driver LOTUS ELISE 2005 Owners Manual

INTRODUCTIONC o n g r a t u l a t i o n s o n y o u r p u r c h a s e o f a L o t u s E l i s e .

Welcome to the Lotus family. The Elise has been designed for the discerning driver, and aims to provide fun motoring from a
lightweight, distinctively styled and efficient package. This handbook has been written for the owner/driver and
should be read before using the car, and then stored in the car for ready reference, remaining with the car throughout any
subsequent changes of ownership. The content includes
important safety information to protect you from injur y,

explanations and instructions for operating the driving controls, owner maintenance requirements, technical specifications, and
an explanation of the warranty. It is not intended to provide all
the technical information required for servicing, and should any adjustment become necessary, owners are urged to contact
their Lotus dealer. It is a requirement of the warranty, and the
responsibility of the owner/driver, to ensure that servicing of the
car is carried out at the correct intervals. An alphabetical index is provided at the back of this book to
help you find information about any particular feature or topic. The information and specifications included in this publica
-
tion were correct at the time of approval for printing. Lotus has a policy of continuous product improvement, and reserves the
right to discontinue or change specification, design or equipment
at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation
whatsoever. You are urged to keep in regular contact with your Lotus dealer to ensure that you may be kept informed of any
technical developments which may improve the specification, performance or safety of your car. This handbook covers all Elise models for the North American
market, and may include descriptions of equipment and features
which are not fitted on your particular car.
Your Lotus is intended to be used safely, in a manner

appropr iate to the dr iving c onditions and whilst obeying

local laws. Any alteration or misuse of the car, or ignoring the

instructions in this handbook could result in an accident causing
severe or fatal injury.
Introduction
6

oh_croft_InD.indd 620/05/2004 07:58:40ProCarManuals.com

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
8

oh_croft_InD.indd 820/05/2004 07:58:41ProCarManuals.com

• Powerful anti-lock four wheel disc brakes.
• High geared responsive steering requiring only small steering
wheel movements to alter course
• Exceptional road holding with optimised handling character
-
istics
You and your passenger cannot take full advantage of these
safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position
and always wear your seat belt properly. In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly. Drivers should be aware of their own limitations as well as
those of the car, and ensure that all road driving is conducted
well within both sets of capabilities, particularly on wet roads, or under adverse weather conditions.
Remember:
Driving a car requires:
• Care;
• Attention; and
• Sensible judgement.
Be aware that any motor car has the potential to cause death
or injury both to its occupants and/or other persons, and must
be used only in a responsible and cautious manner. This entire
handbook is filled with important safety information.
Please
read it carefully.
Remember:
• ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Never drive when excessively tired.
• Never use mobile phones, map read or attempt other distract
-
ing activities whilst driving.
• Always obey all speed and traffic laws and regulations and never drive faster than the posted speed limit or than condi
-
tions allow.
• Be particularly careful driving on slippery or wet surfaces.
• Familiarise yourself with the car and always drive prudently, being aware of your own limitations and the limitations of the
car. Failure to operate the car properly can result in an ac
-
cident and serious injury.
Safety Information
9

oh_croft_InD.indd 920/05/2004 07:58:41ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE: DO NOT push or tow start the car; or turn off the igni-
tion at engine speeds above idle; or run the fuel tank dry: Any of these actions may damage the catalytic converter.
Before driving the car:
• Check tires for damage, wear and proper inflation.
Under-infla-
tion causes increased rolling resistance and uses more fuel.

(Please refer to the section in this handbook on tires, page 115).
• Check all windows, mirrors and lights are clear and unob
-
structed and all lights are correctly working.
• Check that the engine cover and front body access panels
are correctly latched;
• Adjust the seat and mirrors, and familiarise yourself with

the controls.
• Check all instruments and warning lamps (‘tell tales’) are reading correctly.
• Ensure that both driver and passenger are properly restrained
by their seat belts.
Care of the Environment By virtue of its light weight, simple content, constructional
process and fuel efficiency, the Elise has a low environmental im
-
pact compared with many road cars. All drivers should, however,
be aware of the effect of motor car exhaust emissions on the
environment and drive in a way which minimises pollution by:
• Anticipating traffic flow to avoid needless acceleration

and braking.
• Using the highest suitable gear.
• Switching off rather than idling for long periods.
• Driving off as soon as it is safe to do so; it is not necessary or beneficial to the engine to allow extended idling from cold.
• Having the car serviced regularly as a poorly maintained car will use more fuel; have any engine faults attended to imme
-
diately.
• Considering the need to use the car for very short journeys.
The emissions produced by an engine are many times greater
when cold than when warm.
Safety Information
14

oh_croft_InD.indd 1420/05/2004 07:58:42ProCarManuals.com

CAR IDENTIFICATIONThe Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) is a unique 17-digit
number used to identify the car for warranty, spares order
-
ing and administrative purposes. For reference, the number may be viewed from outside the car at the left hand bottom
corner of the windscreen. The number is also printed on

a label stuck to the inside of the chassis sideframe alongside
the driver’s seat. It is repeated on the certification label on the
driver’s door jamb. This label contains tire pressure information.
The chassis frame is stamped with the V.I.N. in the right hand front wheelarch area, viewable with the front wheels turned to right full lock.
It is essential that the complete V.I.N. is quoted in any corre
-
spondence concerning the car, or when ordering spare parts.
VIN LABEL ON DOOR JAMB VIN LABEL ON CHASSIS
Car Identification
15
ohs119a
ohs149

