Lotus died again. - Page 2 - LotusTalk

marcinr · 12-29-2008, 06:57 PM

I haven't had my Lotus long enough to encounter this problem yet, but I have had it in my Toyota and my Infiniti. In both cases, it was the idle air control valve. In front of the throttle butterfly, there's a little valve that opens up to keep the idle higher when the engine is cold and also sets the idle speed when the engine is warm. If the motor stops working, or it clogs up, then your car will have a bad idle or won't idle at all. Press your gas pedal down a little bit and try to start it, if it starts and runs, that's probably your problem.

Like I said, I haven't messed with that part of the Lotus yet, but it most likely has this valve since it's a mandatory emissions system component. I'm not near the car at the moment, so I can't check exactly where the valve is right now, but it will be on the air-intake side of the throttle butterfly.

Demonized · 12-29-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcinr

I haven't had my Lotus long enough to encounter this problem yet, but I have had it in my Toyota and my Infiniti. In both cases, it was the idle air control valve. In front of the throttle butterfly, there's a little valve that opens up to keep the idle higher when the engine is cold and also sets the idle speed when the engine is warm. If the motor stops working, or it clogs up, then your car will have a bad idle or won't idle at all. Press your gas pedal down a little bit and try to start it, if it starts and runs, that's probably your problem.

Like I said, I haven't messed with that part of the Lotus yet, but it most likely has this valve since it's a mandatory emissions system component. I'm not near the car at the moment, so I can't check exactly where the valve is right now, but it will be on the air-intake side of the throttle butterfly.

Thanks for your input, unfortunately no amount of throttle fetteling keeps an idle, it will barely do more than crack, it sounds like it turns over, but then sorta just doesn't.

Hopefully the Dealer will have an answer for me soon.

MattG · 12-30-2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonized

Thanks for your input, unfortunately no amount of throttle fetteling keeps an idle, it will barely do more than crack, it sounds like it turns over, but then sorta just doesn't.

Weird! You can ignore my comments about the throttle adjustment then, that's just fine tuning, and you need much more than that!

Have you hooked up a code reader to see if there are any relevant codes stored? I'm not certain the CEL will come on for every possible trouble code so it's worth checking.

Demonized · 12-30-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattG

Weird! You can ignore my comments about the throttle adjustment then, that's just fine tuning, and you need much more than that!

Have you hooked up a code reader to see if there are any relevant codes stored? I'm not certain the CEL will come on for every possible trouble code so it's worth checking.

I don't have an ODBII reader, which I am assuming is what I would need.

I have alot of stuff going on over this next week so I might wait on getting the car to Ferrari of Denver. But if you have a code reader, and feel like stopping by for a beer, let me know

xceed · 12-30-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonized

I don't have an ODBII reader, which I am assuming is what I would need.

I have alot of stuff going on over this next week so I might wait on getting the car to Ferrari of Denver. But if you have a code reader, and feel like stopping by for a beer, let me know

DealExtreme: $107.00 U581 CAN OBDII/EOBDII Memo Scanner with Live Data * EMS

or this if you want to run it off your laptop

DealExtreme: $56.57 ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II Wireless Transceiver Dongle

Demonized · 12-30-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xceed

DealExtreme: $107.00 U581 CAN OBDII/EOBDII Memo Scanner with Live Data * EMS

or this if you want to run it off your laptop

DealExtreme: $56.57 ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II Wireless Transceiver Dongle

Thanks, will order one today

xeeeejme · 12-30-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonized

But I have 3/4th of a tank left

Though... I figure it's either bad fuel, the fuel pump, or something TBW related.

If you have a 2005, it's not a TBW, unless I'm misinterpreting what you mean by TBW. (throttle by wire started in 06)

chapster5 · 12-30-2008, 03:19 PM

Hmm, sounds like my friends Astra when i borke (By accident)

Tryed fitting an Amp and Sub but i disconnected the Negative off the batery which did something to his engine. It would Turn over just not Tick over but i dont know how the y fixed it, he took it to a garage and they said they put a new Wiring Loom in it. Good Luck anyway

Demonized · 12-30-2008, 11:22 PM

I'm assuming it will be something really simple that I'm just not checking right, more than likely it's something someone already said.

Now I need to stop slacking, order the code reader already (told you I was slacking)!

Demonized · 01-01-2009, 01:50 AM

Great news, I'm sobering up from The New Years events..

Tried to start the car just to see if it would, and got the "Your battery is freaking dead" clicks, so I suppose it may have been a battery problem all along.

