Battery light ON ???

[SebM]

Hello,

Since today at noon, the battery light, on my Elise S2, is ON... but I drove the car without any problem, I stopped, restart, etc... everything is OK, except that the battery light still ON !!!

Nothing relevant written in Elise owner guide... :-(

Do you know that ?
Any idea ??

Tomorrow I will have a trip (400km), can I dot it, without any problem ??

Thanks and regards,
Seb

[xxplod]

There was a similar post to this recently. I had my alternator changed at my last service under warranty. I was told that Lotus are aware of problems on alernators fitted to S2 Elises, which were leading to premature failure of the alternator. I'd had no problems with mine at all, no lights on, nothing, but they said it was starting to become "noisy" so they changed it.

As an aside, it goes to show, it can pay to stay with the franchised dealers, at least until the car is well over 2 years old. The last service was my first 'B' service, so it came in at £350. I thought about taking it to some of the reputable independants. Glad I didn't. If I had, I wouldn't have got the work done FOC by Lotus, and a new alternator fitted is a £400 + touch.

My advice - pop down to your local dealer and ask them to check it. Mines a 2002 111S.

[SebM]

Mine is a new one... normal Elise S2 (120hp), model 2004...

No special noise on my car...

OK I will go to the nearest Lotus dealer on monday, but do you thing I can use it tomorrow for a 400km (250miles I thing) trip??

[steff]

Check the fan belt as its probably snapped/ loose and if you carry on driving the car the battery will loose all its charge and dump you at the side of the road somewhere.

[fergusd]

Oh for goodness sake . . . read the owners manual . . . battery light on = battey not charging = the battery will run flat and you will be standed . . . so NO you cannot go for a 400Km drive tomorrow . . .

Unless YOU KNOW how to check the alternator is working you will have to get someone to take a look at it.

Also . . . £400+ for an alternator . . . someone has been having a laugh at your expense ! . . . even from Lotus a new alt only costs 240inc, I can assure you they pay way less than 1/2 that for a replacement, same part, identical, standard rover part. Takes about 1.5 hours to change.

Fd

[xxplod]

Fergus - I could not agree more about Lotus having a laugh with their parts prices. I think the part price was circa £250, plus their labour at 1.5 times £80ph, and hey presto, best part of £400!

Like when they told me my rear pads needed replacing. "How much?" I ask. Pads, £92 + VAT, plus the labour to fit them. "I think I'll get them done elsewhere."

[fergusd]

xxplod said:

Fergus - I could not agree more about Lotus having a laugh with their parts prices. I think the part price was circa £250, plus their labour at 1.5 times £80ph, and hey presto, best part of £400!

Well if you even need reasonably priced, brand new, OEM alternator . . . gimme a shout . . . ;-)

Fd/LotusEcosse

[Badapple]

SebM said:

Hello, Since today at noon, the battery light, on my Elise S2, is ON... but I drove the car without any problem, I stopped, restart, etc... everything is OK, except that the battery light still ON !!! Nothing relevant written in Elise owner guide... :-( Do you know that ? Any idea ?? Tomorrow I will have a trip (400km), can I dot it, without any problem ?? Thanks and regards, Seb

Yep mine went a couple of months back, it's about £17 for the belt (from lotus) & a hours labour.

[UH-Matt]

Had my alternator go last week and replaced under warranty.

£440 = lotus dealer (£250 for part, plus labour).
£370 was quote from my local garage (non Lotus).