Those who have their Elise: problems? - Page 5 - LotusTalk

Crudson · 05-26-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsouthern

I have this same issue. Search the site, there's a thread on this. The short answer is it's a warranty issue. Notify your local dealer, they will probably want to see it first then they can order you a replacement.

At my 1000 mile service yesterday they (Rothrock) told me that due to the number of replacement soft tops they need they are getting them repaired rather than replaced.

JK68LC · 06-11-2005, 11:55 PM

Hi all,

Has anybody experience a mechanical breakdown leaving you stranded on the roadside?
The reason I am asking is that the 25th of this month we will be renting out an Elise in our company and I am just wondering how solid the engine/drivetrain is.
I mean a toyota engine and not much mechanicals to begin with it should be fairly solid?

Jari

NMRJock · 06-12-2005, 12:28 AM

I believe that somebody with a very early car couldn't get it started in their driveway because of a loose cable (On the ECU if I remember right). I don't think the car has stranded many people. Mine's been great for 4000+ miles now.

MERLIN · 06-14-2005, 09:23 PM

2700+ miles and hasn't missed a beat. Great car!

suv_bait · 06-14-2005, 09:57 PM

Picked mine up Friday, used with 3k miles. Problems I didn't notice during the test drive but now have surfaced:

- Fuel smell with the top off, even more so with the windows up. (!!)

- Front speaker covers deformed and fell off when parked in direct sunlight (actually happened before I bought the car, but was told it would be fixed under warranty)

- I'm pretty sure I have the loose exhaust shield others reference. There is a tinny rattling noise coming from the engine bay at certain RPM's.

- I am getting a very slight clunking being transmitted back through the steering wheel over bumps usually while turning. Perhaps a sway bar link has some play? Very minor and I haven't noticed any adverse handling as a result. Car is not LSS.

Will hopefully get it to the dealer some time this week & report back.

So excited to finally be driving one of these... much better than I thought it would be after lusting over one for the better part of 2 years, which is saying something.

- John

Lotuslvr · 06-22-2005, 10:03 AM

You call those problems? Weak radio reception, sub-optimal air conditioner? Jeez, does anyone have some Gray Poupon? I have a Mitusbishi Evo. When we talk about problems, its the clutch giving out after 2000 miles, massive transmission failure, transfer case failure, paint chipping off at a horrendous rate. Not that I am jealous.

qball · 06-22-2005, 11:26 AM

Only issues has been the chirping when going over bumps... and the metallic rattle from the shifter cables at idle and low RPMS

!

ChrisStarrUSA · 06-22-2005, 12:08 PM

Issues so far:

1) drivers side window stops 3/4 of an inch short of the top (resolved itself when screw fell out - having dealer repair at 1,000 mile service); the door now rattles badly.
2) loose connector disabled drivers headlight (repaired at 1,000 mile service)
3) Loud rattle from exhaust (fixed - dealer said heat shield was loose - tighened and it went away);
4) The Acapulco radio occasionally has problems reading MP3s (worse when radio is on for a while and is hot - 1 hour plus)
5) shift knob loose (positioning screw is loose and I don't have an allen wrench that fits correctly)

All small stuff - these cars are great!

Chris

sk8nSam · 06-23-2005, 01:01 PM

Had a big scare the other night. Just completed a spirited drive of about 10 miles back from dinner. Got out, opened the garage door, drove in, noticed large puddle of oil in the driveway and a line of oil leading up to the puddle. Then I looked and there was another pool of oil forming under the Elise.

Since I’d just had the 1K service performed, I thought maybe the drain plug or filter had come loose. So, I quickly got out the manual, read about jacking points, jacked the car up and looked at…aluminum. Also, cool NACA ducts dripping new oil. So, I set the Elise back down and went to the Safeway for oil dry (kitty litter) in the Volvo.

The next day, after consulting this web site, I removed the engine access panel and the diffuser. The plug and filter were nice and tight. While I was wiping up the oil, I noticed that both oil cooler lines where very loose where they attach near the oil filter. I drained the motor oil and got about one gallon, so I only lost about a quart. The oil light never came on. The leak began in my driveway. No damage to the engine. Very lucky!

With the fittings finger tight and filled with new oil, I trailered the Elise to the dealership. They fixed the problem (removed, taped and torqued the fittings), cleaned off more oil and gave the car a clean bill of health. Hope that’s the last of our manufacturer defects!

