Problem with my 'S'

[TTwiggy]

long storey short, I had a little problem yesterday with my MY07 Elise S. It wouldn't start after a longish run, and then when it did it 'hunted' like mad. I gave it a while to settle and then tried again. This time it started but I had a (constant not flashing) MIL light. I nursed it home (actually it ran fine, but there was a different note to the engine - almost sounded like it was sucking air like a turbo) and called Lotus assist (aka The AA)...

The engineer could do nothing, except to confirm that it had recorded an engine management fault.

So, currently it's booked in at Lipscombe for Thursday, but checking it again later last night, it seems to have sorted itself out (started fine, no MIL light and a regular note from the engine)

So, do I take a day off work for potentially nothing, or is it safer to get it looked at? (I guess I probably know the answer, but just canvassing opinion)...

[andy_s]

You know it's the right thing to do...

[stringthing]

I certainly don't have much technical knowledge, but on the two occasions my SR has triggrd the MIL, I've just been careful for a few days and limited the rpm. After a few start / stop cycles the MIL has reset both times on it's own and I've experienced no further problems for about a year. Now I do know that some fault codes are more serious than others and require immediate Dealer attention, but if I were you, rather than take a day off work, I would run it as normal (off cam 2) for a few days and see how things progress.

[TTwiggy]

stringthing said:

I would run it as normal (off cam 2) for a few days and see how things progress.

if only I had a second cam!...

[Beachbum]

Usually getting it to the Dealers and them interogating the code, gives them either something useful, or a 3112(?) code, which basically means miscellanious(SP?) error. If its the latter, they reset the code and say, come back if it reoccurs. I know, mine did it about 6 times in 5 months. In the end turned out that an ECU software upgrade resolved the issue.
This was early 2005 on a 111R, so unless Lotus have followed the same rule of testing, which is, let the buyers do the testing, you may find you get nothing more than the above.

[TTwiggy]

Beachbum said:

Usually getting it to the Dealers and them interogating the code, gives them either something useful, or a 3112(?) code, which basically means miscellanious(SP?) error. If its the latter, they reset the code and say, come back if it reoccurs. I know, mine did it about 6 times in 5 months. In the end turned out that an ECU software upgrade resolved the issue.
This was early 2005 on a 111R, so unless Lotus have followed the same rule of testing, which is, let the buyers do the testing, you may find you get nothing more than the above.

interestingly the dealer did mention that there had been an ECU upgrade for the S, and that might sort it out. It must be a very new upgrade as the car was only serviced in July, but hey-ho...

Maybe I'll leave it and see how things progress...

[miro]

Flashing MIL (IIRC) is a serious one .. steady MIL is a warning. I have an elise S (56) and there was an update last christmas, none since afaik as i have had reoccurring MIL light (system too lean) due to a dirty MAF as it turns out. I have invested in a fault code reader though. Where abouts in the country are you. I know Lipscombe have a long catchment area as they are so good.

[TTwiggy]

miro said:

Flashing MIL (IIRC) is a serious one .. steady MIL is a warning. I have an elise S (56) and there was an update last christmas, none since afaik as i have had reoccurring MIL light (system too lean) due to a dirty MAF as it turns out. I have invested in a fault code reader though. Where abouts in the country are you. I know Lipscombe have a long catchment area as they are so good.

SE London...

[miro]

Aaah I don't get that way too often I would reccomend getting it checked just for peace of mind especially as you are under waranty