First Evora problem- flatline

3299 Views 29 Replies 10 Participants Last post by MTLDean, Nov 9, 2013

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · Oct 26, 2013

So after three essentially flawless years the Evora has presented us with a very classic British condition. Electrically dead.

Getting ready to take her out for the annual state inspection. Last driven Saturday a week ago. Battery tender on since the moment parked.

I noticed the Battery Tender was flashing red not steady green. Checked the connections (I use the accessory outlet in the trunk) all good. Then i unfortunately closed the trunk lid.

At this point I discovered the total electrical zero she has. Can't open trunk with fob to get to battery. Can't open glovebox to get to manual because of dead battery.

Plan would be to place a real charger on the battery, if I could get to it. I have never used the interior trunk release, not exactly sure where it is on a 2+2.

I am a bit doubtful on the charger approach as it presents absolutely flat as though there were no battery.

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XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #2 · Oct 26, 2013

What I'm asking for is the location of the trunk release inside the car. I can't get to the manual and LTs usual useless search has not yielded such. Or a broader internet search.

F1 SML8R

· #3 · Oct 26, 2013 (Edited)

X, pull up the back seat cushion on the passenger side. You'll see it there. Pull hard parallel to the back seat (i.e., not parallel with the direction/length of the car). It'll feel like it's not doing anything. So, you may have to do it a couple of times pretty hard. Have some one near the back to listen for the click. Once you hear it, it's open.

F1 SML8R

· #4 · Oct 26, 2013

BTW, go lithium next! It's uber light!

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 26, 2013

Never mind, found that. On to the battery.....

invictusmaneo

· #6 · Oct 26, 2013

its in the same place as the 2+2 cars, underneath the luggage shelf. Make sure you pull directly out in the natural direction the wire is pointing (ie not an angle to the cable) and don't jerk or it can break. A steady pull will trip it.

Edit, D/R I was typing for a 2+0 car, but either way you found it.

You probably fried the cells in your battery. If it is the OE Varta that is exceptionally likely as that is a common failure (mine failed while on a trickle charger too due to a cooked cell after returning from 3 weeks overseas.) Replacing it with a higher quality one should lessen the chances, and you can further mitigate by replacing the lights with LEDs to minimize draw.

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 26, 2013

Yard of duct tape and three thumbscrews and the pristine battery appears. Hooked up the charger and bingo! Various clicks and such all over her. We'll see if charger works on it.

Lithium. I tried that once. Felt very sedated. Let's see if the charger works.

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 26, 2013

All adds up. Warranty expired 2 weeks ago

Lithium more attractive....

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 26, 2013

Electronics Vehicle Technology Car Electronic device

Vrooommmm!

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brgelise

· #10 · Oct 26, 2013

Hopefully Dura CELL IS A DRYCELL. iTS TYHE WAY TO GO.

CPA4S

· #11 · Oct 26, 2013

the trunk relase does not self retract so apparently you need to push it back in although i am not sure what that means or how that action translates in the real world.

F1 SML8R

· #12 · Oct 26, 2013

Correct, you just need to push it back in.

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 26, 2013

brgelise said:
Hopefully Dura CELL IS A DRYCELL. iTS TYHE WAY TO GO.

Nope just a super heavy weight soping wet whatever I could get quick battery. Next slight bummer was that changing battery cleared ECU so couldn't do that inspection today. But did drive around a bit on a beautiful Fall day in the mountains.

Overall I'm just quite delighted it did this in our garage not trackside or seaside.

The changeover is very straight forward except for the clips that secure the cargo net. Rethreading them is one of those "seriously?" moments that seems to always occur in mechanical reassemblies.

All that duct tape across the top is an aggravation too. I placed a piece of cardboard between the 3 feet of males and females until I was done with the other reassembly.

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 31, 2013

So, next chapter. After 5 days sitting with a battery tender, we are flat again.

This time it was much easier getting to the battery as I knew my way

Battery charger on there but who knows if it will work with this dead lifeless phantom of a battery that was proud and new before being attached to an obvious energy drain. No my car not my ex.

One consequence of this untimely death (is there ever a good time?) is that we're overdue for the inspection and can't do that until the girl is reborn and driven a bit. If driven a bit will she strand us at the end of a road somewhere with no phone service? But wait, I could avoid those places.

KCZ

· #15 · Nov 1, 2013

Gratuitous advice: Replace those moronic cargo net nuts with rivet-nuts while you're there.
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f170/cargo-net-hooks-156065/

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 1, 2013

Those are a horror.

squidward

· #17 · Nov 1, 2013

Note to self.. Yet another reason to avoid Duracell. OT: I recently bought their new-fangled "Quantum" batteries at costco touted on the packaging as their longest lasting battery ever... Turned out to be the worst AA batteries I've ever used. Duracell really sucks.

BTW If you haven't already, perhaps you might want to test your quiescent draw on your Evora to make sure it's normal.

XHILR8N!

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 1, 2013 (Edited)

The duracell charged up pretty quickly and I drove her to the routine state inspection, just a few miles. Back home again and the drain appears to have started again. A Battery Tender started out flashing green then went to red

The Varta charged up again too. There must be a "quiescent drain" going on. I'm gonna check for any thing left on....

How does one check for this with a multimeter?

We are due for an annual maintenance so will get her down to Lotus of Durham probably next weekend. Max offered us an IPS S to try out in the interim

And I can not find anything left on

squidward

· #19 · Nov 2, 2013

XHILR8N! said:
The duracell charged up pretty quickly and I drove her to the routine state inspection, just a few miles. Back home again and the drain appears to have started again. A Battery Tender started out flashing green then went to red

The Varta charged up again too. There must be a "quiescent drain" going on. I'm gonna check for any thing left on....

How does one check for this with a multimeter?

It's very easy. Rather than explain it here you could just watch one of many videos on youtube.

Here's good one:

squidward

· #20 · Nov 2, 2013

Btw for your convenience the normal draw for an Evora should be between 28 and 32 milliamps. The last time I measured mine, it drew 30 ma.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2487522

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