air condition LOTUS ELISE 2005 Owners Manual

8. INSTRUMENTS & SWITCHES
Ignition Switch/Steering Lock ..........................................
44
Engine Start Button .........................................................
45
Warning ‘Tell Tale’ Lamps ...............................................
46
Bulb Check ................................................................
46
Turn Tell Tale .............................................................
46
Seat Belt Tell Tale ......................................................
47
Brake Tell Tale ...........................................................
47
Oil Pressure Tell Tale ................................................
47
Low Fuel Level Tell Tale ............................................
48
ABS Tell Tale ............................................................
48
High Beam Tell Tale ..................................................
48
Airbag Tell Tale ..........................................................
48
Battery Charging Tell Tale .........................................
48
Engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp ...........................
49
Security/RPM Tell Tale ..............................................
49
Instruments .................................................................
51
Speedometer .............................................................
51
Tachometer ...............................................................
51
LCD Display Panel ....................................................
52
Fuel Level Display ...............................................
52
Coolant Temperature Display ..............................
53
Odometer ............................................................
53
Trip Recorder .......................................................
53
Dashboard Switches .......................................................
54
Parking Lamp Switch ................................................
54
Headlamp Switch ......................................................
54
Lights-on Buzzer .......................................................
55
Hazard Warning Lamps Switch .................................
55
Instrument Illumination ..............................................
56
Auxiliary Power Socket .............................................
57
Column Switches & Horn ................................................
58
Headlamp High/Low Beam/Flasher/Turn Indicators .
58
Windscreen Wiper/Washer .......................................
59
Horn .................................................................
60
Audio Equipment ............................................................
60
9. HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING
Air Conditioning ..............................................................
61
Air Re-circulation ............................................................
62
Heater Temperature ........................................................
62
Fan Speed .................................................................
62
Air Distribution ................................................................
63
Engine Bay Ventilation ....................................................
65
Contents
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properly restrained. Children, and short adults are at the great-
est risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in the handbook (See page 21 to 27).
Don’t Drink and Drive Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your
ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time
gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive,
and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.
Control Your Speed Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths.
Generally, the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster
than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Car in Safe Condition Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check
your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all
regularly scheduled maintenance (see separate Maintenance
Record booklet).
Safety Features Your car is equipped with many features that work together
to protect you and your passenger during a crash. The Lotus Elise has been designed to comply with applicable safety regulations. The Elise has passive safety features which include:
• A cockpit tub surrounded by substantial chassis side
frames.
• Energy absorbing front
composite ‘crash structure’.
• Energy absorbing rear steel
‘crash structure’.
• Side sill foam pads.
• A seat belt mounting frame incorporating a roof hoop
• Extruded aluminium door beams.
• A collapsible steering column.
• Airbags for both driver and passenger. Active safety features include:
• Lap and diagonal inertia reel seat belts with impact sensing
pre-tensioners.
Safety Information
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• Follow the Maintenance Schedule and keep the car in good
condition.
• Never leave young children unattended in the car.
• Read and take account of all
WARNINGS in this hand-
book.
Owners should note that the only approved extras and modi
-
fications are those which are specified by Lotus and carried out by Lotus or by an authorised dealer. Lotus does not accept
any liability whatsoever for defects which arise from extras or modifications which are not Lotus approved.
WARNING: Inexpert or unapproved modifications or additions to
the car could adversely affect the handling of the car and
the operation of its safety equipment. Ensure only modifi
-
cations specified by Lotus are undertaken by authorised
dealers. Failure to comply with this may result in a crash in
which you and others may be killed or seriously injured.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS If you believe that your car has a fault which could cause a
crash, injury or death, you should immediately inform the Na
-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition
to notifying Lotus Cars USA, Inc. 2236 Northmont Parkway,
Duluth, Georgia 30096. Tel: 770 476 6540. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an inves
-
tigation, and if it finds that a safety problem exists in a group of cars, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between
you and your dealer, or Lotus Cars USA, Inc. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline
toll-free at 1 (888) -327- 4236 (or 366- 0123 in Washington, D.C.
area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor car safety from the Hotline.
Pre- delivery Inspection Lotus strives at all times to provide the highest level of cus
-
tomer satisfaction, and to this end, quality assessments are made at several stages of the delivery process from factory to
customer. If necessary, repairs and replacements will be made
Safety Information
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petrol (LRP), will cause irreversible contamination of the pre-
cious metal catalysts and of the exhaust gas sensor used by the
computer controlled engine management system.
It is important that the Maintenance Schedule (see separate
booklet) is followed at the specified time and distance intervals
(this is a requirement of the warranty), and that the car is kept in proper operating condition. Failure to do so may result not only
in a loss of fuel economy and emission control, but may cause damage to the catalytic converter.
WARNING:
• If the engine malfunctions in any way (e.g by a change in sound) have the fault diagnosed and repaired promptly.
Continuing to drive the car with an engine misfire could cause the catalytic converter to overheat, with possible heat damage to other car components, and an engine bay
fire. Operation of the ‘Malfunction Indicator Lamp’ (MIL)
is fully described later in this handbook on page 49.
• DO NOT park or drive the car in areas where combustible material, such as dry grass or leaves, could come into
contact with the hot exhaust system. Under certain wind and weather conditions a grass fire could be initiated.
• DO NOT tamper with any electrical components with the battery connected. You could receive an electric shock
from the spark plug coils or initiate a car fire.
• DO NOT check or adjust any engine bay equipment with the engine running. Failure to comply with this may result
in you or your clothing becoming trapped.
• DO NOT use the car if a fuel leak is suspected, as may be indicated by a persistent smell of fuel. Have the fault

