Help......Race exhaust and dash warning light
Discussion
Hi folks,
My 2 year old S2 came with Authorised dealer sports exhaust and Cat by-pass (cost 700+ quid), however the Malfunction Indicator light on the dash keeps coming on.
The car went in 3 weeks ago when the light came on and the dealer said it was due to a problem with the Cat (which my car doesn't have!!!), so they just reset the light.
Yesterday it came on again. Surely this can't be right. I don't want to have to keep paying for them to reset the light every 2 bloody weeks.
Does anyone know if the dealer should be doing something other than just resetting the light ?
I've only had the Elise 3 months and had 5 faults with it already, I hate moaning about it all the time when it's a fantastic car to drive and looks the absolute dog's.
Big thanks,
Gib
My 2 year old S2 came with Authorised dealer sports exhaust and Cat by-pass (cost 700+ quid), however the Malfunction Indicator light on the dash keeps coming on.
The car went in 3 weeks ago when the light came on and the dealer said it was due to a problem with the Cat (which my car doesn't have!!!), so they just reset the light.
Yesterday it came on again. Surely this can't be right. I don't want to have to keep paying for them to reset the light every 2 bloody weeks.
Does anyone know if the dealer should be doing something other than just resetting the light ?
I've only had the Elise 3 months and had 5 faults with it already, I hate moaning about it all the time when it's a fantastic car to drive and looks the absolute dog's.
Big thanks,
Gib
firstly, is the dealer the one you brought your car from? and secondly, is the exhaust/CRP from that dealer?
if both are in the affirmative, then get down there and give 'em hell.
Tell them to either fix it or you'll repudiate the car cos its not "fit for its purpose". Say its not "satisfactory quality" and you want your money back by the end of the week, ortherwise you'll get uncle drag to sort them/be getting some legal advice.
tell them your going to complain to lotus and "the papers"/watchdog.
They'll sort it out. trust me.
if both are in the affirmative, then get down there and give 'em hell.
Tell them to either fix it or you'll repudiate the car cos its not "fit for its purpose". Say its not "satisfactory quality" and you want your money back by the end of the week, ortherwise you'll get uncle drag to sort them/be getting some legal advice.
tell them your going to complain to lotus and "the papers"/watchdog.
They'll sort it out. trust me.
The MIL light is coming on to warn you that you have a problem with the functioning of your CAT. Which you do because you haven't got one and therefore it's not cleaning up the exhaust gasses.
There are two O2 (Lambda) sensors on the S2 exhaust system. One at the end of the manifold, just before the CAT and one just after the CAT. The second (post CAT) sensor is there to compare the reading of the exhaust gas with the reading from the first sensor. If the ECU doesn't detect a difference (depending on a stupid number of tricky to reproduce criteria) it will trigger the MIL light.
As you're got a CRP there really isn't anything to worry about because your CAT isn't damaged. It's just annoying that the light is on.
On the other hand if you bought from a dealer and they sold you the car with a CRP then they're very naughty people because the CRP isn't strictly what we could call legal on the road. Also if they didn't include the original CAT with the car then you're going to be in for a bit of expense come MOT time as the car won't pass the emmissions test without a CAT (well OK you might get lucky but it's unlikely).
There is one little thing you can do though in the meantime and that is to fit a MIL Eliminator, which you wire into the wires coming from the post CAT sensor and that fudge the signals so that the ECU is fooled into thinking the CAT is working and so prevents the MIL light coming on. You can get them from Geary at Eliseparts I believe.
The sports exhaust won't have any bearing on the MIL light whatsoever so breathe a little easy there
There are two O2 (Lambda) sensors on the S2 exhaust system. One at the end of the manifold, just before the CAT and one just after the CAT. The second (post CAT) sensor is there to compare the reading of the exhaust gas with the reading from the first sensor. If the ECU doesn't detect a difference (depending on a stupid number of tricky to reproduce criteria) it will trigger the MIL light.
As you're got a CRP there really isn't anything to worry about because your CAT isn't damaged. It's just annoying that the light is on.
On the other hand if you bought from a dealer and they sold you the car with a CRP then they're very naughty people because the CRP isn't strictly what we could call legal on the road. Also if they didn't include the original CAT with the car then you're going to be in for a bit of expense come MOT time as the car won't pass the emmissions test without a CAT (well OK you might get lucky but it's unlikely).
