PLEASE HELP....Lotus Elise S1 Keeps Cutting Out

[s1elisedriver]

KingoftheNorth said:

Good!

Did you bypass the immobiliser as well?

no not yet, if it stalls again that's the next thing ill be doing, just got to eliminate these problems one by one fingers crossed.

[KingoftheNorth]

I agree. The aim is pinpointing the problem!

[saaby93]

Have you opened it up to see if it was full of water or corrosion?

[s1elisedriver]

saaby93 said:

Have you opened it up to see if it was full of water or corrosion?

whats that, the coil you mean? nope not yet

[saaby93]

s1elisedriver said:

whats that, the coil you mean? nope not yet

the mfru

[s1elisedriver]

saaby93 said:

he mfru

i couldnt find any corrosion it looked pretty dry, so i don't know if it really is the problem just gonna have to wait and see.

[Andymaserati]

I had what sounds like exactly the same problem a few months back.
As many people have already pointed out, it was the multi function relay.
No visible issues with the old one, but replacing it did fix the problem.

[s1elisedriver]

Andymaserati said:

I had what sounds like exactly the same problem a few months back.
As many people have already pointed out, it was the multi function relay.
No visible issues with the old one, but replacing it did fix the problem.

did it use to to do it on hot days? and would it stall on high temp?

[Will_S]

Sorry for the thread resurrection, but I'm having exactly the same problem.

S1 Elise cuts out if I encounter stop start traffic if it has been driven for an hour; and the outside temp is above 20°C. Won't restart unless you disconnect the MFRU for 10seconds. Then it restarts fine. Will probably run for another 10mins and cuts out again.

If you get out of the stop-start traffic before it cuts out again then it will run fine.

I've replaced the MFRU 3x. First time definitely fixed it, lasted a few months after I'd replaced it with a used MFRU. Second time lasted a month. Then replaced it with a brand new part. And the issue is back again.

Interestingly the problem will occur if there is 11litres or less in the tank. Thought it was just unhappy to have this little fuel in it. Then yesterday 18 litres and it cut out.

Today it was fine, driven it for an hour this morning - absolutely fine. Then an hour this afternoon - hit traffic and kept cutting out.

What's everyone's thoughts?

[UnluckyTimmeh]

Will_S said:

Sorry for the thread resurrection, but I'm having exactly the same problem.

S1 Elise cuts out if I encounter stop start traffic if it has been driven for an hour; and the outside temp is above 20°C. Won't restart unless you disconnect the MFRU for 10seconds. Then it restarts fine. Will probably run for another 10mins and cuts out again.

If you get out of the stop-start traffic before it cuts out again then it will run fine.

I've replaced the MFRU 3x. First time definitely fixed it, lasted a few months after I'd replaced it with a used MFRU. Second time lasted a month. Then replaced it with a brand new part. And the issue is back again.

Interestingly the problem will occur if there is 11litres or less in the tank. Thought it was just unhappy to have this little fuel in it. Then yesterday 18 litres and it cut out.

Today it was fine, driven it for an hour this morning - absolutely fine. Then an hour this afternoon - hit traffic and kept cutting out.

What's everyone's thoughts?

What is the temperature reading? are you getting any warnings first? I.e. Oil pressure light?

[Will_S]

Temp reading is a steady 88°C. Rarely goes above this.

No warning lights until it stalls, then the oil pressure and battery light come on as they would when the car is turned off.

[UnluckyTimmeh]

when you go to start it does it turn over? or does it just click?

[spiralp]

Probably fuel pump issues. Ours was doing this and we initially changed the coil - still did it. Then we changed the crankshaft sensor, but no better. Next option was to change the MFRU and this seemed to resolve it. But the following summer the problem came back. After trial and error we now know if the fuel level gets down to 16-18 litres it is likely to cut out. We now keep the fuel level over 20 litres and have had no further problems. Eventually we will need to change the pump, and maybe the tank as well, but for the moment keeping the tank full is an acceptable work around.

[UnluckyTimmeh]

spiralp said:

Probably fuel pump issues. Ours was doing this and we initially changed the coil - still did it. Then we changed the crankshaft sensor, but no better. Next option was to change the MFRU and this seemed to resolve it. But the following summer the problem came back. After trial and error we now know if the fuel level gets down to 16-18 litres it is likely to cut out. We now keep the fuel level over 20 litres and have had no further problems. Eventually we will need to change the pump, and maybe the tank as well, but for the moment keeping the tank full is an acceptable work around.

^ As above. We had this several times with the race car. Weirdly brought on a sort of missfire type symptom, but new fuel pump seemed to sort it.

[timwatsham]

Hi,

I think I have similar issues - would somebody be able to mail me the details on how to install the immobiliser bypass? Mine arrived from Eliseparts today, but I've been unable to get the plastic cover off the alarm unit, let alone work out which one to plug it into. Either a PM or [e-mail] would be greatly appreciated.

I've managed to trip my immobiliser whilst changing a fuse, and it won't switch off despite using a new battery in the key fob and trying the immobiliser wand on the steering column.

Thanks