Have you experienced any of the following?

[Derek]

Stalling... Flickering shift lights, it's possible it's all in my head; so I've decided a poll is in order, so we can assess the scope of the problem.

[Surferjer]

It all been discussed before. Give your motor a chance to idle and let the computer learn how to idle again. Mine struggles once in a blue moon, but usually clears itself up within a minute. If you have perpetual problems, better see the dealer.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Surferjer

It all been discussed before. Give your motor a chance to idle and let the computer learn how to idle again. Mine struggles once in a blue moon, but usually clears itself up within a minute. If you have perpetual problems, better see the dealer.

Surferjer, look at how many post I have here, consider how long I've had my car. I've tried all the common fixes. My car will stall when warmed up. The problem is a known issue in the UK. Why do the US dealer not have the fix?

[hogfan]

the entire extent of my problems have been cosmetic, minor paint flaws, that foam stuff poking out etc. and i have to admit ive examined this car more than any other i owned. im extremely pleased so far.

[NtflBlueLiz]

Same as Surfer with my car. I've only had the engine stall a couple of times since August. In my car what I usually find is that if I try to drive off immediatelly after starting it is that it bogs down and it wants to stall, so I just wait a little longer and all is fine. I've also had the strange rasping gear noise upon start up maybe 3 times almost like the bendix on the starter didn't retrat upon start up or else some other type of gear grinding noise but it stops soon after.

[clay]

I got my car last week, and had no problems until two days ago -- I started it in the morning and the idle was wierd. It jumped up to 1500, then down to 500 and stalled. I restarted the car and it stalled again, and again, and again. It continued to stall until the engine warmed up. That afternoon, I started the car and let it idle until the engine warmed up. It seemed ok after that.

Yesterday, the car started and drove just fine. In the afternoon, on the way home, the car felt like it was "sputtering" (for lack of a better word) in second gear. This morning, the car stalled every time I started it. I finally pressed the accellerator to keep the RPMs up so the car wouldn't stall. That's when the check engine light came on, and stayed on until I reached the office.

I have a call in to the Lotus mechanic...

[jml1952]

My car hasn't stalled. Occasionally it will sputter a bit when idling.

[Gromit]

I had Symbolic raise the tick over by 20%. No problems now.

[clay]

Originally Posted by clay

I got my car last week, and had no problems until two days ago -- I started it in the morning and the idle was wierd. It jumped up to 1500, then down to 500 and stalled. I restarted the car and it stalled again, and again, and again. It continued to stall until the engine warmed up. That afternoon, I started the car and let it idle until the engine warmed up. It seemed ok after that.

Yesterday, the car started and drove just fine. In the afternoon, on the way home, the car felt like it was "sputtering" (for lack of a better word) in second gear. This morning, the car stalled every time I started it. I finally pressed the accellerator to keep the RPMs up so the car wouldn't stall. That's when the check engine light came on, and stayed on until I reached the office.

I have a call in to the Lotus mechanic...

Just a followup -- I'm taking my car into the shop Monday morning (that's a bummer, because I'm not going to be able to drive it this weekend!). The car is virtually undrivable now. The MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) is on all the time the car is started. The RPMs at idle aren't stable (they bounce up and down). When driving the car, it sputters and stalls continuously. I almost did not make it home this afternooon. I hope I will be able to make it to the shop Monday morning.

This sucks! -- The second weekend I have my car; Its beautiful outside, and the car is undriveable...

[ex-M3]

Well the bright side is some thing is definitley wrong to thow the light and the OBD will identify it. Therefore they can fix it! it's those mysterious intermittent problems that are harder to fix.

[clay]

I took my car into South Bay Lotus (service is currently located at South Bay BMW until they build a new garage in Hermosa Beach). Quas Noody (first name is pronounced "Kise") is the Lotus mechanic. Originally, a faulty ECU was the suspected cause, but after he put the car up on the rack, he discovered one loose wire to the ECU and one wire that was completely not connected to the ECU -- The nut was missing! Yeah, that causes a problem!

Fortunately, it was an easy fix and the car is running perfectly now. Quas took good care of my baby -- I called his cell phone when I arrived at the dealership and I didn't have to deal with anyone other than him. He pulled the car into his stall, and he was the only one who touched my car. He hesitatingly asked if I wanted my car washed, because he knew some people don't llike others touching their car. I was left with the impression that he truely loves the car.

[clrodrick]

I dropped SB BMW and talked with Qais for a bit. Seems like a nice fellow as well as being a smart mechanic! I personally wouldn't mind if they just left the Lotus servicing at the Hawthorne BMW facility. I can get used to that lounge!

[clay]

He told me he was a Mercedes mechanic for 13 years, but he sure loves the Elise!

[doma]

Mine's in the shop right now to try and fix the stalling. Best case, they find something broken and fix it under warrenty. Worst case, they find nothing is wrong and present me with a bill for a thousand bucks. (if svag's oil change (no, not first service, oil change) is $300 then investigating hard to repro stalling has to run about a thou eh?)

[Surferjer]

Doma-I can't imagine ANYTHING they do to fix the stalling won't be covered. You should only pay for the oil change in any case.

I hope they fix it. If they cannot find it, I'd suggest getting the idle set higher as Gromit did.

Derek-any luck with yours?

[Steven22]

Mine just stalled for the first time...how do I change my vote?

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Surferjer

Doma-I can't imagine ANYTHING they do to fix the stalling won't be covered. You should only pay for the oil change in any case.

I hope they fix it. If they cannot find it, I'd suggest getting the idle set higher as Gromit did.

Derek-any luck with yours?

No, my dealer said if the ECU needs re-flashed they'll have to pull the ECU and send it to Lotus UK for the re-program.
I love my car but this one seemingly small problem has been a thorn in my side from the first week.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by kusheen

Mine just stalled for the first time...how do I change my vote?

I'm not sure how or if you can change your vote... How long have you had your car? Did it stall in the traditional "blip the gas and then die" way?

It seems that around 40% of us have one of these problems... Not as uncommon as some may have thought.

LOTUS ARE YOU SEEING THIS THREAD!!!

[doma]

surferjet ... what I'm worried about is what if they find nothing?? Will they charge me for the investigation??

>No, my dealer said if the ECU needs re-flashed they'll have to pull the ECU and send it to Lotus UK for the re-program.

Oh my god that would suck. How long would that take?
If they want to do that for me then I'll just live with the occasional stall. Sheeze.

[mgreenbl]

Originally Posted by Derek

I'm not sure how or if you can change your vote... How long have you had your car? Did it stall in the traditional "blip the gas and then die" way?

It seems that around 40% of us have one of these problems... Not as uncommon as some may have thought.

LOTUS ARE YOU SEEING THIS THREAD!!!

I test drove lotus south bay's yellow elise demo last saturday and the car's rpms were jumpy at idle as well.

Hope mine does not have this problem.

Mark