Engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp

[blakazian]

This sucks...

I have about 4400 miles on the car and this light just came on tonight while i was driving.

Anyone else experience this?

I know I know...take it to the dealer...I am just wondering if anyone else maybe had this light come on around this time and it was just a mistake of some sort.

I am wondering if this has anything to do with those broken brackets on the Stage 2 Exhaust...it has been getting noisier and noisier each day. Lotus is still waiting to hear back on a warranty claim for that. I only say this, because in the manual it says something about:

"The engine Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is provided to warn the driver that the engine management system has detedcted a fault which may result increased noxious emissions from the exhaust"

Curious.

Thanks

[Ground Loop]

I don't know what part is failing on the Stage2 systems, but if the break is before the second O2 sensor (post-cat), it totally could be the cause.

OBD scan tools are so common, you should check the code before driving it to the dealer. At least so you know..

[Surferjer]

My light popped on for no reason yesterday in normal driving. Nothing else changed-cam is fine, oil water everything seems fine, except for the little light. I'll report back once it gets fixed with a cause.

[ChrisStarrUSA]

Usually results from a loose gas cap or refuelling while the engine is running. I've had this happen 6-8 times in various cars and every time was told that there was no problem and they just reset it.

[Joe guraro]

My light just came on at 4758 miles , I was told by the old owner that if i did not put the gas cap on tight this would happen , believe me it was on good . I need to drive 150 miles San Luis Obisbo to my dealer have them fix so i can have it smoged .HMMMM

[blakazian]

Well I have taken it to the dealership this morning..

The dealer here in San Antonio is about 5 minutes away from me. So I thought I would just save all the touble and take it in.

Well first of all they are going to replace the entire Stage 2 Exhaust system. Well that is cool, until the brackets break again. I will have to see about just getting those brackets re-inforced somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of getting a brand new Stage 2 put in, but I don't like the idea that the brackets could just break later on down the road.

The Engine Light...Off the bat they are stating that the ITG Maxogen Cold Air Intake is the culprit. Driving the car I don't feel any difference when the light came on, nor do I hear anything outside the normal operations.

One thing I have been noticing is that the slight hissing sound from the ITG is getting a little louder when I first start up the vehicle and drive for the first mile. I have also noticed that during shifting I am getting a definite gurgling sound out of the exhaust between gear shifts.

It is limited after I get going for a little while, but these are just little qwirks that have come up since I have had problems with the Stage 2 Exhaust.

At any rate hopefully this isn't anything major.

[Randy Chase]

Did the service guys tell you what the CEL code was?

[blakazian]

I will ask for the code, so that I can post later.

[cixelsyd]

Originally Posted by blakazian

I will ask for the code, so that I can post later.

Please do ask for the code that you received, this is a problem that is frusterating many new owners... It would be nice if people posted codes once they had them read so that we can get an idea if something is faulting more often than other parts...

Thanks! sorry to hear of your troubles!
-=cixelsyd


http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12646

(Reference thread # above for more issues and list of ECU codes/responses)

[blakazian]

I just received information back from my Lotus Service Rep.

He told me that the computer reported back to him that the car was running a "Lean Mixture" whatever the hell that means.

He said it shouldn't be a problem and that he has seen this on other after market intake installation.

So my question is...how do you get the right fuel mixture to run with the new intake?

Damn it...this is doo doo....disconnect and reconnect battery?

Help please....and by the way...I asked for codes...he said that the computer that he uses just gives direct error messages unlike the odb devices.

[clrodrick]

I thought the ECU is self-learning and flexible enough to make adjustments when it senses stuff like that? How long have you had the ITG in your Elise?

[mr t]

Howdy,

Went thru the same problem with the ITG intake last week. Code P0171 - too lean. I only have 1265 miles and it was installed at 950 miles

Within a couple of days the ECU corrected the problem and after key cycling several times, the light went out by its self.

I think it is indicative of the ITG intake system.

Severe problem? Probably not. Just out of the normal settings for a split second to throw the light. A pain in the neck? Yes!

You are the third person that I know of.

I am just waiting for mine to come back on. Should be anytime now.

Until then...full throtle ahead!

Take care,

mr t

[Surferjer]

I tried removing the negative lead on the battery, but my light is still on. sigh. Guess I really will have to take it in. What a PITA.

[reganfin]

You can take the car in to autozone or to some other store and they can scan the code for you. You can choose to erase or leave the code as is. Some stores will do it for free while some charge. If you pop the boot and let them drool on the elise they will probably do it for free.

[Surferjer]

Are you serious? hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Beanie]

Originally Posted by blakazian

The Engine Light...Off the bat they are stating that the ITG Maxogen Cold Air Intake is the culprit. Driving the car I don't feel any difference when the light came on, nor do I hear anything outside the normal operations.

One thing I have been noticing is that the slight hissing sound from the ITG is getting a little louder when I first start up the vehicle and drive for the first mile. I have also noticed that during shifting I am getting a definite gurgling sound out of the exhaust between gear shifts.

It is limited after I get going for a little while, but these are just little qwirks that have come up since I have had problems with the Stage 2 Exhaust.

That hissing sound is to be expected after the engine is started when it is cold. A minute sounds about right. Any intake like that will do the same thing. You hear it because it's not muffled by an airbox.

The gurgling sound is due to reduced backpressure. Some people like that... I do. If there's an exhaust leak you might get the same code that could also be caused by something on the intake side. The gurgling sound doesn't necessarily mean there is a leak, mind you.

They are just guessing that code is caused by the intake. If everyone or most people with the same intake get a given code or codes, that's good reason to blame the intake design. You could put the stock intake back on, reset the ECU and clear the code (and change nothing else), then, if you didn't get the code anymore, you'd know it was the intake. Even then you couldn't say it was the intake design... it could be a leak or some other install problem (MAF mounting).

I recommend a code reader. A basic one that gives the code(s) that you look up and allows you to reset code is a good investment.

[srwhitman]

This thread died (a year ago). I just had this happen to me yesterday driving home from the track. I have absolutely no modifications so it can't be a revised intake. I know about the Autozone deal but if there is a Lotus specific code, they won't know how to interpret it. I figure I have to take it to the dealer anyway (which I'll do this Friday and report back).

Any news from other folks (esp. those without the revised intake)?

[charliex]

I believe all the lotus codes are posted on here, somewhere.

[Stormy320]

My light came on tonight. I have not done any engine modifications.

I don't think it is a big deal though.

Any ideas?

[Serebo1]

Originally Posted by Stormy320

My light came on tonight. I have not done any engine modifications.

I don't think it is a big deal though.

Any ideas?

You need some engine mods, maybe?

I assume it's solid and not blinking? Maybe air filter needs changing? Do you have a code reader?

Btw, just looking back at the Metal Skool thread - we need to go again.