LOTUS ELISE 2005 Service Manual

Notes:
• In the event of a flat car battery, the CDL will not operate. The
doors can be unlocked from outside only after opening the
engine cover and restoring power to the battery by substitution,
re-charging or ‘jumping’ to a second battery. The doors cannot
be unlocked using the mechanical key if the CDL was used
to lock the car.
• To lock the car with a flat or disconnected car battery, or if
the transmitter fob is disabled, use the mechanical key in each exterior door lock button and turn anticlockwise to the
vertical position to disconnect each release button from the latch. This technique does not ‘deadlock‘ the interior release
handles, but does allow continued key access to the car until restoration of battery power.
Note that a door locked with the mechanical key cannot be
unlocked using only the transmitter fob.
• To deadlock the car i.e. disable interior release handles, with
a flat car battery, or without the use of the transmitter fob or mechanical key, close and lock one door using the sill but
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ton, and for the second door, hold the exterior release button pressed in and depress the sill button before closing the door.
Access is now available only by using the transmitter fob after restoration of car electrical power.
ohs97b
ohs103
Mechanical locking Interior release handle
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LockUnlock

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NightDay
‘Lights On’ Buzzer
A ‘lights on’ reminder buzzer will sound if the lights are on, the
ignition is switched off, and the driver’s door is then opened.
Interior Rear View Mirror The mirror can be dimmed to reduce headlamp glare from
following cars by turning the lever on the underside of the mirror
towards the left. Turn towards the right for daytime use.
Door Mirrors Rear view mirrors are fitted on both driver’s and passenger’s
doors, and may be adjusted manually by direct manipulation of
the mirror housing. Note that the passenger side mirror glass is convex to provide a wider field of vision. A spring detent mechanism allows the complete mirror to
swing forwards or backwards on accidental contact to reduce
possible damage.
WARNING: The passenger side convex mirror makes objects seem
smaller and farther away than when viewed through a flat
mirror. Take care to judge distances and speeds correctly.
If you move into a lane on your right when the car behind is
too close, you could cause a collision and a crash. Check
your interior mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
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MIRROR DIMMER

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Interior LampThe interior lamp is located centrally in the rear bulkhead trim
panel, and incorporates a three position rocking lens:
• Lens rocked upwards; lamp is switched off.
NOTICE:
Use this position only temporarily as required. Arm-
ing the security alarm system with the lamp switched off may
exclude the doors from activating the alarm.
• Lens central; lamp is switched on with or without ignition.
NOTICE: To guard against flattening the battery, take care
not to leave the lamp on when parking the car, or to switch
it on accidentally when using the storage space behind the
seats.
• Lens rocked downwards; a courtesy mode applies, where the
lamp is switched on whenever a door is opened, and goes out when both doors are closed. This is the normal position
and should be used whenever leaving the car.
Sun Visors To help reduce sun glare, pivoted visors are provided for both
driver and passenger. Swing down the visor from the windscreen
header rail as required.
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INTERIOR LAMP SWITCHING

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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
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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’
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Illuminated
dot
Window up
Window down

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button which glows amber when the lights are switched on.To lower a window, switch on the ignition and press the lower,
domed end of the switch in the relevant door. Release the switch
to stop window movement. To raise a window, press the upper, dished end of the switch.
Entry & Comfort
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Key insert /removeColumn unlocked
Ignition auxilliaries
Position not used
INSTRUMENTS & SWITCHES
Ignition Switch /Steering LockThe switch/lock is located on the right hand side of the steer
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ing column.
I Insert the key into the slot, and turn clockwise to position ‘I’ to unlock the steering column. If the key is reluctant to turn,
wiggle the steering wheel to ease the load on the steering
lock.
II Turn to position ‘II’ to switch on the ignition and operate aux-
iliary equipment.
III This spring loaded position is not used on the Elise. The engine
start function is controlled by a ‘Start’ button at the left hand
end of the dashboard (see below).
B To remove the key, turn fully counterclockwise to ‘B’ and withdraw. The steering column lock will be activated when the key is withdrawn but may not engage until the steering is
turned and the mechanism is aligned.
NOTICE: DO NOT leave the ignition switched on for long periods
without the engine running. Although the engine ignition system itself draws no current when the engine is stopped, a battery drain will occur through other circuits even when auxiliary equip
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ment is not being used. For security reasons, and to guard against battery drain,
always remove the key when leaving the car.
Instruments & Switches
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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
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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
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tion ‘Starting Procedure’.
NOTICE: Pressing the start button when the engine is running may damage the starter mecha
ohs147Engine start button
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Passive Ilisation: The start button will operate only when the
security tell tale in the tachometer face is out. If the tell tale is
flashing, the engine is immobilised; Press once,
and for a full second, the larger of the two buttons on the trans
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mitter fob. The security tell tale will be extinguished. For further
information see ‘Car Security Alarm’.
WARNING ‘TELL TALE’ LAMPS A block of tell tale lamps is incorporated into the instrument
cluster to provide you with important information concerning the
operation of your Elise.
Bulb Check In order to check that the warning systems are operative, all
the tell tale lamps (except the ‘security’ tell tale; see Car Se
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curity Alarm section) should light for about 6 seconds following ignition switch on. If any lamp should fail to light, it is possible
that the bulb or warning circuit may be faulty; see your dealer
without delay.
Turn Tell Tale
When the left hand or right hand turn indicators are operating,
this green tell tale flashes in unison. A clicking sound may also be heard. If the tell tale fails to light, or flashes at an unusual or
irregular rate, check the operation of the turn indicator lamps
immediately.
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Instruments & Switches
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TELL TALE LAMPS

