Lotus -- Daily Driver Blog by Patrick Shim

[larez2]

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

I got the car back on Friday, July 11th. The car is now 100% perfect! Stephen did an amazing job! I was worrying that the car would have rattles and noises after getting stripped down that much and put back, but there is ZERO rattles. I can't believe he put it all back together that well.

I have put about 700 miles since I got the car back, and there is now ZERO problem. Love it!

Glad it's working good now, did they ever figure out what the "problem" was??

[Murix]

Glad to hear you are in one piece and no lights now. Alan and crew always do right by me.

[Sleazy E]

Congrats! Now go make up on some lost driving time!

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by larez2

Glad it's working good now, did they ever figure out what the "problem" was??

Lotus USA didn't want to gamble trying to figure out (getting the car in/out over and over) so they asked to replace all the wiring harnesses. I think that took care of the problem.

Originally Posted by Murix

Glad to hear you are in one piece and no lights now. Alan and crew always do right by me.

Originally Posted by Sleazy E

Congrats! Now go make up on some lost driving time!

I will be passing my 20,000-mile mark this week after 9-1/2 months!!!

[Man of Steel]

I know "your mileage may vary", but this is the Lotus I have come to respect and appreciate. They stand behind their product. Lotus of Atlanta has gone ABOVE AND BEYOND my expectations, as has Lotus USA backing up their warranty requests.

[PatrickShim]

[Service #10 Drop-off] August 1, 2008 - 19,959 documented miles

I am not kidding.

The car has MIL/CEL (P0420) again, plus the exhaust was shooting out white particles/pieces (something is falling apart in there..., probably the cat.)

The car is now back in the service.

[Service #10 Pickup] August 12, 2008 - 19,961 documented miles*

This this we've replaced fuel injectors and coil packs, as well as the Stage-II exhaust... (plus a little "upgrade"...)



All the services since new

[Warranty Service Items]
- ECU (replaced) - LBH
- catalyst/downpipe (replaced 2x) - LBH
- camshafts (replaced) - LBH
- O2 Sensors (replaced) - LBH
- fuel injectors and coil packs (replaced) - LBH
- exhaust (Stage-II cracks, replaced 3x) - SMC/LBH
- wiring Harnesses - LBH
- passenger-side rear turn-signal (replaced) - SMC
- front/right turn-signal housing (replaced) - LBH
- A/C relay (replaced) - LBH

[Warranty Accessory/Part Items]
- passenger-side clear-bra damaged (since new, repaired) - SMC
- soft-top (not supplied by dealer; delivered damaged; repaired) -SMC
- soft-top bars (not supplied by dealer) - SMC
- hard-top velcro covers (not supplied by dealer; delivered) - SMC
- passenger-side rear wheel (damaged by dealer; replaced) - NE
- blower motor resistor kit (update) - LBH
- headlight recall (addressed) - SMC
- sticking door-lock recall (addressed) - SMC
- car delivered new with improper allignment (addressed) - SMC

[Undocumented-Warranty Items]
- front/right turn-signal bulb (replaced) - LBH
- loose handbrake lever (repaired) - LBH
- passenger-side window making wind-noise (repaired) - LBH

[Non-Warranty Items]
- oil changes w/ Mobil Delvac Synthetic 5W40 (@ around 1,000mi, 7,000mi, 12,000mi) - SMC
- oil changes w/ Havoline Synthetic 5W40 (@ around 17,000mi) - LBH
- rear tires Yokohama ADVAN A048 (replaced @ around 12,000mi, nail in tire and wear) - NE
- rear tires Yokohama ADVAN A048 (replaced @ around 17,000mi, nails in both tires) - LBH
- front brake pads (replaced @ around 18,000mi) - LBH
- new front clam and clearbra (Star Shield) - SCC

(*LBH - Lotus Beverly Hills, *SMC - Symbolic Motor Cars, *NE - Newport European)

[Mattnshilp]

Time for a new car!!! They gave it a strong college try but there is clearly something wrong with it that's not diagnosable. God forbid the computer shuts down the engine while your driving it!!!!

I respect what Lotus USA and your local dealer have done, but you have been MORE then understanding and have been without your car for WAY too much time.

As a future Lotus owner, I have been watching this thread with great interest (I am the one with the daily driver RS-4). I have been impressed thus far so let's hope they do the right thing and stop your suffering. I would be upset if they didn't offer a new car now...