diagnosed and rectified without delay. A fuel leak may result in a fire or explosion.
• DO NOT touch or approach, any part of a hot exhaust

system. Failure to comply with this may result in you
receiving severe burns.
• DO NOT allow servicing or repairs to be carried out by unskilled persons as this may adversely affect the han
-
dling and safety features on your car. Lotus dealers have
trained staff who are best qualified to maintain your car
to the correct specification.
Safety Information
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are located at the inboard rear of the seat. To increase lumbar
support, squeeze the bulb repeatedly until sufficient support is obtained. To decrease support, press the small black button at
the base of the inflator bulb.
Seat Belts Seat belts provide important safety and comfort for both
driver and passenger and have proven to be the single most
effective safety device in reducing the risk of death or injury in
a crash. The seat belts should be worn at all times, no matter how short the journey. This is required by law in most states
and in all Canadian provinces. As a reminder, the seat belt tell
tale in the instrument cluster will flash until the driver's seat
belt is fastened, accompanied for the first eight seconds by an
audible chime.
Inertia Reel Seat Belts The standard fitment inertia reel seat belts allow the wearer
freedom of movement under normal driving conditions. The belt reel will lock automatically whenever the car is subjected to brak
-
ing, acceleration, or cornering forces, or on impact in a collision. Reel locking will also occur on steep hills or slopes, or if the
car is tilted. In the event of a severe frontal impact sufficient to
trigger the airbag system, a pre-tensioning device incorporated into each seat belt assembly will operate to tighten the belt for
increased occupant protection.
ohs44
SEAT BELT POSITIONING
Seating & Safety Restraints
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will also disable the engine coolant pump and result in rapid overheating; stop the engine as soon as it is safe to do so, and
summon assistance. If the drive belt is intact and the cooling
system unaffected, it may be possible in favourable daylight conditions, to drive a short distance to a repair facility, but do not, under any circumstances, allow the battery to become
completely discharged by continuing to drive.
Engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp
The engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) is provided to
warn the driver that the engine management system has de
-
tected a fault which may result in increased noxious emissions from the exhaust. In order to minimise emissions and potential
engine damage, various operational limitations may automati
-
cally be applied. i) If the MIL lights continuously whilst driving, immediately reduce
speed and adopt a moderate driving style. Seek dealer advice
without delay and avoid all unnecessary journeys.
ii) If the MIL flashes, an engine misfire has been detected which is likely to cause overheat damage to the catalytic converter.
Slow down immediately and be prepared to stop.
- If the MIL then stops flashing, and is lit continuously, proceed with caution and seek dealer advice.
- If the MIL continues to flash, stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so, and switch off the engine. Seek dealer advice.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive the car with a flashing MIL may
cause overheat damage to the catalytic converter, possible en
-
gine damage, increased emissions, and impaired fuel economy and driveability.
In order to comply with emissions regulations, data regarding
activation of the MIL is recorded in the engine electronic control
-
ler, and may be downloaded by Lotus dealers.
Security/RPM Tell Tale The security tell tale is located at the top of the tachometer
display, and indicates the status of the immobiliser and alarm.
• Tell tale out; engine is mobilised, and the alarm is off.
• Tell tale flashing; engine is immobilised, or alarm is armed
and engine immobilised.
For full details of the car security system, refer to the earlier
section ‘Car Security’.
Instruments & Switches
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HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONINGThe small size of the Elise together with the method of
construction and emphasis on lightweight, have resulted in heating and a.c. sytems which perform well under non-extreme
climatic conditions. In extreme temperatures and humidity the operational limits of the systems may be reached before the
desired temperature, or rate of temperature change inside the
car is achieved. The heating and ventilation controls comprise three rotary
switches to regulate; heater temperature, fan speed and air dis
-
tribution. Push button switches are provided for air conditioning and air re-circulation.
Air Conditioning The left hand push button selects air conditioning, but the
following conditions must first be met before the system will
operate:
• The engine must be running;
• A fan speed must be selected;
• Ambient temperature must be above 3°C.
With a fully cold temperature setting, refrigerated air will be
supplied. For dehumidified warm air, select air conditioning in
conjunction with a warm temperature setting. The tell tale in the switch button will light up blue when the
circuit is active. Note that the a.c. will default to ‘off’ when the ignition is turned off.
Heating, Ventilation & A.C.
61
p 98b
INTERIOR CLIMATE CONTROLS

