Lotus Elise Service Notes page 352

D Lotus Service Notes
Section JH
Support the tank before removing the four bolts securing the fixing brackets at the base of the tank to the
chassis, and carefully lower and remove the tank.
I
Captive fixing
Tank rear fixing >
Captive
fixing
Tank front fixing
USSl
8. Refit the tank in reverse order to removal, taking care to connect the fuel pipes to the correct spigots on
the fuel pump assembly;
Feed spigot marked 'F' (rearmost);
Return spigot marked 'R' (foremost).
Note that the centre (vent) connector is not used, and is blanked off internally.
Ensure that the 'shear panel' is fitted beneath the fuel tank bay before driving the car.
LH.6 - FUEL PUMP/SENDER ASSEMBLY
The combined fuel pump/fuel gauge sender assembly is mounted submerged in the left hand side of
the fuel tank, and utilises an electric motor to power a three stage impeller type pump, and a reservoir canister
to avoid fuel starvation from surge effects caused by vehicle acceleration and cornering forces.
The complete unit is spring loaded against the bottom of the tank by three telescopic legs carried on the
end plate, which is clamped by a mounting ring and 'O' ring, to an aperture in the top surface of the tank. The
pump is housed within a reservoir canister kept filled with fuel even at very low tank levels. The pump
connects with a port on the bottom of the canister fitted with a strainer sock in order to screen dirt particles from
the fuel line and help separate any water content from the fuel. The first stage impeller pump draws fuel from
the tank via this sock, and outputs it into the canister, which fills up to its overflow port in the top surface. The
second stage impeller pump draws fuel from within the canister via another strainer sock, and supplies the high
pressure third stage tubine pump which outputs fuel from the top end of the pump into the flexible pipe con-
nected to the supply connection on the pump assembly top plate. From here, fuel is piped to the fuel rail on the
Page 352 1998 / 03