zero_to60

mate of mine has found he's got a corroding floor in the driver's side footwell

he has been told warranty will not cover it and the tubs are £4000 a pop plus labour to rebuild it

has anyone heard of this? - he's not a happy chappy

Chris L

Best bet would be to look here or on the Lotus Web ring, or post up on somewhere like Pistonheads that has dedicated Lotus sections. Seems strange that a largely aluminium car should be corroding? Can't think why this wouldn't be covered by the warranty.

Chris

Mycroft

This is Anodic corrosion.. there is a problem with salty water and various other metals making an electrical pass between them... you need to tell your fiend to wash the area in clean water and use things like Regalllo/Duralac/Separc to separate and insulate the materials... check for the wrong grade of bolts/nuts/fittings used in any re-build... repair shops won't have a Scientist or Chemist on board to advise on what will or will not cause the corrosion...
some steels do some don't, some brake dust can rot certain types of Aluminium... the whole thing is frought with traps for the unwary...


[Edited by Mycroft - 4/29/2003 1:05:36 PM]

CarpetCleaner

I thought aluminium would last forever and not corrod?

Mycroft

That is a bit like believeing in Fairies isn't it?

CarpetCleaner

he should have got a real car like a Soarer eh Mycroft

I'm in the trade and the word on the street is that they are pretty much a glorified kit car

Mycroft

I wouldn't want all you peasants driving Soarers!

Who would I have to laugh at?

To make the Extrusions the Elsie is made of you need a type of Aluminium suitable for the process, this doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best material with regard to corrosion, anodic or otherwise...

[Edited by Mycroft - 4/29/2003 1:36:43 PM]

bdrought

HUGE thread on it at the moment....

http://www.british-cars.co.uk/cgi-bi...41908014616836

Mycroft

I hope the guy with Aircraft stuff doesn't use it... oooohhh won't he regret that!!! hahaha

Chris L

Having read the thread above - I still can't see how Lotus can claim that this wouldn't be covered by a warranty. Sounds like they have quite a serious problem on their hands.

Chris

Stevie

Isn't refering to a Lotus as a glorified kit cars a little insulting to kit cars?

bdrought

Well..mine is a 99 S plate, done 70,000 miles in rain/snow/sleet

Click For Proof!

It lived outside for a year, although it now has a garage. Went and checked this evening and theres zero corrosion. Go figure.

Bri

Mycroft

I think the point is that repairs and maintainance is very much a 'lucky dip' and perhaps all the nylon insulating washers are in place and always re-assemled correctly... you may have been lucky... or perhaps the cold has slowed or even stopped the reaction... sometimes doing the right thing by putting the car in the (relatively) warm garage could be the worst thing you could do and keeping the car in conditions where the electrolyte is too cold to form a good circuit has saved you from this problem...

[Edited by Mycroft - 4/29/2003 10:49:20 PM]

LeonCarroll

Cover the car in Zinc. That should do the trick