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Air Re- circulation The air supply for the interior climate system is normally drawn
from both the car interior and from the fresh air intake duct ahead
of the engine cooling radiator. When the re-circulation button is pressed, the fresh air intake port is closed down to provide 90%
re-circulation air supply to the cabin interior. The re-circulation
facility should be used when maximum refrigeration is desired.
The tell tale in the switch button will light up blue when the
circuit is active.
Heater Temperature With the left hand rotary control turned fully counterclockwise,
no heating is provided. If cooled air is required, use this tem
-
perature position in conjunction with air conditioning. Turning the control progressively clock wise provides in
-
creasing levels of heat until at the fully clockwise position, maximum heat is supplied.
Fan Speed The centre rotary switch provides three fan speeds to boost air
circulation. Turned fully counterclockwise, the fan is off; Turning
the switch progressively clockwise operates the blower fan at increasing speed in three steps. Note that the fan operates only with the ignition switched on.
Heating, Ventilation & A.C.
62
p99
TemperatureFan SpeedDistribution
Air conditioning Air re-circulation

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integral self diagnostics have switched out the anti-lock function.
See ‘ABS tell tale lamp’.
WARNING:
• The increased control that ABS provides should not induce you to take more risks with your safety. ABS will
not prevent a skid caused by abrupt steering movements,
or attempting to corner too quickly.
• Always maintain a safe following distance from other cars relative to the road surface and weather conditions.
Obey all traffic laws.
• Risk of accidents due to inappropriate speed cannot be reduced even by ABS. The driver is responsible for the
judgement of safe speed.
• The control unit of the ABS is set for standard tire size. If non-standard Tires are fitted, the control unit may mis-
interpret the speed of the car, because of the variant data
it receives from the wheel speed sensors. Fitting non standard tires would seriously affect the performance of
your ABS.
• The amber ABS tell tale in the instrument panel should light for about 4 seconds following 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 normally,
but without ABS. The car can be driven but should be
checked and repaired at the earliest opportunity.
• Activation of the ABS will vary according to the level of grip available at the Tires. On dry surfaces, activation
will occur only with a high pedal pressure. On slippery
surfaces, only a low pressure will be needed.
• On loose or uneven surfaces, such as gravel or snow, a car with ABS may need a longer stopping distance. Allow
a greater distance between cars in these conditions.
Driving Controls
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As a precaution, every week when the engine is completely
COLD, and without disturbing the filler cap, check that the level of coolant in the translucent tank is between the ‘FULL’
and ‘LOW’ marks moulded on the front of the tank. If topping
up is required, wait until the coolant has fully cooled before
turning the cap a quarter turn counterclockwise and allowing any remaining pressure to escape. Only then may the cap be
completely unscrewed. In order to maintain protection from freezing damage and
metal corrosion, use only an approved coolant mixture (see below) to top up the tank to the ‘FULL’ mark. Refit the cap, and
turn clockwise until the leg on the cap locates in the slot at the
front of the tank.
NOTICE: If the cap is removed when the engine is warm, the coolant may boil and a small coolant loss may occur. The com
-
pletely cold header tank level should be checked at the first subsequent opportunity.
Cooling Fans
: Two cooling fans are fitted below the radiator in
the air intake duct. The fans are energised at high coolant tem
-
peratures, or when the air conditioning (if fitted) is selected. The
fans will also run if certain types of engine fault are detected, and
may operate during a 20 minute period following ignition switch off to prevent ‘hot soak’ boiling. An electric coolant circulation pump may also be heard running during this period.
WARNING: Keep hands, tools and clothing away from the radiator
cooling fan area, as personal injury could result from the
fans starting up without warning.
At service intervals, the air duct and matrices of the engine
cooling radiator, a.c. condenser and oil coolers, should be
checked externally for clogging by insects, leaves or other debris,
and if necessary, a water jet used to clear the finning. Take care not to damage or distort the delicate finning of the radiator or
the cooling performance will be degraded.
Anti-Freeze/Corrosion Inhibitor It is most important that the correct coolant specification is
used in order to inhibit boiling and protect the engine and heat
Servicing & Maintenance
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