oh_croft_InD.indd 1520/05/2004 07:58:42ProCarManuals.com

SEATING & SAFETY RESTRAINTS
SeatsOn delivery of the car, first remove the protective plastic
seat covers, if this has not already been done, and dispose of
safely. To adjust the fore/aft position of the driver’s seat, raise the
lift bar beneath the front of the seat, and slide to the position
required. Ensure that the catch is fully engaged after adjustment
by attempting to slide the seat without touching the lift bar. Note
that the passenger seat position is fixed and cannot be adjusted, and that the backrest angle of both seats is fixed, and cannot be reclined.
WARNING:
• Sit as far back from the steering wheel as is comfortable, whilst ensuring that full control can be maintained. Sit
-
ting too close to an airbag can result in serious injury or death if the airbag inflates.
• Ensure that your chest is at least 10 inches (250mm) from
the steering wheel.
• Do not attempt to adjust the seat position whilst driving as this could adversely affect your control of the car.
• Ensure that no persons or objects will be trapped when adjusting the seat.
Lumbar Support (if fitted): On seats equipped with adjustable
lumbar support, an inflator ‘bulb’ (A) and air release button (B)
ohs64a
SEAT ADJUSTMENTS
Seating & Safety Restraints
17

oh_croft_InD.indd 1720/05/2004 07:58:43ProCarManuals.com

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
18

oh_croft_InD.indd 1820/05/2004 07:58:43ProCarManuals.com

WARNING:
• Lotus strongly recommends that you do not carry children
as passengers in your Elise.
• Because the Elise is fitted with a non-switchable pas
-
senger airbag, a rear facing child seat must never be
used.
• Never use one belt around two people, or allow a child to be carried on a driver’s or passenger’s lap.
• Refer to Child Restraints section of handbook.
WARNING:
• No modifications or additions should be made to the inertia reel assemblies or seat belts. Do not attempt to
adjust the seat belt tension by altering the mechanism.
• The seat belt should be replaced if webbing becomes frayed, contaminated, or damaged. Inspect regularly.
• It is essential to replace the entire seat belt assembly
if it has been used in a severe impact, even if damage
to the assembly is not obvious. In situations where the airbags have been deployed, the belt tensioner systems must also be replaced. Seat belt anchorage points must
also be rigorously checked.
• Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work

properly when needed. Check the belts regularly and have any problem corrected immediately.
• No one should sit in a seat with an in-operative seat belt.
Care should be taken to avoid contamination of the webbing
with polishes, oils or chemicals and particularly battery acid. Use
only a mild detergent to clean the webbing, never use bleach or
dye, and allow the belt to dry fully before using the car. Ensure
that the buckle mechanism is kept free of dirt contamination as disassembly for cleaning is not possible.Seating & Safety Restraints
20

oh_croft_InD.indd 2020/05/2004 07:58:44ProCarManuals.com

Airbag Safety SystemYour car has airbags. One airbag for the driver, and
another for the passenger.
The car is also equipped with shoulder and lap belts. Airbags
are supplementary restraints to the seat belts. In the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision, airbags
provide occupant protection additional to that provided by the lap
and diagonal seat belts. Both driver and passenger must wear
the seat belts at all times, whether or not an air bag is provided, in order to minimise the risk of severe injury or death, no matter how short the journey. An occupant who is properly restrained by a seat belt, will be in the best position for full effectiveness
of the airbag in the event of airbag deployment. The airbag system is designed to inflate when the car is
involved in a frontal, or near frontal collision, and the force of
impact is sufficient to warrant additional occupant protection.
The driver's airbag is housed in the centre of the steering wheel, and that for the passenger in the dashboard. When triggered by
an electronic crash sensor, each air bag inflates in a fraction of
a second to provide protection for the occupant’s upper body,
and then deflates very rapidly to minimise any obstruction to
the driver. Some parts of the system are designed to operate only once,
and need replacing after air bag inflation with new components, before being ready for another deployment.
Remember that the seat belts, when correctly worn, provide
Seating & Safety Restraints
21
w53b
AIRBAG INFLATED
ON IMPACT

oh_croft_InD.indd 2120/05/2004 07:58:44ProCarManuals.com

the primary crash protection to the occupants, especially in collisions below the actuation threshold of the airbag system, and during types of accident which do not cause airbag deploy
-
ment. Therefore, both driver and passenger must always wear
seat belts (in most states, and all Canadian provinces, the law
requires the use of seat belts). See the earlier pages on ‘Seat
Belts’.
WARNING:
• You can be killed or seriously injured in a crash if you aren’t wearing your seat belt - even with airbags. Wearing
your seat belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the car or being ejected from it.
Airbags are designed to work with seat belts, but don’t replace them. Airbags are designed to deploy only in
moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes.
They aren’t designed to inflate at all in rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in many types of side im
-
pacts. Both driver and passenger should wear a seat belt properly to minimise the risk of severe injury or death in
the event of a crash.
• Airbags inflate with great force, in a fraction of a second. If you’re too close to an inflating airbag, as you would
be if you were leaning forward, you could be killed or seriously injured. Seat belts help keep you in the correct
position before and during a crash. Always wear your seat
Seating & Safety Restraints
22
w53b
AIRBAG DEFLATED
AFTER DEPLOYMENT

oh_croft_InD.indd 2220/05/2004 07:58:44ProCarManuals.com