Vacuum routing is slightly different between certain model years (and US/UK models). Most of this is US-centric information. This page attempts to disentangle all the vacuum lines in the engine compartment.

The US cars had air pumps equipped for emissions compliance. Most owners removed this system due to the fact that it would frequently break. The diverter valve and the associated plumbing is usually removed. My car kept the diverter valve to make use of the vacuum connecter on the top.

As explained below, the two red boxes are the vacuum solenoids for fuel pressure and ignition. When the solenoids are not energized:

• Purple and Magenta lines are connected (ignition)
• Blue and Cyan lines are connected (fuel pressure)

When the solenoids are energized:

• Purple and Yellow lines are connected (ignition)
• Cyan and Green lines are connected (fuel pressure)

Referring to the colors above:

Orange (this is a vacuum circuit)

• Thin nylon line coming from a “T” off the main vacuum line near the vacuum pump
• Thin nylon line going to the HVAC flap valves
• Connected to airbox
• Connected to the the intake flap valve
• Connected to the top port of the ignition solenoid

Green

• Connected on the front of the intake rail
• Connected to the top port of the fuel pressure solenoid

Magenta

• Connected to the bottom, center port of the ignition solenoid
• Connected to the top port of the distributor (away from the engine)

Purple

• Connected to the bottom, side port of the ignition solenoid
• Connected to the front edge of the first carb

Cyan

• Connected to the bottom port of the distributor (toward the engine)
• Connected to the plenum (center top)
• Connected to the bottom, side port of the fuel pressure regulator
• Clear, hard line to the boost gauge (probably the “whiter” color of the two hard lines).

Blue

• Connected to the bottom, side port of the fuel pressure solenoid
• Connected to the fuel pressure regulator

Brown

• Clear (but probably more yellow), hard line to the oil pressure gauge
• Connected to the Oil Gallery Cover which is right under the distributor, attached to the engine block.

There are a pair of solenoids mounted under the intake plenum for fuel pressure and ignition. Lotus refers to these as part #A910E6634F.

Located beneath front of plenum chamber. Function is to advance ignition on operation of choke. A micro-switch operated by the dashboard end of the choke cable (which also operates the choke tell tale lamp) energises the ignition solenoid. The signal to the distributor vacuum advance capsule (normally connected to No.1 cylinder throttle edge drilling) is then switched to the vacuum pump, and thus full ignition advance is achieved, together with an increase in engine idle speed.

Located beneath rear of plenum chamber. Function is to reduce fuel pressure on 'overun' and idle. A micro-switch, mounted on the front of the front carburettor, and operated by the throttle lever in its fully closed position, energises the fuel pressure solenoid. The signal to the fuel pressure regulator (normally connected to boost pressure in the plenum chamber) is then switched to No.1 cylinder inlet manifold depression, thus reducing fuel pressure to the carburettors and mixture strength under closed throttle 'overun' conditions.

I took some time to test and investigate these solenoids (they are identical parts, but serve two different purposes).

These solenoids are a German Pierburg part (#7.12942.00) they are not necessarily an easy part to find (right now, sourcing one is more than $50 USD each).

I tested the solenoid to see the internal routing when energized and when not. The solenoid switches between connecting the top outlet to the bottom-side outlet when energized, or connecting the bottom center outlet to the bottom-side outlet when NOT energized (polarity doesn't matter).

The least expensive replacement unit is an A/C Solenoid Valve part 1470004 or SW9000. This operates in a similar fashion to the stock unit as long as you set up the vacuum lines properly. These can be purchased for about 1/2 the cost of the Pierburg unit, however, note that the connections are 5mm which are bigger than the stock vacuum lines.