FloridaRob · 01-01-2009, 04:26 AM

I just bought my 06 Elise a week ago with 16k miles on it. It still had the factory battery in it. I'm new to this Lotus thing but, from what I've heard, the factory batteries are crappy. My car would not start in the showroom at the dealer(Lotus of Jacksonville) before I took it out for a test drive. Once we got it started, it ran fine. I drove 120 miles home and then next day, it was kind of hard to start, but it did start. Seemed to have a weak idle at first. Drove it about 25 miles and everything was good. I took it to the window tinting place and while they had the doors open to tint the windows, that small rear dome light was on. It was only on for about 30 minutes. When I went to pull out of the tint room, car would only crank but not start. Jump started the car, car ran fine. Drove it the rest of the day with no problems. Next day, no go. Had to jump it. Went directly to Advanced Auto parts and bought a new battery. Got on the phone with the parts dept. at Lotus dealer and they recommended a Optima Gel Cell. I believe it was the yellow series. Ever since, that car starts so easily and the idle after a cold start is way better. I was detailing the car yesterday and while I detailed it, I had the radio going the whole time, approx 1 hour. Got in the car, and started right up with no probs. I'm not near my car right now, but if the battery seems to be the issue for you, I can get you the number of exactly what battery I bought. Unfortunately, the dang battery was $220 but if that's what it takes for a dependable starting, it's a small price.

DeanG · 01-01-2009, 10:06 AM

Once upon a time in the bad old days before the Elise I was talking with the Lotus USA (LCU) service manager. He suggested that anyone who bought a new Esprit and didn't change out the battery was nuts. Changing out the battery would often make odd problems disappear.

At that time the cars spent a great deal of time at LCU being prepared prior to being shipped out to the dealers. He pointed out a car that had the doors, boot and bonnet open and their lights burning. He said cars spend days like that.

bobbythejudge · 01-01-2009, 02:11 PM

Did you check your points or coil or do you have electronic ignition?

Demonized · 01-01-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbythejudge

Did you check your points or coil or do you have electronic ignition?

It's electronic so far as I'm aware.

TheViper · 01-01-2009, 04:15 PM

Simplest things first...check the battery voltage:
The voltage with the engine NOT running and a few hours "rest" period should be approx. 12.65V.
The voltage with the engine running should be approx. 13.8V.
Michael

Demonized · 01-01-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheViper

Simplest things first...check the battery voltage:
The voltage with the engine NOT running and a few hours "rest" period should be approx. 12.65V.
The voltage with the engine running should be approx. 13.8V.
Michael

Have a volt gauge in car, reads a bit above 12V.
While cranking reads ~8V.
Voltage when the car was running (which would have been the alternators charge) was about 14.8ish.

Does not start anymore, battery is dead.. hopefully that is the only problem.

TheViper · 01-01-2009, 04:22 PM

How old is the battery?

Demonized · 01-01-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheViper

How old is the battery?

Probably very old, not sure how to find out...

Funny story happened just a minute ago.. I found a Battery Tender Jr. velcro'd behind my battery...

My lucky day

TheViper · 01-01-2009, 04:51 PM

You are a lucky guy

...seriously, replace the battery :
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f129...cations-64071/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonized

Probably very old, not sure how to find out...

Funny story happened just a minute ago.. I found a Battery Tender Jr. velcro'd behind my battery...

My lucky day

Demonized · 01-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Will do, thanks for the list

12-30-2008, 03:19 PM	#28 (permalink)
chapster5 Photochopper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 2,639 Images: 6	Hmm, sounds like my friends Astra when i borke (By accident) Tryed fitting an Amp and Sub but i disconnected the Negative off the batery which did something to his engine. It would Turn over just not Tick over but i dont know how the y fixed it, he took it to a garage and they said they put a new Wiring Loom in it. Good Luck anyway __________________ http://www.chuforiagraphics.com/ FOR ALL YOUR GRAPHICS NEEDS CONTACT KEITH ON: sweetdaddydelicious (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

12-30-2008, 11:22 PM	#29 (permalink)
Demonized NOT ßANNED! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,546	I'm assuming it will be something really simple that I'm just not checking right, more than likely it's something someone already said. Now I need to stop slacking, order the code reader already (told you I was slacking)! __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Katana Supercharger, LSS Wheels, 2Bular exhaust & cat, rear panel delete, Cup Airbox, Volt / Oil temp gauge, Ohlins double adjustable coilovers, Dual Oil Coolers, S111 RTD Brace, Moroso Oil Pan, MicroMirror, S111 "V-Force" Harness bar, Manly Engine Mounts, Odyssey PC680 & RLS Bracket, Saikou Michi OCC, CF Scoops, CF Bootlid, CF Front Lip.

01-01-2009, 01:50 AM	#30 (permalink)
Demonized NOT ßANNED! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,546	Great news, I'm sobering up from The New Years events.. Tried to start the car just to see if it would, and got the "Your battery is freaking dead" clicks, so I suppose it may have been a battery problem all along. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Katana Supercharger, LSS Wheels, 2Bular exhaust & cat, rear panel delete, Cup Airbox, Volt / Oil temp gauge, Ohlins double adjustable coilovers, Dual Oil Coolers, S111 RTD Brace, Moroso Oil Pan, MicroMirror, S111 "V-Force" Harness bar, Manly Engine Mounts, Odyssey PC680 & RLS Bracket, Saikou Michi OCC, CF Scoops, CF Bootlid, CF Front Lip.