Sam

Nick · 06-23-2005, 01:06 PM

what is the last four digits of your VIN?

have fun

Nick

sk8nSam · 06-23-2005, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick

what is the last four digits of your VIN?

have fun

Nick

VIN#3388
1080 miles

Sam

qball · 06-23-2005, 02:35 PM

New problem to report:

I am unable to drive the car due to constant rain here in Central Florida... every evening for the past two weeks it rains...

Driving me nuts!!!

Mr_Baker · 06-27-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qball

I am unable to drive the car due to constant rain here in Central Florida... every evening for the past two weeks it rains...

I don't see the problem with rain. The car is watertight. I lived in Florida for awhile, and the rains are heavy, but it's rained something like 35 of the last 50 days here in Minnesota, but I keep on driving. I don't like cleaning the car all the time, but it's worth it. Can someone explain this to me? Does rain do some irreparable harm I don't know about?

Oh, yeah, the purpose of the thread: in 5000 miles I've had the loose window screw and the top liner fall off. Fixed the window and let the top remain liner-less. Smooth sailin' otherwise.

Chris(NJ) · 06-30-2005, 08:14 AM

The only problem you might find is that the electrical connections are getting wet. This could, over time, obviously cause a problem with corroded connectors and in turn causing related issues to the affected connector.

MONTO · 08-22-2005, 12:28 PM

Needs high speed wheel balance and windows fall 1/4 inch short on roll up. 500 miles on car. Some rattles but will wait unit wheel balance is right.

LBC111 · 08-29-2005, 04:42 PM

June '05 Purchase - Costa Mesa, CA
2000 Miles

Titanium/Red Leather
Sport Pack
Touring Pack
Stage II Exhaust

Problems so far:
1) A/C Weak - "Repaired" once, still the same.
2) Annoying, loud metallic rattle when RPMs cause low freq. vibrations. Sounds like heat shield, but checked that last week and everything tight. Rattle is embarrasingly loud. Anyone else experience this? Could the resonance from the Stage II be the cause?

suv_bait · 08-29-2005, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudakd

2) Annoying, loud metallic rattle when RPMs cause low freq. vibrations. Sounds like heat shield, but checked that last week and everything tight. Rattle is embarrasingly loud. Anyone else experience this? Could the resonance from the Stage II be the cause?

I have something that sounds identical to what you describe, but my exhaust is stock. The dealer told me they do not cover squeaks or rattles after the first 1000 miles

.

I'd be curious if you find the source of the problem.

- John
ps. Some have claimed the shifter was the cause of a metallic rattle, but I can't imagine they are talking about the same thing. I found this by using the search function.

ChrisB · 08-29-2005, 08:19 PM

I had the positive battery cable fall out of the crimp-on connector (yes, it just fell out!). I made a quick emergency repair by using the existing bolt & nut and added a couple of washers and clamped the bare end of the cable between the washers.

I'm sure a new battery cable would have been installed under warranty, but with the advice and help of a friend, I went to a marine supply store and purchased a new crimp-on connector and some heat-shrink tubing and fixed it myself.

ChrisB · 08-29-2005, 08:38 PM

Several weeks ago when I got home from work and opened the driver's door I heard something fall out, hitting the door sill and then the garage floor. There I found a fair size bolt, but could not find any obvious place where it may have fallen from. Later I discovered there is an opening between the door and door panel just below the inside door handle and figured that is where it came from. However, everything seemed to work OK

, so I just let it go for a while. Then I noticed my drier's door window wouldn't go up all the way. Gradually it got worse...quite a bit worse.

After an hour of peering inside the door with a small goose-neck flashlight, I stopped looking for the hole, printed out a few pages of the service manual and started looking for a similar bolt in the diagrams. About a half-hour later, I found what I was looking for. The bolt did not come from inside the door, it came from an area that was about a half-inch from my nose during most of my fruitless searching. The bold holds scissor arm pivot point fixed to the door. After finding that, it was a one minute fix. The bolt is shown in the diagram below:

Terry · 08-29-2005, 09:08 PM

I guess that I'm getting all of the common problems. 1. Steering rack needs to be replaced. 2. Window rollup issue (fixed). 3. Stage II exhaust bracket weld cracked (one replaced and working on my second). 4. Separated cover panels for hardtop (reglued and clamped). 5. Headlight high beam adjustment (not so bad, really). Has anyone noticed significant rusting in the wheel bearing area?

