develop due to the lack of proper protection, leading to paint lifting and corrosion.
- The rear wishbones are particularly vulnerable, with cases of complete perforation reported.
- In the Series 2 (1994-1995), rear wishbones were galvanized to address this corrosion issue, but front wishbones still exhibit paint lifting and corrosion concerns.
These common problems with the Lotus Elan 1994, as reported by owners, highlight issues related to the hood's durability and the susceptibility of the suspension components to corrosion. Owners should be vigilant in addressing these issues to maintain the car's performance and longevity.
What is the common problem with the Lotus Elan M100?
Front and Rear Wishbones
After 2 years when it was time for the first chassis wax treatment, rust had usually occurred and the paint offered very little protection against the spread of rust resulting in whole sections of paint being lifted.
Is Lotus Elan Fibreglass?
Overview. The Lotus Elan was the first Lotus road car to use a steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass body. This style of construction was to be repeated in subsequent Lotus models for nearly three decades.
How many Lotus Elans are left?
There are 33,694,022 cars & other vehicles with valid MOTs. There are 1,270 LOTUS ELAN left in the UK with an MOT. 0.0038% of all UK vehicles are LOTUS ELAN.
What engine was in the Elan?
The Lotus-Ford Twin Cam is an inline-four petrol engine developed by Lotus for the 1962 Lotus Elan. A few early examples displaced 1.5 litres, but the majority were 1.55-litre (1557cc) engines. It used a Ford 116E iron cylinder block and a new aluminium cylinder head with dual overhead camshafts.
1994 Lotus Elan car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lotus Elan problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1994 Lotus Elan vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1994 Lotus Elan complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1994 Lotus Elan.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-03-01
- VIN: SCCGA36B7MH
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: GEAR SHIFT CLIP FAILED TWICE. *SKD
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1994 Lotus Elan problems:
Lotus Elan Central • View topic - Elan problems
Jul 1, 2022 ... Sorry to hear about the problems. I'm guessing your car is a 1994-95 S2 model :D Cat light on is a simple fix. Your original ...
Oil spraying from dipstick tube - LotusElan.net
Mar 17, 2020 ... billwill wrote: Spark plug cap on the dipstick usually does the trick. Is this a common problem? what causes it?
Lotus Elan Central • View topic - Engine misfire - fuel injectors
Jun 27, 2014 ... It is like it´s only running on 3 cylinders. Sounds like an ignition problem. I then put in brand new spark plugs and brand new plug leads. same ...
Correcting Oil Leaks : Engine / Exhaust / Cooling by LotusElan.net
Mar 16, 2017 ... I've never removed the front before so any problems I should look out for? 1. Remove water pump cassette 2. Remove chain tension bits. 3. Does ...
Lotus Elan M100: Buying guide and review (1989-1996) | Auto ...
Corrosion: some cars will show signs of corrosion on the rear suspension wishbones, and because this tends to occur on the top face, it's difficult to spot as ...
Other years of Lotus Elan
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