recommended LOTUS ELISE 2005 Owner's Manual

Storing Your EliseIf you intend to store your Elise for a prolonged period, con
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sult your Lotus dealer who will be pleased to advise you. We recommend that the car is stored inside a secure garage. The
following guidelines are provided for your information:
• Ensure the engine oil and filter, coolant and brake fluid have recently been renewed. The a.c. system should be in good
working order and fully charged.
• Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the car, including the engine compartment. If necessary, use a ‘jet’ washer to remove dirt and salt deposits from the underside, but do not
use around bearings, hydraulic components, painted surfaces or the soft top roof. Allow to dry completely.
• Chock the road wheels, leave off the parking brake, and engage reverse gear.
• Increase the tire pressures to 60 psi (4 bar). If possible, move the car slightly every month to help avoid flat spots on the
Tires.
• Either leave the battery in the car and connect a battery management (conditioner) type of charger, or remove the battery and trickle charge every two months. Note that with
the battery disconnected or removed, the alarm system is
de-activated.
• Unless the garage is equipped with a de-humidifier, the use of drying agents (Silica-Gel) is recommended in cars with
leather upholstery and in conditions of high humidity.
• The use of unapproved car covers may have a detrimental effect on the car’s paint finish and such damage will not be
covered by your car’s warranty.
In general, the Elise will be kept in best operating condition
by regular use.
Accessories
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RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS
EngineIn order to enhance the longevity and reliability of the car, it
is most important that only the specified lubricants are used. It
is an entirely false economy to try to save money by using lower quality oils, which may break down before the next change in
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terval and provide inadequate protection before the end of the
term. High oil consumption may also result.
For topping up purposes during the running-in period prior to
the First After Sales Service, a top quality mineral or semi-syn
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thetic 5W/40 oil should be used. At the First After Sales Service and completion of the running-in period, a fully synthetic 5W/40
oil such as Texaco Havoline Synthetic should be used. This oil
has been tested in all climatic conditions likely to be encountered,
and offers advantages in ease of cranking, smooth cold running
and fuel economy at low temperatures, in combination with good
wear protection at elevated temperatures and at high engine speeds. If Texaco/Havoline products are not available, an oil meeting the following specification should be used.
NOTICE: Note that Lotus does not recommend the use of any oil additives and use of such additives may invalidate the terms
of your car’s warranty.
Viscosity: 5W/40
Quality Standard: API SJEC; ILSAC; ACEA A3
Capacity - refill inc. filter 4.4 litre
(Cars fitted with front mounted oil coolers contain an additional
3.5 litres, but this oil is not drained during routine servicing) Difference between high & low dipstick marks
1.5 litre
Oil change interval Refer to Maintenance Schedule
‘Severe Service’ Conditions Certain operating conditions can cause rapid degradation of
the oil quality, either by the accumulation of dirt particles, or by
the absorption of water from condensation. If any of the ‘severe
service’ conditions described below apply, it is recommended
that the oil and filter be changed twice as frequently as is listed in the Maintenance Schedule.
Recommended Lubricants
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• Driving in dusty areas (e.g. on unmetalled roads); Change
the oil and filter as soon as possible after driving in a dust
storm.
• Stop/start driving with frequent short trips where the engine
rarely warms up thoroughly (especially in cold weather/cli
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mates); and/or frequent or prolonged idling.
• Track use, with repeated high rpm, wide throttle openings
and high oil temperatures. For appropriate maintenance, dis
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cusswith your Lotus dealer. Note that use of the car off road or in a competitive manner, including timed runs or laps, will
invalidate warranty and require appropriate levels of expert
car preparation and servicing.
Transmission (gearbox & final drive) Viscosity SAE 75W/90
Quality Standard API GL-4 or GL-5
Capacity 2.3 litre (2.4 US qt)
Oil change interval Refer to Maintenance Schedule
Brake & Clutch System
Type Non-mineral (non-petroleum)
hydraulic fluid
Specification DOT 4
Capacity - brake 1.5 litre
- clutch 0.5 litre
Fluid change interval 12 months
Engine Coolant Additive
Only approved product Havoline XLC
Type Ethylene glycol antifreeze with
OAT corrosion inhibitors
Colour Orange
Concentration 50%
Quantity reqd. @ 50% 6 litres
Recommended Lubricants
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within legal speed limits, or by performance of service, repair, alteration or modification of the car other than in accordance
with the recommended servicing and repair procedures of the
Company, or;
• by fitting of a part, assembly, accessory or component not conforming to specifications of the manufacturer of the motor
car.

7. EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY
This Limited Warranty and the Emission Control System War
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ranties are the only express warranties applicable to the car
which are given by the Company or the manufacturer of the
car. Subject to the provision of Paragraph 2 (Limitations of
Warranties), this warranty and the emission control system warranties exclude all other obligations and liabilities of the
Company and the manufacturer of the car, whether they arise
in contract or tort, or otherwise to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any and all other express warranties, representa
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tions, promises or statements shall be of no force or effect as regards the Company, or the manufacturer of the car. If
any provision of this warranty is declared or made ineffective or unenforceable by law, adjudication or otherwise, such
ineffectiveness or unenforceability shall not affect any of the other terms and conditions of this warranty.
No person is authorised to change or modify this warranty, and under no circumstances may this warranty be changed or modified orally.
8. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
In order to obtain performance of any obligation under this Limited Warranty, bring the Lotus car to any authorised Lotus
Dealer. Any such dealer is authorised to perform warranty
obligations. If you are unhappy with work performed on your
Lotus, speak first with the dealer’s Service Manager, and then, if necessary, with the General Manager or owner. If you still
cannot resolve a problem, contact:
Lotus Cars U.S.A. Inc.