View Poll Results: For current owners only: what has been your experience with your Elise mechanically?
I've had mechanical problems which needed dealer repair work	136	29.82%
I've had mechanical problems which needed other 3rd party repair work	5	1.10%
I've had mechanical problems which I repaired myself	45	9.87%
I have not had any mechanical problems	256	56.14%
I have had mechanical problems that I have ignored.	14	3.07%
Voters: 456. You may not vote on this poll

06-11-2005, 11:55 PM	#82 (permalink)
JK68LC Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Seattle,WA Posts: 89	Has anyone been left stranded on the road side? Hi all, Has anybody experience a mechanical breakdown leaving you stranded on the roadside? The reason I am asking is that the 25th of this month we will be renting out an Elise in our company and I am just wondering how solid the engine/drivetrain is. I mean a toyota engine and not much mechanicals to begin with it should be fairly solid? Jari

06-12-2005, 12:28 AM	#83 (permalink)
NMRJock A smile a mile. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 3,309	I believe that somebody with a very early car couldn't get it started in their driveway because of a loose cable (On the ECU if I remember right). I don't think the car has stranded many people. Mine's been great for 4000+ miles now. __________________ Paul Parkanzky Magnetic Blue with Biscuit Touring, LSS, Starshield

06-14-2005, 09:23 PM	#84 (permalink)
MERLIN Fulfilled @ Last AR Elite Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lotus-land (Upstate NY) Posts: 284	2700+ miles and hasn't missed a beat. Great car! __________________ Member, AR ELITE a.k.a. Lotus-Eater (one who loses all desire for earthly pursuits or memory of family and home, whose only desire is to live in bliss in Lotus-land) 2005 Elise: Ardent red, touring, biscuit, starshield 2006 WRX wagon (CGM) with short shifter 1999 10th Anniversary Miata (for sale, 25K miles) 1990 Miata (sold) 1985 MR2 (sold) 1976 MG Midget and 1971 TR6

06-23-2005, 01:01 PM	#89 (permalink)
sk8nSam Track Junkie Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 134	Had a big scare the other night. Just completed a spirited drive of about 10 miles back from dinner. Got out, opened the garage door, drove in, noticed large puddle of oil in the driveway and a line of oil leading up to the puddle. Then I looked and there was another pool of oil forming under the Elise. Since I’d just had the 1K service performed, I thought maybe the drain plug or filter had come loose. So, I quickly got out the manual, read about jacking points, jacked the car up and looked at…aluminum. Also, cool NACA ducts dripping new oil. So, I set the Elise back down and went to the Safeway for oil dry (kitty litter) in the Volvo. The next day, after consulting this web site, I removed the engine access panel and the diffuser. The plug and filter were nice and tight. While I was wiping up the oil, I noticed that both oil cooler lines where very loose where they attach near the oil filter. I drained the motor oil and got about one gallon, so I only lost about a quart. The oil light never came on. The leak began in my driveway. No damage to the engine. Very lucky! With the fittings finger tight and filled with new oil, I trailered the Elise to the dealership. They fixed the problem (removed, taped and torqued the fittings), cleaned off more oil and gave the car a clean bill of health. Hope that’s the last of our manufacturer defects! Sam __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise / Arctic Silver / Hardtop (PENELOP) SCCA Swift DB1 FF#66

06-14-2005, 09:57 PM	#85 (permalink)
suv_bait Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 573	Picked mine up Friday, used with 3k miles. Problems I didn't notice during the test drive but now have surfaced: - Fuel smell with the top off, even more so with the windows up. (!!) - Front speaker covers deformed and fell off when parked in direct sunlight (actually happened before I bought the car, but was told it would be fixed under warranty) - I'm pretty sure I have the loose exhaust shield others reference. There is a tinny rattling noise coming from the engine bay at certain RPM's. - I am getting a very slight clunking being transmitted back through the steering wheel over bumps usually while turning. Perhaps a sway bar link has some play? Very minor and I haven't noticed any adverse handling as a result. Car is not LSS. Will hopefully get it to the dealer some time this week & report back. So excited to finally be driving one of these... much better than I thought it would be after lusting over one for the better part of 2 years, which is saying something. - John

06-22-2005, 10:03 AM	#86 (permalink)
Lotuslvr Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 133	You call those problems? Weak radio reception, sub-optimal air conditioner? Jeez, does anyone have some Gray Poupon? I have a Mitusbishi Evo. When we talk about problems, its the clutch giving out after 2000 miles, massive transmission failure, transfer case failure, paint chipping off at a horrendous rate. Not that I am jealous.

