Got my Lotus towed...

[Demonized]

Had my first tow of the Lotus today, still not exactly sure what the malfunction is/was but I'll try to describe the symptoms to the best of my ability;

18-30 degrees out, low humidity, ~6000ft elevation.

Initially when I started it this morning, the car cranked a few more times than normal, but I think that was because I completely spaced letting the fuel pump prime. (that's what it's doing when it's WrrRrrr'ing right? )

Drove for about ~10 minutes, keeping the revs below 3.5-4k rpm till my oil temp was at ~145-150 degrees and water temp was at 180.

I got slightly on it after a light, and there was some moderate hesitation at 4500rpm, figured maybe the ECU was figuring the cold out, I kept off the cam for a few more minutes. so a couple of miles later, I got on it, no hesitation, hit cam fine, shifted at ~7400rpm from second to third.

At this point I'm coming to a light, I let in the clutch when suddenly the engine starts bogging, I tap the gas pedal with no response, I tap it a bit harder and the revs rocket up... After which the car dies in the middle of the street. Trying to start it again the engine turns over runs for maybe a second then the idle gets to low for the car to hold, revving does nothing.

Nice gentleman stops and helps me move the car somewhere safer, took the keys out of the ignition, talked to my girlfriend on the phone for a while, thank the gentleman who helped me... get in the car, let the pump prime, car starts up, though a little boggy on idle for the first few moments.

let the car idle for a while, and decide I could probably make it home (). Initially it drives fine but randomly it would do a.. not sure how to describe it... a.. "Your gas pedal has now been made useless" thing.

It would keep the engine revved if I was in a gear, but hitting my gas would do nothing, fetteling the gas pedal would give the occasional blip in RPM's.

Already too long story short;

Fuel pump no-longer makes noise when car is in "on" ignition position and the key fob is pressed. I hear a small click, but not the electrical sound it used to make.

Could the cold be causing this, or is it likely to be something more serious?

P.S. I've had a few "bogging" problems previously when coming to a stop if the car had only been running for a few minutes before being driven.

P.P.S. Hope this is in the right section, both looking for help, and trying to let people know my car got towed at the same time (If anyone out there cares )

[charliex]

check the fuses in the engine bay , two boxes top left corner looking from the back to the front, primarily the ECU B+ fuse.

could be all sorts of things though

[Demonized]

Checked all the fuses, all of them are good. Back hurts a bit now...

Thanks anyhow Charlie.

[Demonized]

Oh.. on a more important note, Progressive insurance considers the car "Exotic"
And thus sent a flat bed tow truck without me requesting it.

[just1nj]

Originally Posted by Demonized

Oh.. on a more important note, Progressive insurance considers the car "Exotic"
And thus sent a flat bed tow truck without me requesting it.

at least that worked out for you... it would have sucked to have to wait longer if they had not sent a flat bed truck, murphy's law would have probably kicked in and no flat bed trucks would have been immediately available

[Monsi]

check your airflow sensor connector seems to be what caused mine to hesitate... might be fuel starvation tho is there a relay somewhere for the fuel pump you could check?

[LARRY]

The first time I got towed (flatbed, of course) was due to a 7 dollar fuse in the engine bay.

It reacted just like yours did...

$115 tow.

$7 fuse.

[charliex]

is the inertia switch ok ?
fuel bars show ?


$7 fuse ? dear lord larry where did you buy it, apple ?

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by charliex

is the inertia switch ok ?
fuel bars show ?


$7 fuse ? dear lord larry where did you buy it, apple ?

Don't know what an inertia switch is, will google it momentarily.

Fuel bars show, 1 bar from full.

Alright, for fuel cutoff... will check in 15min

[charliex]

sands Lotus Elise Maintenance, Resetting the Fuel Cutoff Switch

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by charliex

sands Lotus Elise Maintenance, Resetting the Fuel Cutoff Switch

Yup, just what I was reading, thanks ^^

[just1nj]

Originally Posted by charliex

is the inertia switch ok ?
fuel bars show ?


$7 fuse ? dear lord larry where did you buy it, apple ?

touche

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by charliex

sands Lotus Elise Maintenance, Resetting the Fuel Cutoff Switch

Went up and decided to try and start her, before resetting the fuel cut-off... looked over the fuses again, and noticed one of them sat awkwardly. it may have been sitting like that before I took them all out and check them.. but I really don't recall.

Anyhow, SHE RUNS!

So at this point I'll throw the blame at a loose fuse.

Thanks for your help everyone!
And Charlie for teaching me what an Inertia switch is.

[charliex]

yup thats probably it then, which fuse was it ?

[Demonized]

I could run back up and check but I'm getting out of breath here...

I think it had a 7 on it...

[JoshS]

Possibly, but not probably a stuck throttle body. Similar problem happened to me.

[charliex]

7.5 maybe? that'd match up with the conditions, it controls the VVTLi (cams) and IAC ( idle)

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by charliex

7.5 maybe? that'd match up with the conditions, it controls the VVTLi (cams) and IAC ( idle)

Just ran up and checked, it was indeed a 7.5, in the left fuse box.

[Demonized]

Originally Posted by JoshS

Possibly, but not probably a stuck throttle body. Similar problem happened to me.

I had my girlfriend try to start the car while I manually played with the throttlebody, to no avail, thank you though! Appears to have been the fuse.

[Scrumpot]

This thread has just made me think... I wonder if it is worthwhile to do a fuse inventory on this car, and carry a complete redundant 2nd set HANDY, just in case? It seems I've read more "fuse related" bug-a-boo issues occurring than almost anything. Sure couldn't add too much weight either, that the trade-off might just be worth it!

Anybody else here do this?