2236 Northmont Parkway Duluth, Georgia 30096.
Tel. 770 476 6540
Limited Warranty
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Lotus Elise, were designed, built and tested using genuine Lotus
Service Parts and the car is certified as being in conformity with Federal and California emission control requirements. Accord
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ingly, it is recommended that any replacement parts used for maintenance, repair or replacement of emission control systems
be Lotus Service Parts or Lotus Authorized Remanufactured
Parts. The owner may elect to have maintenance, replacement or repair of the emission control devices and systems performed by any automotive repair establishment or individual, and may
elect to use parts other than Lotus Service or Authorized Re
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manufactured Parts for such maintenance, replacement or repair
without invalidating this warranty; the cost of such service or
parts, however, will not be covered under the warranty, except
in emergency situations. Use of replacement parts which are not of equivalent qual
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ity may impair the effectiveness of emission control systems. If other than Lotus Service Parts or Authorised Remanufac
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tured Parts are used for maintenance, replacement or repair of components affecting emission control, the owner should
obtain assurances that such parts are warranted by their manu
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facturer to be equivalent to genuine Lotus parts in performance and durability. Lotus however, assumes no liability under this
warranty with respect to failure of such parts other than Lotus
Service Parts or Authorized Remanufactured Parts. However, the use of non-Lotus replacement parts does not invalidate the
warranty on other components. If a non-Lotus emission related
part causes damage to other components, then the liability
for the subsequent damage shall not be assumed by Lotus. If however, a Lotus Service Part or Authorised Remanufactured
Part causes damage to a non-Lotus part, such non-Lotus part
will be repaired.
Repairs and service covered by this warranty will be per
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formed by any authorized Lotus Dealer at his place of business with no charge for parts or labour (including diagnosis), using
Lotus Service or Authorized Remanufactured Parts for any part of the emission control system covered by this warranty. In the
case of an emergency, where an authorized Lotus dealer is not available, or a Lotus part is not available within 30 days; repairs
may be performed at any available service establishment or by
any individual using any replacement part. Lotus will reimburse
the owner for such repairs (including diagnosis) that are covered under this warranty, but such reimbursement will not exceed the
Califo rnia Emission Warranty
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Lotus suggested retail price for all warranted parts replaced, and labour charges based on Lotus’s recommended warranty repair
times, and the geographically appropriate hourly rate. A repair
not being complete within 30 days constitutes an emergency.
Replaced parts and paid invoices must be presented at a Lo
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tus dealership as a condition of reimbursement for emergency repairs not performed at a Lotus dealer.
You are advised to perform all recommended maintenance
or repairs on your new, USA specification, Lotus Elise. You are responsible for the performance of the required maintenance.
Lotus will not deny a warranty claim solely because you have
no record of maintenance; however, Lotus may deny a warranty
claim if your failure to perform required maintenance resulted in the failure of a warranted part. Receipts and maintenance records covering the per formance of regular maintenance
should be retained in the event questions arise concerning
maintenance. The receipts and maintenance records should be
transferred to each subsequent owner of this car.
Califo rnia Emission Warranty
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WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE CALIFORNIA EMISSION
WARRANTIES
The warranty does not cover:
• Malfunctions in any part caused by any of the following:
misuse, abuse, neglect, improper modification or alteration,
tampering, disconnection, improper or inadequate mainte
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nance, or use of leaded gasoline.
• Damage resulting from accident, acts of nature or other events
beyond the control of Lotus.
• The repair or replacement of warranted parts which are
scheduled for replacement prior to 50,000 miles (such as
spark plugs, filters) once these parts have been replaced at
the first recommended replacement interval as part of required
maintenance services.
• Incidental and consequential damages, such as loss of time,
inconvenience, loss of use of the car, or commercial loss.
• Any car on which odometer mileage has been changed so
that mileage cannot be readily determined.
ANY IMPLIED WARR ANT Y OF MERCHANTABILIT Y OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICUL AR PURPOSE APPLICABLE
TO A Car OR PART IS LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN THIS WARRANTY. THE COMPANY
SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSE
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QUENTIAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE BREACH OF
ANY WARRANTY.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, OR THE EXCLU
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SION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN
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TIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLU
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SIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Califo rnia Emission Warranty
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Headlamp Flasher .................................................................58
Heating & Ventilation .............................................................. 61
Horn ...................................................................................... 60
Idle Speed ............................................................................. 73
Ignition Switch ....................................................................... 44
Immobiliser, engine ................................................................ 31
Inertia Switch ...................................................................... 135
Instrument Illumination .......................................................... 56
Interior Lamp .......................................................................... 41
Jacking Points, lifting you car .............................................. 148
‘Jump’ Starting ..................................................................... 133
Keys ...................................................................................... 29
Lighting Switches .................................................................. 54
Lights On Buzzer .............................................................. 40,55
Lubrication - Dipstick, engine oil level check ....................................... 99
- Engine Oil Change ........................................................ 100
- Oil Filter ......................................................................... 102
- Recommended Lubricants ............................................ 153
- Tran smission Oil ............................................................ 103
Mirrors ................................................................................... 40
Odometer .............................................................................. 53
Parking Brake ........................................................................ 70
Pedals ................................................................................... 66
Queen’s Award ..................................................................... 191
Roof, Hard Top ...................................................................... 85
Roof, Soft Top ....................................................................... 82
Safety Information ....................................................................
7
Seat Be lts .............................................................................. 18
Seats ...................................................................................... 17
Servicing ............... see separate Maintenance Record booklet
Sparking Plugs ..................................................................... 114
Speedometer .......................................................................... 51
Start Button, engine .............................................................. 45
Starting Procedure ................................................................ 72
Index
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