06-22-2005, 11:26 AM	#87 (permalink)
qball Genius! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 4,037 Images: 2	Only issues has been the chirping when going over bumps... and the metallic rattle from the shifter cables at idle and low RPMS !

06-22-2005, 12:08 PM	#88 (permalink)
ChrisStarrUSA Second cam junkie! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,118	Issues so far: 1) drivers side window stops 3/4 of an inch short of the top (resolved itself when screw fell out - having dealer repair at 1,000 mile service); the door now rattles badly. 2) loose connector disabled drivers headlight (repaired at 1,000 mile service) 3) Loud rattle from exhaust (fixed - dealer said heat shield was loose - tighened and it went away); 4) The Acapulco radio occasionally has problems reading MP3s (worse when radio is on for a while and is hot - 1 hour plus) 5) shift knob loose (positioning screw is loose and I don't have an allen wrench that fits correctly) All small stuff - these cars are great! Chris

06-23-2005, 01:06 PM	#90 (permalink)
Nick Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Campbell the capital of San Jose Posts: 443	Sam what is the last four digits of your VIN? have fun Nick

06-23-2005, 02:35 PM	#92 (permalink)
qball Genius! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 4,037 Images: 2	New problem to report: I am unable to drive the car due to constant rain here in Central Florida... every evening for the past two weeks it rains... Driving me nuts!!!

06-30-2005, 08:14 AM	#94 (permalink)
Chris(NJ) Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 82	The only problem you might find is that the electrical connections are getting wet. This could, over time, obviously cause a problem with corroded connectors and in turn causing related issues to the affected connector.

08-22-2005, 12:28 PM	#95 (permalink)
MONTO humpty dumpty got pushed Join Date: May 2005 Location: Posts: 92	Needs high speed wheel balance and windows fall 1/4 inch short on roll up. 500 miles on car. Some rattles but will wait unit wheel balance is right.

08-29-2005, 04:42 PM	#96 (permalink)
LBC111 Dan D Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,303	Rattle Anyone? Due to Stage II? June '05 Purchase - Costa Mesa, CA 2000 Miles Titanium/Red Leather Sport Pack Touring Pack Stage II Exhaust Problems so far: 1) A/C Weak - "Repaired" once, still the same. 2) Annoying, loud metallic rattle when RPMs cause low freq. vibrations. Sounds like heat shield, but checked that last week and everything tight. Rattle is embarrasingly loud. Anyone else experience this? Could the resonance from the Stage II be the cause?

08-29-2005, 08:19 PM	#98 (permalink)
ChrisB I'm Lovin' It! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 3,756 Images: 1	I had the positive battery cable fall out of the crimp-on connector (yes, it just fell out!). I made a quick emergency repair by using the existing bolt & nut and added a couple of washers and clamped the bare end of the cable between the washers. I'm sure a new battery cable would have been installed under warranty, but with the advice and help of a friend, I went to a marine supply store and purchased a new crimp-on connector and some heat-shrink tubing and fixed it myself.

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08-29-2005, 08:38 PM	#99 (permalink)
ChrisB I'm Lovin' It! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 3,756 Images: 1	Window won't go all the way up - not the normal problem Several weeks ago when I got home from work and opened the driver's door I heard something fall out, hitting the door sill and then the garage floor. There I found a fair size bolt, but could not find any obvious place where it may have fallen from. Later I discovered there is an opening between the door and door panel just below the inside door handle and figured that is where it came from. However, everything seemed to work OK , so I just let it go for a while. Then I noticed my drier's door window wouldn't go up all the way. Gradually it got worse...quite a bit worse. After an hour of peering inside the door with a small goose-neck flashlight, I stopped looking for the hole, printed out a few pages of the service manual and started looking for a similar bolt in the diagrams. About a half-hour later, I found what I was looking for. The bolt did not come from inside the door, it came from an area that was about a half-inch from my nose during most of my fruitless searching. The bold holds scissor arm pivot point fixed to the door. After finding that, it was a one minute fix. The bolt is shown in the diagram below: Attached Images

08-29-2005, 09:08 PM	#100 (permalink)
Terry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 355	I guess that I'm getting all of the common problems. 1. Steering rack needs to be replaced. 2. Window rollup issue (fixed). 3. Stage II exhaust bracket weld cracked (one replaced and working on my second). 4. Separated cover panels for hardtop (reglued and clamped). 5. Headlight high beam adjustment (not so bad, really). Has anyone noticed significant rusting in the wheel bearing area?