[Beerman]

...from messing with the non-op wipers on my '88 Esprit.

New guy here, just bought an '88 Esprit. It's a nice clean California car, red/tan, overall basicallly in good shape.

The wipers are non-op. There power at the fuse (No. 20), but there's no sign of life at the wiper arm. I can't hear any clicking or any noise at all when the wiper switch is engaged. The wiper arm feels good, there's not a bunch of slop and it won't budge from the retracted/down position.

I spent a little time looking at it all, and there appears to be a Lucas wiper control module down stream of the switch. Could that module perhaps have failed?

I'm hoping it's not the motor itself...looks like that's a real drag to have to change....

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

 

[sleekgt]

Congratulations!

You'll be hearing the usual questions:

1. Where are you located?
2. Details about the car?
3. Maintenance (timing belt is critical on an Esprit - your picture shows a black belt (rated for max of 3 yrs/36K miles) - hopefully your service is up to date?

I also have an 88 - click on my garage (under my Avatar on the left) - check out my maintenance history (daily driver Esprit - 29K miles in 29 months).

VIN xxx62053 - I think I saw this on eBay recently - is that where you bought it?

RE: wiper switch: Try pulling back on wiper stalk (it should wipe once). There is an intermittent wiper module under the steering column area - while that may/may not be related, check to make sure the relay is there; seat/reseat to test.

Do you have the Driver's Hand book? Here's a page that sounds like you may already have:

The rest of the key pages are at:

http://s413.photobucket.com/user/eberin/library/lotus_misc?sort=3&page=2

 

[carbuff]

Just a few questions:

1. Where are you located?
2. Details about the car?
3. Maintenance (timing belt is critical on an Esprit - your picture shows a black belt (rated for max of 3 yrs/36K miles) - hopefully your service is up to date?

OK that ^^^ was a joke. Car looks REALLY NICE (in a WING-less sort of way, the way it oughta be). Just paint those valve covers (we JUST talked about how to do that, here)


++++++

The Wiper Delay Module could indeed cause your inop wiper motor. I once borrowed another owner's Esprit @ LOG in TX, and that was the issue. (Of course, it took two rain showers to determine this and fix it.) anic:



The delay module is located under the driver's side dash, to the right of the steering column. First thing to try is to disconnect and connect it three times (while in the Lotus Position: upside-down in the drivers seat with your feet sticking out of the open roof panel). We need to see PICS to make sure you are doing this correctly, and to chuckle at you...




If that procedure doesn't provide any wiper action, I'd try applying 12VDC directly to the motor just to assure that it works....

 

[carbuff]

Oh, and did you know that the tire jack bag is missing (should be strapped in the front trunk, just ahead of the plenum, on that "post")

What is that knurled, mushroom-looking thing inside the spare tire?

 

[4380r]

Just don't drive in the rain.

 

[EspritNOOB]

Just don't drive in the rain.

 

[sleekgt]

Just don't drive in the rain.

I'm sure he's joking :huh:

You do want to fix it if you get caught inadvertently in the rain.

I drive in rain all the time (well, in California drought times, that's minimal).
Here's a picture on June 25 - 4 days after official SUMMER:

But note the wiper blade (if OEM) is a 'pin' type assembly so be careful buying off-the-shelf wiper arms.

 

[Turbo R]

Congrats on the new Esprit!!!
Wow, I had been following that ad before and was wondering who had bought it. Looked to be a really good deal!

Where are you located, Beerman?

Roy

 

[esprit888]

Oh, and did you know that the tire jack bag is missing (should be strapped in the front trunk, just ahead of the plenum, on that "post")

What is that knurled, mushroom-looking thing inside the spare tire?

Also missing both the relay and fuse covers, but was a good deal :clap: one thing that does concern me though is what looks like a crack running rearward from the left hand hood catch, I would be looking into that!

 

[Turbo R]

Wow...Colin...I am impressed...you don't miss a thing!!!

Roy

 

[Turbo R]

When the ad originally came out, I thought I was pretty good in noticing that the passenger door looked to be a hair darker, but you are in a different universe of observation...LOL

Roy

 

[sleekgt]

I notice the throttle cable insulator was missing - what DOES the white sleeve do anyway? Prevent vapor lock from heat transmission along the throttle cable?

Here's the one on my 88:

 

[esprit888]

Wow...Colin...I am impressed...you don't miss a thing!!!

Roy

I also sit down to pee rotfl (there was a thread about that on the turboesprit list I believe, was it Atwell ?)Anyone else also notice the bung in place of the oil filler cap? Not beating the car up, it was bought at a very good number, just pointing out some issues you may not be aware of. If your hatch third brake light or heated rear window don't work, re-connect the spade connector on the bottom of the RH hood lift (its missing) Also it looks like you still have the original red clutch hose, that is typically upgraded to stainless and available from JAE
( http://www.jaeparts.com/ ) as are the oil filler cap and most other things you need. What are the miles again? I have never seen the 88 wooden shift knob with such a clear wear mark from palm changing from third to fourth (a true Esprit pleasure)

Colin
T T T Too much time on my hands

 

[Turbo R]

You are scaring me...LOL!!!!!

 

[Turbo R]

I've never done it, but always thought re-staining and refinishing one of those wooden shift knobs would be a fun and satisfying project to do.

Roy

 

[carbuff]

Come On Guys,

When a new owner posts, lets try NOT to pick apart his purchase. (Unless he asks...)


The car seems basically sound. Palm-prints on the shift knob aren't going to make it shift worse! And the missing stuff ADDS LIGHTNESS. Isn't that what Colin Chapman taught us? :up:

:clap:

 

[sleekgt]

Come On Guys,

When a new owner posts, lets try NOT to pick apart his purchase. (Unless he asks...) [snip]

:clap:

Sorry - not picking apart but just pointing out some things he may want to keep on the 'things to do list' - he may not be familiar with the odds and ends.

For me personally, I never figure out that funky cloth insulator on a THROTTLE cable. Maybe to protect the plastic insulator? Don't know. But if it's missing on his, he may want to address it and avoid an issue.

Besides, have you noticed I didn't bring, uh, certain topics close to your home and mine (and Robert's) :face palm

Gently easing him into the fold.

Knowledge is power :coolnana:

 

[jphoenix]

I also drive in the rain, all through the winter, only time I don't drive is when it's below freezing. When I picked up my Esprit last year in Spokane, I drove it home over the pass in the rain (and snow at one point!) and the wiper stopped working. Turns out it was working but the wiper arm was not firmly seated on the motor hub, bad repair job by the PO. So, one large washer and crescent wrench later and I had a working wiper again.

I've put 6000 miles on the car since last April, no serious issues - except installing the cambelt was more fun than I ever want to have again - so drive the crap out of it, the more you drive it, the more you will like it!!

 

[sleekgt]

I assume the PO bought the car outside of eBay as the auction ended with reserve not being met:

Lotus Esprit Esprit Turbo | eBay

From the ad:

"... The timing belt looks like new,..."

For your safety, please verify the timing belt maintenance status (3 years, 36K miles) as this is critical on Esprits.

 

[jphoenix]

If you need to do the cambelt and want to do it yourself, I bought a blue belt and tensioner bearing from JAE, all the v belts and two silicon coolant hoses for about $350. If you don't want to do it yourself, I fully understand because it is challenging and time-consuming! I complicated things by moving pulleys around, but it's certainly doable at home, just not as much fun as, let's say, drinking a nice cabernet in the pub while the Lotus tech gets his hands dirty.