Help with new Lotus Elise S3 220 Sport
Discussion
Greetings! I have a brand new 2020 UK spec. S3 220 Sport in the Caribbean. She arrived 6 weeks ago and I have put 800 miles on her.
I have recently had a repeat of an issue that I experienced in my first week of ownership. On each occasion the throttle pedal has stopped being responsive and the engine reverts to idle. On both occasions I cleared the problem by locking and unlocking the car with the fob. Turning the car off and on by itself without using the fob did not help and the car would restart with a smooth idle and an inoperative throttle. No warning lights appeared when the fault was present and my local garage has managed to read the codes in the main ECU and no engine codes are stored. I did briefly have the stability control and check engine spanner appear on the return home from the second incident. Otherwise the car has been faultless.
Has anyone had a similar issue (and what was it)?
My garage cannot get access to the throttle code system codes. Can anyone recommend a code reader that works?
Of course, we do not have a Lotus dealer on Island so we are struggling somewhat. Pretty dangerous fault actually.
Thx!
I have recently had a repeat of an issue that I experienced in my first week of ownership. On each occasion the throttle pedal has stopped being responsive and the engine reverts to idle. On both occasions I cleared the problem by locking and unlocking the car with the fob. Turning the car off and on by itself without using the fob did not help and the car would restart with a smooth idle and an inoperative throttle. No warning lights appeared when the fault was present and my local garage has managed to read the codes in the main ECU and no engine codes are stored. I did briefly have the stability control and check engine spanner appear on the return home from the second incident. Otherwise the car has been faultless.
Has anyone had a similar issue (and what was it)?
My garage cannot get access to the throttle code system codes. Can anyone recommend a code reader that works?
Of course, we do not have a Lotus dealer on Island so we are struggling somewhat. Pretty dangerous fault actually.
Thx!
Hi,
Sorry to hear your issues. Hopefully you’ll get some practical advice shortly. Unfortunately I can’t help you, but would suggest you also post on seloc .org as you might get a quicker response. Also thelotusforums.
They’re usually reliable cars - so hopefully this is just a glitch.
Also, who is going to do your running in service if you don’t have a dealer, is there an ‘approved’ garage locally that can help? Sorry if that’s a stupid question. I guess the running in service isn’t a technically challenging thing, more just for the warranty (which we usually get 1 year in the U.K.).
All the best.
Sorry to hear your issues. Hopefully you’ll get some practical advice shortly. Unfortunately I can’t help you, but would suggest you also post on seloc .org as you might get a quicker response. Also thelotusforums.
They’re usually reliable cars - so hopefully this is just a glitch.
Also, who is going to do your running in service if you don’t have a dealer, is there an ‘approved’ garage locally that can help? Sorry if that’s a stupid question. I guess the running in service isn’t a technically challenging thing, more just for the warranty (which we usually get 1 year in the U.K.).
All the best.
Edited by SELON on Saturday 6th February 09:00
Since posting, I have identified a poster on one of the US forums who experienced exactly the same problem with a late-model Exige. He is still posting and seems not to be grumbling about it any more so I guess he solved the problem. I will see what he says when I am admitted to that forum.
My UK supplying dealer is helping with identifying service requirements etc. for us. I registered the car in the UK and then immediately exported it myself so it is not a UK dealer doing exports not permitted by the manufacturer. I am in touch with the dealer's service department who have not previously experienced my exact problem.
To answer the question about why I do not drive around to my local dealer waving my warranty, we are a small Island of 60k people with no Lotus dealership. You take a risk importing a vehicle that does not have on-Island support. Many people do and ultimately we seem to manage.
Thanks all.
is it in limp mode, or just unresponsive throttle?
throttle sensor? straightforward fix if UK dealer can diagnose and send out part. (£70 and 20min replace)
i recently had a spanner light on a 2011 S3, but throttle mostly ok. that too showed no codes on an ordinary reader but dealer changed throttle sensor.
good luck
throttle sensor? straightforward fix if UK dealer can diagnose and send out part. (£70 and 20min replace)
i recently had a spanner light on a 2011 S3, but throttle mostly ok. that too showed no codes on an ordinary reader but dealer changed throttle sensor.
good luck
This is 99% likely to be the brake switch sensor not being properly adjusted. It's a GM part with 2 switches inside. If it's not correctly adjusted, it can cause the throttle to cut to idle for several seconds as the traction control system has an input from the brakes.
I had exactly the same problem, and it took the dealer about 10 minutes to fix it. They'd seen it before.
Mat.,
I had exactly the same problem, and it took the dealer about 10 minutes to fix it. They'd seen it before.
Mat.,
Update - changed over the brake switch as suggested by mathubbard and no recurrence.
I also decided to invest in the factory diagnostic tool and support which is probably (a lot of) money well spent.
We discovered we had an active code for the brake switch (P0571) and an historic code (U0200 CAN error between ECM and ABS). Code on brake switch could possibly have been from our investigations before the diagnostic tool arrived. Anyway all good so far......
I also decided to invest in the factory diagnostic tool and support which is probably (a lot of) money well spent.
We discovered we had an active code for the brake switch (P0571) and an historic code (U0200 CAN error between ECM and ABS). Code on brake switch could possibly have been from our investigations before the diagnostic tool arrived. Anyway all good so far......
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