child LOTUS ELISE 2005 User Guide

Behaviour: It is essential that the behaviour of any child trav-
elling in the car is such that they remain correctly seated and belted, and it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that
this occurs.
The following wording has been included to comply with
National Highway Traffic Safety Authority requirements,
however;
WARNING: Lotus str ongly recommen ds that you do not fit any type
of child seat into the Elise due to the risk of death or seri
-
ous injury if the c hild is too close to the dashboard when
the airbag inflates.
Procedure for Proper Fitment of For ward- Facing Child
Seat
A utomatic Locking Retractor: The safety belt for the passen-
ger’s seat is equipped with an automatic locking retractor that
must be used for securing a forward-facing child restraint sy
s-
tem. When activated , this retractor allows you to securely fas
-
ten the child restraint system.
Activating the Automatic Retracto r:
1. Pull the passenger seat safety belt completely
out . At this
point, the locking mechanism is activated.
2.
P lace the forward-facing child seat in the passenger seat,
using the safety belt to secure the child seat,
fo llowing the
instructions that come with the child seat
.
3. Insert the safety tongu e into the buckle and make sure that
it is properl y latched.
4. Allow the safety belt to retract until it is tight on the child seat.
You may further tighten the belt by pulling on it to allow more of
it to retract. Check to make sure the child seat is secured, and
that the belt is snug and will not pull out.
Releasing the safety bel t and child seat:
1. Unbuckle the safety belt. 2. Remove the child seat.
3. Make sure that the belt has fully retracted. At this point the
automatic locking feature is disengaged.
Seating & Safety Restraints
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KEYS & CAR SECURITY ALARM
KeysA single mechanical key operates the manual door locks
(see also ‘Doors’ and ‘Central Door Locking’), combined igni
-
tion switch/steering lock, and engine cover. The head of the key incorporates a push button activated key hole light to facilitate
operation in the dark. A duplicate key is supplied with the new car and, on receipt,
should be separated and kept in a safe place for use in an emergency. The mechanical key code is printed on a plastic
tab which should be removed from the key ring and the number recorded safely with the car documents. This number will be
required when ordering a replacement, or any additional keys
from your dealer. Ensure that a spare key is available at all times to guard against becoming stranded.
WARNING: Never leave the car unattended with the key in the igni
-
tion switch, especially if unsuper vised children and /or animals are in the car. Dangers can arise from window
operation and other electric controls. If the engine is running, operation of the car’s controls could cause an

accident and result in death or serious injury.
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Keys & Car Security Alarm
29
MECHANICAL KEY
Push button
Keyhole light

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ENTRY & COMFORT
WARNING:
• In very hot/cold territories, or under conditions of extreme solar heating, be aware of exposed metal surfaces in the
cabin. Take suitable precautions to guard against burn
injuries from hot or cold metal.
• Unlocked doors can be dangerous. Young children who get into unlocked cars may be unable to get out.

Always lock your car whenever you leave it.
Central Door Locking (CDL) The central door locking (CDL) operates on the driver’s and
passenger’s doors in conjunction with the security alarm system.
For full details of the alarm system, see page 30.
To unlock from outside: To unlock the doors from outside, press once, for a full second,
the larger button on the transmitter fob. The alarm will be dis
-
armed and both doors unlocked. Press the exterior lock button and pull open the door using the fingergrip below the button. If
the door is swung fully open, a spring detent mechanism on the hinge will aid restraint of the door for convenience whilst entering or exiting the car, but the door should be manually held in windy
conditions, or if the car is parked on a slope.
From inside the car, pull the door firmly shut using the recess
provided at the top of the door trim panel.
WARNING: Before closing a door take care to ensure that no persons
or objects will be trapped to avoid injury or damage.
To lock from inside: If it is desired to lock the doors from inside the car, for example
to deter highjack attempts, press the right hand side of the CDL
rocker switch on the front of the gear lever shroud to lock both
doors with or without the ignition switched on. Alternatively, the
doors can be locked individually by depressing the button at the rear end of each door sill.
WARNING: Whether locked using the rocker switch or sill buttons,
Entry & Comfort
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Door WindowsIn frosty or icy weather conditions, the windows may become
frozen to the weatherstrip seals. Use a windscreen de-icer spray
to free the glass before operating the windows.
WARNING:
• Before closing a window, always check that no persons or objects will be trapped; incautious window operation
could be dangerous, especially to children. Ensure that any passenger is also made aware of this danger.
• To guard against incautious electric window operation, do not leave small children unattended in the car with
the ignition key in position.
• Do not leave children or animals in a parked car with the roof and windows closed, in hot weather conditions as
they may suffocate and/or experience heat exhaustion.
Manual Winders: Each door window may be raised or lowered by the winder
handle near the front of the door.
Electric Windows: On cars so equipped, switches for the electric window op
-
eration are mounted in the front of the door trim panels, and are operative only with the ignition switched on. To help locate the
switches in the dark, an illuminated dot is provided in the ‘up’
Entry & Comfort
42
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Illuminated
dot
Window up
Window down