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Seat Belt Tell Tale
The red seat belt tell tale is provided as a reminder that both
driver and passenger should always wear the seat belts, no
matter how short the journey. The lamp will flash until the driv
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er’s seat belt is fastened, accompanied for the first 8 seconds by a buzzer.
Brake Tell Tale
This tell tale will glow red with the ignition switched on
whenever the parking brake is applied. Driving the car with the brake not fully released will cause overheat damage to the rear
brakes. Each time the parking brake is released, check that the
tell tale is extinguished. With the parking brake released, if the tell tale should light
at any time after the six second check period, stop the car im
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mediately, as the circuit has detected a dangerously low level of brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir, possibly caused
by a hydraulic leak in one of the separate front or rear brake
circuits. In the event of a leak there is a danger that air may enter the hydraulic system and cause spongy operation and
extended pedal travel. The divided brake circuit should ensure
that emergency braking remains, but the car should not be driven until the fault has been identified and rectified.
WARNING: If the tell tale remains lit when the parking brake has been
released, the footbrake may not be working properly. Stop
the car immediately it is safe to do so, and do not continue until the fault has been rectified. Continuing to drive could cause a crash and result in death or serious injury.
Oil Pressure Tell Tale
This red tell tale warns of low engine oil pressure. The lamp
will be lit whenever the ignition is on and the engine is stopped, but should go out as soon as the engine is started. If the lamp
fails to go out after engine start up, or comes on when the engine is running, stop the engine immediately and do not restart until
the cause has been investigated and rectified.
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WARNING:Continuing to run the engine with the oil tell tale lit could
cause major engine damage or seizure, resulting in loss
of car control and a crash. You or others could be killed
or seriously injured.
Low Fuel Level Tell Tale
When only a single segment of the fuel gauge bar graph
remains, representing approximately 1.3 U.S. gall. (5 litres), this
amber tell tale will flash. Refuel at the next opportunity.
ABS Tell Tale
This amber tell tale should light for about four seconds follow-
ing ignition switch on, and then go out. If the lamp remains lit, or
comes on whilst driving, a fault in the anti-lock brake system is
indicated. The base brake system will continue to operate nor
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mally, but without the anti-lock feature. The car can be driven but should be checked and repaired at the earliest opportunity.

High Beam Tell Tale
This lamp glows blue whenever the headlamp high beams
are operating.
Airbag Tell Tale
The airbag safety system has a self-diagnostic feature which
lights the red tell tale if a fault is detected. As a bulb and circuit
check, the tell tale will light for about six seconds following ig
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nition switch on, and then go out. If the lamp remains lit, or comes on at any other time, a fault in the airbag system is indicated,
which should be rectified without delay.
WARNING: If the airbag tell tale is lit, the airbags may not inflate
correctly in a crash, or may inflate without warning. To
help avoid injury to you or others, have the airbag system repaired as soon as possible.
Battery Charging Tell Tale
This red tell tale will light whenever the ignition is on and the
engine is stopped. If it lights any time that the engine is running,
the battery is not being charged, which may be due to a broken
auxiliary drive belt, or an electrical fault. A broken drive belt
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