01-01-2009, 10:06 AM	#32 (permalink)
DeanG Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 722	Once Upon a Time Once upon a time in the bad old days before the Elise I was talking with the Lotus USA (LCU) service manager. He suggested that anyone who bought a new Esprit and didn't change out the battery was nuts. Changing out the battery would often make odd problems disappear. At that time the cars spent a great deal of time at LCU being prepared prior to being shipped out to the dealers. He pointed out a car that had the doors, boot and bonnet open and their lights burning. He said cars spend days like that.

01-01-2009, 04:15 PM	#35 (permalink)
TheViper Alarmed & Dangerous Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boca Raton FL Posts: 3,202	Simplest things first...check the battery voltage: The voltage with the engine NOT running and a few hours "rest" period should be approx. 12.65V. The voltage with the engine running should be approx. 13.8V. Michael __________________ Cobra OEM - Alarm, Immobilizer, CDL Emergency Override with warranty Additional Emergency Touch Keys - see link above Brand New Cobra Alarm Remote with warranty Cobra Remote Key Fob Strap Cobra Window Closing Module - Add to your existing Cobra alarm 3 Piece Front Clam Protection Kit with Center Bumper Undertray Removal Tool INFORMATION Improved AC & Heating System Battery Choices & Information Remote Key Fob, Alarm & Immobilizer Programming Light Bulb Conversions 2005

12-29-2008, 06:57 PM	#21 (permalink)
marcinr Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 171	I haven't had my Lotus long enough to encounter this problem yet, but I have had it in my Toyota and my Infiniti. In both cases, it was the idle air control valve. In front of the throttle butterfly, there's a little valve that opens up to keep the idle higher when the engine is cold and also sets the idle speed when the engine is warm. If the motor stops working, or it clogs up, then your car will have a bad idle or won't idle at all. Press your gas pedal down a little bit and try to start it, if it starts and runs, that's probably your problem. Like I said, I haven't messed with that part of the Lotus yet, but it most likely has this valve since it's a mandatory emissions system component. I'm not near the car at the moment, so I can't check exactly where the valve is right now, but it will be on the air-intake side of the throttle butterfly.

01-01-2009, 04:26 AM	#31 (permalink)
FloridaRob Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Titusville, Florida Posts: 60	I just bought my 06 Elise a week ago with 16k miles on it. It still had the factory battery in it. I'm new to this Lotus thing but, from what I've heard, the factory batteries are crappy. My car would not start in the showroom at the dealer(Lotus of Jacksonville) before I took it out for a test drive. Once we got it started, it ran fine. I drove 120 miles home and then next day, it was kind of hard to start, but it did start. Seemed to have a weak idle at first. Drove it about 25 miles and everything was good. I took it to the window tinting place and while they had the doors open to tint the windows, that small rear dome light was on. It was only on for about 30 minutes. When I went to pull out of the tint room, car would only crank but not start. Jump started the car, car ran fine. Drove it the rest of the day with no problems. Next day, no go. Had to jump it. Went directly to Advanced Auto parts and bought a new battery. Got on the phone with the parts dept. at Lotus dealer and they recommended a Optima Gel Cell. I believe it was the yellow series. Ever since, that car starts so easily and the idle after a cold start is way better. I was detailing the car yesterday and while I detailed it, I had the radio going the whole time, approx 1 hour. Got in the car, and started right up with no probs. I'm not near my car right now, but if the battery seems to be the issue for you, I can get you the number of exactly what battery I bought. Unfortunately, the dang battery was $220 but if that's what it takes for a dependable starting, it's a small price.

01-01-2009, 02:11 PM	#33 (permalink)
bobbythejudge Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: south Texas Posts: 27	Did you check your points or coil or do you have electronic ignition?

01-01-2009, 04:22 PM	#37 (permalink)
TheViper Alarmed & Dangerous Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boca Raton FL Posts: 3,202	How old is the battery? __________________ Cobra OEM - Alarm, Immobilizer, CDL Emergency Override with warranty Additional Emergency Touch Keys - see link above Brand New Cobra Alarm Remote with warranty Cobra Remote Key Fob Strap Cobra Window Closing Module - Add to your existing Cobra alarm 3 Piece Front Clam Protection Kit with Center Bumper Undertray Removal Tool INFORMATION Improved AC & Heating System Battery Choices & Information Remote Key Fob, Alarm & Immobilizer Programming Light Bulb Conversions 2005

01-01-2009, 04:53 PM	#40 (permalink)
Demonized NOT ßANNED! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,546	Will do, thanks for the list __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Katana Supercharger, LSS Wheels, 2Bular exhaust & cat, rear panel delete, Cup Airbox, Volt / Oil temp gauge, Ohlins double adjustable coilovers, Dual Oil Coolers, S111 RTD Brace, Moroso Oil Pan, MicroMirror, S111 "V-Force" Harness bar, Manly Engine Mounts, Odyssey PC680 & RLS Bracket, Saikou Michi OCC, CF Scoops, CF Bootlid, CF Front Lip.

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