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WARNING:
• Do not push or tow the car unless the key is first used to unlock the column and is then left in the lock. With
-
drawing the key will cause the steering to lock.
• Never remove the key from the ignition switch or turn off the ignition while the car is moving. Withdrawing the key
will cause the steering to lock and may cause an accident
resulting in serious injury or death.
• To reduce the risk of theft, or danger to a child remaining in the car, always remove the key when leaving a parked
car.
Engine Start Button An engine start button is located at the left hand end of the
dashboard, alongside the lighting switches, and is backlit when
the ignition is turned on. The button is operative only with the ignition on, and engages
the engine starter motor for as long as the button is pressed. Release the button to stop engine cranking.
For the correct engine starting procedure, refer to later sec
-
tion ‘Starting Procedure’.
NOTICE: Pressing the start button when the engine is running may damage the starter mecha
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Instruments & Switches
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Auxiliary Power SocketAn auxiliary power socket is fitted in the centre trim shroud
below the oddments pocket on the rear bulkhead. The socket is
operative at all times, and is provided with a protective hinged
flap. The format of the socket allows a standard cigarette lighter
element to be used, or other electrical accessories requiring
this type of fitting. Maximum current draw should not exceed
15 amps.
WARNING: Do not leave small children unattended in the car since
careless inter ference with the power socket could be
dangerous and result in burn injuries or the initiation of a car fire.
Instruments & Switches
57
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AUXILIARY POWER SOCKET

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EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE (viewed from lid underside)
WARNING:The maximum weight of goods which may be carried in the
trunk is 110 lb (50 kg). Exceeding this limit can overload the
Tires and affect the handling of the car, and result in a crash in which you or others could be killed or seriously injured.
Refer also to the ‘Tires’ section in this handbook.
Child Entrapment If a child should become trapped in the rear luggage com
-
partment, an emergency internal release handle is provided to facilitate their escape.
To release the latch, pull the fluorescent handle on the un
-
derside of the lid. Parents should decide if their children should be shown how
to use this feature.
External Operations
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WARNING:
• Engine oil is hazardous to your health and may be fatal
if swallowed.
• Take all suitable precautions to guard against scalding
from the hot oil.
• Prolonged and repeated contact with used engine oil may cause serious skin disorders, including dermatitis

and cancer.
• Use protective gloves to avoid contact with skin as far
as possible and wash thoroughly after any contact.
• Keep out of reach of children.
Allow the oil to drain completely before cleaning the drain
plug, fitting a new sealing washer, and tightening securely. Refit
the undertray. Refill with the recommended lubricant (see page 153) via the
oil filler on the camshaft cover, to the top mark on the dipstick,
allowing several minutes for the oil to drain through to the sump before checking the level. Take care not to over fill. Refit the oil
filler cap securely, and check the oil level again when the engine is fully warm (see above).
Servicing & Maintenance
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Oil FilterThe canister type oil filter is vertically mounted at the front
of the engine, and is accessible from beneath after removal of
the engine bay undertray. The filter should be renewed along
with the engine oil, at intervals specified in the Maintenance
Schedule.
WARNING:
• Engine oil is hazardous to your health and may be fatal
if swallowed.
• Take all suitable precautions to guard against scalding
from the hot oil.
• Prolonged and repeated contact with used engine oil may cause serious skin disorders, including dermatitis

and cancer.
• Use protective gloves to avoid contact with skin as far
as possible and wash thoroughly after any contact.
• Keep out of reach of children.
Remove the filter by turning in a counterclockwise direction,
if necessary using an oil filter wrench, and dispose of safely
(see ‘Used Engine Oil’). Ensure that only a Lotus specified filter is fitted, as parts with
identical outward appearance can contain different internal
features. Before fitting a new filter, clean the mating face on the engine, and smear the new seal on the filter with clean oil. Add
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SUMP DRAIN PLUG
OIL FILTER
Servicing & Maintenance
102

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- Remove the plug, and check that the oil is level with the bottom of the hole. Note that the release of oil trapped
by the plug, should not be confused with an indication of

correct oil level.
- If necessary, add only the specified lubricant (see ‘Recom
-
mended Lubricants’) via the level plug hole until the oil level
stabilises at the bottom of the plug hole.
- Refit the level plug with a new sealing washer, and tighten securely. Refit the undertray.
To renew transmission oil:
WARNING:
• Engine oil is hazardous to your health and may be fatal
if swallowed.
• Take all suitable precautions to guard against scalding
from the hot oil.
• Prolonged and repeated contact with used engine oil may cause serious skin disorders, including dermatitis and
cancer.
• Use protective gloves to avoid contact with skin as far as possible and wash thoroughly after any contact.
• Keep out of reach of children.
Servicing & Maintenance
104
f131
Transmission
filler/level plug
Drain plug

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