Discussion
I was just wondering if anyone has a problem with the Elise freezing up solid on a cold morning?
I keep my car on the road & this morning is was frozen solid, could not get in the car for 10 minutes! All the windows inside were frozen, both windows were frozen up, i had to wait 30 minutes before i could set off for work!
Also it seems to struggle to start, turning over very slowly before kicking into life.
Not sure if these items are normal for an Elise? (car only 6 months old).
Cheers
I keep my car on the road & this morning is was frozen solid, could not get in the car for 10 minutes! All the windows inside were frozen, both windows were frozen up, i had to wait 30 minutes before i could set off for work!
Also it seems to struggle to start, turning over very slowly before kicking into life.
Not sure if these items are normal for an Elise? (car only 6 months old).
Cheers
Mine turned over slowly this morning but started. I don't lock it if it's going to freeze! My other half's S1 was totally frozen up, both locks. In the end, we got the key and stuck it in boiling water, then put it in the lock for 30 seconds and hey presto it opened.
best thing to do (once you get the door open) is to leave it idling for a bit with the fans on. I scraped the windscreen this morning, then drove off and the whole thing steamed up and went icy again. I had to stop and rescrape
best thing to do (once you get the door open) is to leave it idling for a bit with the fans on. I scraped the windscreen this morning, then drove off and the whole thing steamed up and went icy again. I had to stop and rescrape
It took me a while to get going this morning, and down south the temp only fell to -4, so god knows what the temp was up with you, i was referring to me and not the car ! I would guess that the car being out on the road was open to the elements, ie; no shelter, i wont tempt fate and say no probs here yet, as i haven't started mine up for a three days. I think its down to your battery that's all, they tend not to want to be too lively first thing in cold weather, i doubt its any thing more sinister than that...
Same with my car (S1) - turns over very slowly but does start okay. Best thing for the locks is to spray LOADS of WD40 into the lock (open up the keyhole so it penetrates) and all around the button - but do this the night before. It stops the lock from freezing up completely so you can still get in & out okay.
For the screen & windows I use the kettle with warm water from the tap and a the rubber strip on the side of an ice scraper. Melt the ice off the screen and windows and immediately squeegy all the water off so it's dry. Shoulnd't be anything left to re-freeze then. If the inside of your screen is frozen too, then apply more warm water to the outside until it warms through then you can sponge out the inside! Don't try & wind your windows up & down if they are frozen, they'll jump out of the runners.
I know all this from 6 years of Lotus practice
For the screen & windows I use the kettle with warm water from the tap and a the rubber strip on the side of an ice scraper. Melt the ice off the screen and windows and immediately squeegy all the water off so it's dry. Shoulnd't be anything left to re-freeze then. If the inside of your screen is frozen too, then apply more warm water to the outside until it warms through then you can sponge out the inside! Don't try & wind your windows up & down if they are frozen, they'll jump out of the runners.
I know all this from 6 years of Lotus practice
My first winter in an Elise and yes, it is a big ball of ice in the mornings!
Both locks frozen this morning (but not the boot, curiously enough
). What works brilliantly is a little dab of water from the kettle over the lock itself (just a little) and over the key too. Opens right away then! Then comes all the fun and games of icing and re-icing. The spray deicer works pretty well, but it does steam up on the inside within seconds. I may have to get up earlier on Monday! (shock horror!).
Does turn over pretty slowly too, btw, but sparks easy enough after a couple of rotations.
www.sonicnonsense.com
>> Edited by Sonic Nonsense on Friday 18th November 10:54
Both locks frozen this morning (but not the boot, curiously enough
). What works brilliantly is a little dab of water from the kettle over the lock itself (just a little) and over the key too. Opens right away then! Then comes all the fun and games of icing and re-icing. The spray deicer works pretty well, but it does steam up on the inside within seconds. I may have to get up earlier on Monday! (shock horror!). Does turn over pretty slowly too, btw, but sparks easy enough after a couple of rotations.
www.sonicnonsense.com
>> Edited by Sonic Nonsense on Friday 18th November 10:54
WD 40 in the locks the night before - lasts for weeks. Keep a tin of de-icer in the house / car and an old towel in the car. Go to the car, start the ignition with fans on full. Spray and wipe the windcreen - a bit of deicer on the inside as well. Don't forget side windows. The fans will be on while you are doing this.