You should be sainted for your patience!

-Matt

[Mr. Know]

Originally Posted by Mattnshilp

Time for a new car!!!

I agree! I'm not one to call lemon, but d*mn!

[PatrickShim]

Thanks, guys! I just hope Lotus will do the right thing.


The car seriously is haunted or something... Not only the constantly recurring "MIL/CEL" with P0420 issue, the rear tires/wheels are nail magnets...

There are some "good" problems that is very unusual, too. I am just about to pass the 20,000-mile mark, and my front original A048s are still like new.

[gameson]

It's time to upgrade to SC at minimal cost. If I were you, I would call this lemon and ask for an 08 Elise, then I add the difference in MSRP to get the SC one.

Also the VIN shows #377 out of production for the 06 model, the first few hundreds production with DBW. Maybe that's why. Always stay away from the first year model, in this case DBW.

[paulhastings]

Originally Posted by polojcp

Great to hear that your car is all good now. Alan and Stephan are way cool. They also took care my A/C cutting off the ECU issue when I was there.

What exactly did they do for the A/C cutting off the ECU issue? So far it seems that officially it's only a MY06 issue but, it seems there are several postings on this forum from MY07 owners that have had the issues including myself and it's scary!

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by paulhastings

What exactly did they do for the A/C cutting off the ECU issue? So far it seems that officially it's only a MY06 issue but, it seems there are several postings on this forum from MY07 owners that have had the issues including myself and it's scary!

Changed the A/C relay and the problem was solved.

But the MIL/CEL issue... no solution found at this time.

[paulhastings]

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

Changed the A/C relay and the problem was solved.

But the MIL/CEL issue... no solution found at this time.

Nice to hear the A/C- ECU you cut out is resolved for some. I cannot seem to get it to be fixed due to my car being an '07 and the TSB is for '06.

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by paulhastings

Nice to hear the A/C- ECU you cut out is resolved for some. I cannot seem to get it to be fixed due to my car being an '07 and the TSB is for '06.

A/C issue resolved, but the car's "main problem" -- the recurring MIL/CEL (P0420) -- is still not being resolved...

[gmendoza]

hmm. The code P0420 is for catalyst efficiency below threshold. It also sounds like the cat is falling apart. Sounds to me like the code is legit.

Was the cat ever actually checked or were parts blindly thrown at it hoping to hit the problem?

[PatrickShim]

Originally Posted by gmendoza

hmm. The code P0420 is for catalyst efficiency below threshold. It also sounds like the cat is falling apart. Sounds to me like the code is legit.

Was the cat ever actually checked or were parts blindly thrown at it hoping to hit the problem?

The cat was changed 2x....

So far, we've changed the following re. this P0420 issue.

- ECU/ECM
- Cat 2x
- Exhaust (Stage-II) 2x
- O2 sensors
- Wiring Harnesses
- Cam (not related to the P0420, but was found to be wearing unevenly during the check)

It is getting very ridiculous....

[gameson]

if you ignore the engine light, what will happen? car will stop operating? if it does nothing other than light...

[plastique999]

dang Pat...get your car fixed so we can do a local meet already!...g'luck with it

[Scorched]

Originally Posted by gameson

if you ignore the engine light, what will happen? car will stop operating? if it does nothing other than light...

Cross my fingers, but I have to say that I doubt you will get stranded because of an engine light.....I agree w/ Gameson.

My lotus CEL experience entails: 2x - limp home modes (stuck WOT), and about 3 weeks of on/off missing (water around the plug?)

Unless it is clearly not running right (stumbling/lack of power etc.) You can always ignore the problem.....it might just fix itself, or finally cause the real item/cause to show itself. My experience says most car engines are quite robust/fault tolerant. This is a Toyota engine.....

[logan2z]

I've just read through this entire thread, and as a prospective Elise owner I find it disturbing. Has anyone else following this had nearly as much trouble with their cars as poor Patrick? I realize that there is always the possibility of getting a lemon with any manufacturer, but it's unfortunate (for Lotus!) that the person who decided to blog about his new car is the one publicly suffering so much downtime. Makes me wonder if I wouldn't be better off buying another Miata. Well, at least I only live a mile from a Lotus dealer...