There is one little thing you can do though in the meantime and that is to fit a MIL Eliminator, which you wire into the wires coming from the post CAT sensor and that fudge the signals so that the ECU is fooled into thinking the CAT is working and so prevents the MIL light coming on. You can get them from Geary at Eliseparts I believe.
The sports exhaust won't have any bearing on the MIL light whatsoever so breathe a little easy there
Gib,
dont threaten them with anything. The best thing to do, is be nice and reason with them. If there is no joy, try another dealer (if there is one close by). If there is not, then give them sh1t.
DONT walk in spouting this and that (like i suggested
). There really is no need. I just get excited when a "real" problem comes along instead of fake ones/old cases. Hi Rob!
Long time, no see. I may need a little help (nothing serious), so i may drop you a mail soon
As has been mentioned the MIL light is coming on correctly . . . it's the lack of CAT that is causing it and it will keep on coming on unless you fit a cat OR botch the signal from the second lambda probe.
If your dealer does not understand this . . . I'd get another dealer who understands the most basic principles of how the car works . . .
Fd
If your dealer does not understand this . . . I'd get another dealer who understands the most basic principles of how the car works . . .
Fd
Could be wrong but I thought the cat was required to pass the MOT. Strictly speaking I think you are required to rectify the fault (as indicated by the MIL light) within a reasonable period or you are committing an offence. Probably not too important day-to-day but a bugger if you need an MOT.
Yeah you won't get through MoT and technically could be done at a drive by emissions test. Lots of people risk it and use a mil eliminator to prevent it causing your light to come on (they cost about 10 quid). The problem is you will need a cat for the MOT and they cost a fair amount. I'd be going back to where you bought it and asking for rectification as the car isn't road legal at the moment.
Wow thanks guys for all the info.
Drag, I won't be giving the garage hell, I'll be giving them the auld Glasgow kiss...
(replace wall with someone's nose)
Unfortunately the dealer I bought the car from isn't the one who fitted the exhaust, although the one who fitted the exhaust is an main Lotus dealer.
On the MOT bit, the main dealer said that they will refit a CAT, MOT the car, then remove it again (at a cost). However one of my mate's does MOT's so I should be sorted anyway
I think I'll be having a go at the main dealer regarding this mil eliminator as they should have sorted this out when they removed the CAT in the first place.
Thanks again.
Drag, I won't be giving the garage hell, I'll be giving them the auld Glasgow kiss...
(replace wall with someone's nose) Unfortunately the dealer I bought the car from isn't the one who fitted the exhaust, although the one who fitted the exhaust is an main Lotus dealer.
On the MOT bit, the main dealer said that they will refit a CAT, MOT the car, then remove it again (at a cost). However one of my mate's does MOT's so I should be sorted anyway
I think I'll be having a go at the main dealer regarding this mil eliminator as they should have sorted this out when they removed the CAT in the first place.
Thanks again.
Guys,
Managed to get the exhaust and MIL light all sorted, but not before I had total rant at the garage head guy.
The first fix they did was to replace my race exhaust with a standard exhaust (from another car they had). I drove away thinking how quiet the car sounded. Stopped, checked the exhaust and went back. They said that I had asked for the car to made legal so they had put a standard exhaust on. Christ I went ballistic, I had asked for a CAT to be fitted, not for my 700 quid race exhaust to be replaced
.
I then had a wee chat with the head guy. I detailed all the faults I'd had with the car and all the mistakes they had made. I then asked for my money back. He nearly had a heart attack.
They have now put a Cat on my race exhaust, given me the link pipe and extended my warranty by another 6 months....result
This site is superb, thanks for all your help.
Gib.
>> Edited by gib on Thursday 20th May 08:51
Managed to get the exhaust and MIL light all sorted, but not before I had total rant at the garage head guy.
The first fix they did was to replace my race exhaust with a standard exhaust (from another car they had). I drove away thinking how quiet the car sounded. Stopped, checked the exhaust and went back. They said that I had asked for the car to made legal so they had put a standard exhaust on. Christ I went ballistic, I had asked for a CAT to be fitted, not for my 700 quid race exhaust to be replaced
. I then had a wee chat
with the head guy. I detailed all the faults I'd had with the car and all the mistakes they had made. I then asked for my money back. He nearly had a heart attack. They have now put a Cat on my race exhaust, given me the link pipe and extended my warranty by another 6 months....result
This site is superb, thanks for all your help.
Gib.
>> Edited by gib on Thursday 20th May 08:51
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