Changing the power steering fluid on the Lotus Elan M100 (C service items)

If you have a power steering flavoured Lotus Elan M100, another job at the 30,000 mile C service is changing the power steering fluid. Like this.

[@tonypanter410]

Brilliant channel, thanks

[@ivorthomas1385]

I'm going to miss this blue Elan once it's back on the road

[@thelotuselanm100restoratio3]

Don't worry. At the rate this restoration is going, that won't be any time soon!

[@kfkwAL7]

Will you be doing the dreaded gear change cables? I'd appreciate a video on that... Keep up the good work!

[@thelotuselanm100restoratio3]

I wasn't going to on account of (1) there being nothing wrong with the ones on this car; (2) them being £250 a set; (3) a pfaff to fit; (4) a double pfaff to video as well. I'll have a think about it and maybe do it as a demo towards the end.

[@MrShaunhodson]

Hi a new purchase by me is a lovely M100 but my steering is really stiff and I've tried to bleed it by turning wheel lock to lock while engine running but still the same, there are no bubbles and the fluid looks not very old. Can you advise. Cheers

[@thelotuselanm100restoratio3]

There's a few things it could be. If we assume the power steering pump itself is working properly because you've checked that then it could be a seized ball joint in the steering at the front wheels. This will be stiff with engine off but improve with engine running (as power steering assists you). The other joint that can seize is the universal joint in the steering column. The wheel will be hard to turn with the engine off even if the front wheels are off the ground and it won't get much better with the engine on (because the joint is before the power steering). You can get at it well enough from under the dashboard to have a go at it with spray lubricant. If that improves matters, it's a cheap part but a bit of a pain to replace.

[@lewtus72]

Can you even get Dexron 2 anywhere?

[@oliverlotus]

Oh dear. My N/A has not even got PAS! Can you please make sure your excellent films are all relevent to the three idiots who own M100 base models!!

[@thelotuselanm100restoratio3]

Forelock tugging, humblest apologies! In the next video we'll be taking the front suspension and driveshaft off. (They did throw in a pair of front wheels with that N/A model didn't they?)