Get in - gone in 2 min even at -6 this morning - then hit black ice on the roads and be glad for someone called Andy Walsh. Until the heater starts to blow warm air, rue not taking that job in the caribbean.
Careful with the warm water - many people have cracked the windscreen.
Get in - gone in 2 min even at -6 this morning - then hit black ice on the roads and be glad for someone called Andy Walsh. Until the heater starts to blow warm air, rue not taking that job in the caribbean.
Careful with the warm water - many people have cracked the windscreen.
He he, this is where having a recent S2 has its advantages: remote central locking and a lined soft-top mean start engine, scrape windscreen and side windows, by the time I'm finished the windscreen is virtually demisted, albeit 5 mins driving with the windows open. And the air-con owners have a totally clear screen within a few seconds...
Hello everyone.
Got in my exige (S2) yesterday to drive to work and the throttle got presumably frozen open, which took me a bit by surprise on the slippy roads, had to drive with clutch in or brakes on as couldnt move pedal at all was sitting between 3000- 6000 rpm when stopped. restarted engine, same problem but with speddo jumping all over the shop and then engone warning light came on (and has stayed on). Phoned garage who say must just be cold, when asked if car cannot handle cold he said it can and to try again. Was ok on way home but this morning early morning drive same again and this time having to negotiate roundabouts at -4 with jammed throttle was interesting, though when going up hill on motorway car slowed to 25mph as couldnt even accelerate. My exige must be the biggest quality control oversight as the list of problems and replacement parts and days in the garage are too long to number and the dealers seem to know as much about lotus cars as my goldfish. am going to have to start a campaign to get lotus to restore my confidence in my car and them, think im going to have to get my ladas tyre fixed so i dont get killed in the lotus. Poor reflection on lotus when a lada is more reliable. All that said when it works and the sun shines all is forgiven
Got in my exige (S2) yesterday to drive to work and the throttle got presumably frozen open, which took me a bit by surprise on the slippy roads, had to drive with clutch in or brakes on as couldnt move pedal at all was sitting between 3000- 6000 rpm when stopped. restarted engine, same problem but with speddo jumping all over the shop and then engone warning light came on (and has stayed on). Phoned garage who say must just be cold, when asked if car cannot handle cold he said it can and to try again. Was ok on way home but this morning early morning drive same again and this time having to negotiate roundabouts at -4 with jammed throttle was interesting, though when going up hill on motorway car slowed to 25mph as couldnt even accelerate. My exige must be the biggest quality control oversight as the list of problems and replacement parts and days in the garage are too long to number and the dealers seem to know as much about lotus cars as my goldfish. am going to have to start a campaign to get lotus to restore my confidence in my car and them, think im going to have to get my ladas tyre fixed so i dont get killed in the lotus. Poor reflection on lotus when a lada is more reliable. All that said when it works and the sun shines all is forgiven
New car, well bought it new in june. Going to take it to the garage to check the ECU but waiting for them to get the new steering rack and radiator that are needing replaced. the stuck throttle seems to be something jamming throttle cable as the pedal was stuck, unable to press or lift back up until i stopped and yanked it up. also at engine end the cable was slack with no recoil. Trying to minimise the number of trips to the garage so might will just need to keep my wits about me until garage gets my other parts.
dont spray water around the lock - it will stay in there and freeze worse!
Ideally you want carbon graphite from a locksmith to lube the lock with - it wont freeze up then - if you cant get hold of this, then dont use oil - this will attract dust/dirt...either use some WD40 which will displace water or proper lock de-icer in a small bottle - about £3 from Halfords...AND keep it with you/house not in the car
Ideally you want carbon graphite from a locksmith to lube the lock with - it wont freeze up then - if you cant get hold of this, then dont use oil - this will attract dust/dirt...either use some WD40 which will displace water or proper lock de-icer in a small bottle - about £3 from Halfords...AND keep it with you/house not in the car
Cheers bogie, i know that water around the lock only makes matters worse in the long run, but i had to get in the car by some means. went for WD40 last night so the water should of been removed (gave it a right old good squirt) and wa-la, key straight in and no problems this morning. great advice, thanks
Tanman
Tanman
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