New To The Elise World :-)
Discussion
Hi Guys, firstly apologies if this has posted twice but my computer keeps freezing so I can't tell if my first post went on-line.
Anyway, I finally treated myself to my dream car and bough an Elise S2 (See picture).
I love my car but I have a few issues which may be the norm for this car but I would like to check with the experts to be sure.
1- The steering is quite hard, although I have just come from using a car with power steering. Is this normal for the Elise?
2- The brake is also very hard, I have to slow down slowly at the moment instead of doing a quick stop as the braking seems really hard. The seller did say that the car hadn't been used for a long while so maybe that's why.
3- All the pedals seem hard too infact my leg is aching after a drive because the clutch is so stiff and takes a lot of leg power to press.
4- Air con only blows warm air never cold, what should I check?
5- The alternator has died on my so I am taking the car to a local auto-elec garage to get fixed. Are there any tips I should give the garage as they are not lotus?
Many thanks for your help and hope to get my car on the road soon. I bought it from a private seller who doesn;t seem to want to help me out with my problems.
Thanks
GArry
Anyway, I finally treated myself to my dream car and bough an Elise S2 (See picture).
I love my car but I have a few issues which may be the norm for this car but I would like to check with the experts to be sure.
1- The steering is quite hard, although I have just come from using a car with power steering. Is this normal for the Elise?
2- The brake is also very hard, I have to slow down slowly at the moment instead of doing a quick stop as the braking seems really hard. The seller did say that the car hadn't been used for a long while so maybe that's why.
3- All the pedals seem hard too infact my leg is aching after a drive because the clutch is so stiff and takes a lot of leg power to press.
4- Air con only blows warm air never cold, what should I check?
5- The alternator has died on my so I am taking the car to a local auto-elec garage to get fixed. Are there any tips I should give the garage as they are not lotus?
Many thanks for your help and hope to get my car on the road soon. I bought it from a private seller who doesn;t seem to want to help me out with my problems.
Thanks
GArry
1) At low speed the steering is quite heavy, at higher speed (above about 30mph I suppose), it shouldn't be significantly heavier than a good PAS car.
2) You have to shove the pedal pretty hard to get it to stop because there's no servo in the braking system. You should still be able to lock the wheels up if you try though.
3) I hadn't noticed that the clutch or throttle were particularly heavy. They're a little heavier than your average modern hatchback but you shouldn't be struggling to push them down.
4) Don't have air con so I have no idea. Probably need re-gassing.
5) They need to be very careful if they're going to jack the car up. The jacking points marked under the sills are not suitable full lifting the car fully off the ground - if they try, it might fall off. Tell them to read the handbook before they jack it up.
2) You have to shove the pedal pretty hard to get it to stop because there's no servo in the braking system. You should still be able to lock the wheels up if you try though.
3) I hadn't noticed that the clutch or throttle were particularly heavy. They're a little heavier than your average modern hatchback but you shouldn't be struggling to push them down.
4) Don't have air con so I have no idea. Probably need re-gassing.
5) They need to be very careful if they're going to jack the car up. The jacking points marked under the sills are not suitable full lifting the car fully off the ground - if they try, it might fall off. Tell them to read the handbook before they jack it up.
Thanks for your reply Kambites it's much appreciated.
They have a ramp at the indie garage anyway so no need to worry about them jacking the car up.
I just want to have my car back on the road as I love driving it and so far I have only had three days of fun and now it's off the road. That through me being stupid and not taking a mechanic when buying the car and also having a dodgy seller ;-/
Just one thing, are the gears a bit stiff on th Elise as mine seem to change better at higher speeds and can be a little hit and miss at lower speed?
Maybe it's just a car that needs a little getting used to.
I had a Smart Roadster Brabus before this so the difference is massive.
They have a ramp at the indie garage anyway so no need to worry about them jacking the car up.
I just want to have my car back on the road as I love driving it and so far I have only had three days of fun and now it's off the road. That through me being stupid and not taking a mechanic when buying the car and also having a dodgy seller ;-/
Just one thing, are the gears a bit stiff on th Elise as mine seem to change better at higher speeds and can be a little hit and miss at lower speed?
Maybe it's just a car that needs a little getting used to.
I had a Smart Roadster Brabus before this so the difference is massive.
The gearbox in the k-series Elise isn't very good and the linkage is worse. You can get an uprated linkage kit from Elies Parts (www.eliseparts.com) which helps a bit but it's still not great. You get used to it, it's a lot easier if you heal and toe (or just rev match if you don't care about fast gear changes) when you're changing down through the box. I go so far as to double de-clutch too but that's not really necessary.
I couldn't get on with the rock hard brake pedal so had to buy a 111R. The clutch is IMO quite heavy on this car as well. But it suits it.
When i "try" to drive a regular hatchback or whatever now it is almost comical. The gear level and clutch of these cars feel like a computer game.
When i "try" to drive a regular hatchback or whatever now it is almost comical. The gear level and clutch of these cars feel like a computer game.
I agree with you on that note. I guess it's just getting used to having such a hands on car, rather than a car that does everything at the touch of a button.
I have to say it's a lot more fun but I just wanted to make sure that what I was experiencing wasn't out of character with the car.
I have to say it's a lot more fun but I just wanted to make sure that what I was experiencing wasn't out of character with the car.
optimistique1 said:
Cool, I'm glad that everything seems to be in order then.
Does anyone have any ideas what might be stopping the air con from blowing cold air. I want to mention this to the indie when he sorts out the alternator so any tips of what to look for would be great.
are you sure it has aircon? ...not many 2002 cars did have...it was an option on the 111S from that year I thinkDoes anyone have any ideas what might be stopping the air con from blowing cold air. I want to mention this to the indie when he sorts out the alternator so any tips of what to look for would be great.
what does the dash look like - are there on/off buttons, or is it just a knob for heat, another for air, another vent up/down etc ?
What did you drive before the Elise? Clutch will feel hard, I came from a Suzuki and on my drive back home with Elise, I got cramp in my clutch leg in some traffic, because I wasn't used to a stiffer clutch for a few years (Nothing had quite such a leaden clutch as my parents old Renault 19).
yeah - clutch and brakes will feel 'hard' - thats normal....mind you we have an Aston Vantage and TVR Saggy too and they are just the same, if not worse, so when I used to be in the Elise it was easier
...it all depends on what you are used to.
Brakes will always feel hard as they are unassisted - there is no power assisantce on them like a regular car - learn how to use them and the feel is awesome.
...it all depends on what you are used to.Brakes will always feel hard as they are unassisted - there is no power assisantce on them like a regular car - learn how to use them and the feel is awesome.
Thanks again guys, there's just a few more questions I want to ask and I can't seem to see them anywhere else in the forum:
1- Can I remove the rear view mirror and get it replace with a new one? I so how?
2- Is it possible to get a replacement passenger side footrest and where can I get thenm from. Or, can they be painted?
3- When I wind my window down full the glass seems to rattle a little. Is there anyway to tighthen the glass.
4- how do I know if mine is the later S2.
5- Also how do I know which engine it has?
Many thanks in advance
Garry
1- Can I remove the rear view mirror and get it replace with a new one? I so how?
2- Is it possible to get a replacement passenger side footrest and where can I get thenm from. Or, can they be painted?
3- When I wind my window down full the glass seems to rattle a little. Is there anyway to tighthen the glass.
4- how do I know if mine is the later S2.
5- Also how do I know which engine it has?
Many thanks in advance
Garry
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