HELP! Everything died!!!

[gruffy]

Picked up my Mk1 111s on Friday and everything was going well. Then, 15 miles ago all the stack lights came on and the fuel indicator read full, both for about 10 seconds. Afterwards, everything reset and the performance was down. Very high revs for the speed based on before (ECU reset?).

Nothing terminal, until, just now the car completely died. Engine stopped, no alarm, not starter motor, nothing.

Can anybody help?

Gruffy

[TheLemming]

gruffy said:

Picked up my Mk1 111s on Friday and everything was going well. Then, 15 miles ago all the stack lights came on and the fuel indicator read full, both for about 10 seconds. Afterwards, everything reset and the performance was down. Very high revs for the speed based on before (ECU reset?). Nothing terminal, until, just now the car completely died. Engine stopped, no alarm, not starter motor, nothing. Can anybody help? Gruffy

Probably a stupid question, but have you checked the fuses and battery connections?

[gruffy]

Yeah, checking them now.
Not even the hazards worked so I suspect its something along those lines.

Gruffy

[gruffy]

OK, checked her again just now and there is an intermittent beep coming from the area below the stereo. I have some lights when I turn the key now but no ignition. I'm guessing the immobiliser has been tripped by the loss of power.

She's still 'going in' tomorrow as it'll only happen again (and probably further from home this time!).

Gruffy

[S Works]

Knackered battery? Check the relays, could be or more one of those gone, especially if it's been out in the rain of late (they fill up with water easily). In case you didn't know there's a set in the front inspection cover (on the passenger side) - check them out.

When one of mine went the intermittent beep was a feature amongst other issues. New relay sorted it all.

[notlaw1977]

Hi there mate. It maybe the battery. I had the same problem last year on a track day. I found that my battery was the wrong way round, therefore, as I went round a corner the battery moved and shorted on the metal bits in the car. To solve the problem I wedged a block of rubber over the battery and the bracket.

Its worked. Done 14 track days like that without a problem. The stack systems within the car should "learn themselves" so I was told when it happened and yes this was the case.

notlaw1977

[Gruffy]

notlaw1977 said:

Hi there mate. It maybe the battery. I had the same problem last year on a track day. I found that my battery was the wrong way round, therefore, as I went round a corner the battery moved and shorted on the metal bits in the car. To solve the problem I wedged a block of rubber over the battery and the bracket. Its worked. Done 14 track days like that without a problem. The stack systems within the car should "learn themselves" so I was told when it happened and yes this was the case. notlaw1977

Right on the money.
The battery must have slid to the left and the bare connection contacted with the open metalwork in the bay. I did get caught out in a ferocious rain storm on Sunday night too which might have been a factor.

Anybody know what I should do about the ECU? The performance is noticeably slower than before my little incident. notlaw, are you suggesting that the ECU will reprogram itself over time?

Thanks for all the input guys. Much appreciated.

Gruffy

[X-Box]

The ECU's do learn the characteristics of each particular engine.

If its running smoothly, but with less power, it may have just retarded the ignition as a precaution, like a safe limp-home mode - possibly caused by the battery shorting out on the engine and freaking it out.

If this is the case, it will advance the ignition over time, until it gets back to the maximum it deems safe for your engine. A few tanks of finest optimax should help

>> Edited by X-Box on Tuesday 26th October 16:35

[Gruffy]

That's reassuring to read!
I guess I should drive as I would normally to allow the remapping to be accurate to my driving style?
I'm sure it's a constant learning process, but any ballpark idea on how long a process like this takes?

Gruffy

[S Works]

Gruffy said:

Right on the money. The battery must have slid to the left and the bare connection contacted with the open metalwork in the bay. I did get caught out in a ferocious rain storm on Sunday night too which might have been a factor.

Yes! Another win for PH! Pleased for you it's sorted Gruffy

Gruffy said:

That's reassuring to read! I guess I should drive as I would normally to allow the remapping to be accurate to my driving style? I'm sure it's a constant learning process, but any ballpark idea on how long a process like this takes? Gruffy

Ages I reckon - you'd better get out there and drive it as much as you can just to make sure

[340ragtop]

very, very dangerous situation and potentially life threatening - see it lots.

A fire in the front of an elise is not a pretty sight. Needs sorting, preferably with the latest battery bracket from Lotus not a block of wood or rubber.

cheers