New owner questions-sorry
Discussion
Having acquired my dream I now know I'm not insane. However, one or two questions concerning my car. Is it normal that I can remove the ignition key while the engine is running, turning the lights off being the only way to stop the engine. I assume this is normal but frightening when its not explained by the seller. Secondly, I have an indicator malfunction. The left indicators remain permanently lit. A bulb problem, flasher unit or alarm unit??? Thirdly I have a couple of buttons in the cabin that I dont know their function. Button one on just in front of the gearstick, button two on the gearstick mounting but facing the dash, button three next to the ignition key. It would be nice to know what purpose they serve. Next question, in general the engine temperature runs between what range. When should I start to be concerned. I had 92 as a max yesterday which seemed high in the conditions but then I realised the side vents were choked up with snow which no doubt didnt help. Other than that Im so happy.
I've never heard about being able to remove the key with the engine running, sounds like there is something wrong but not sure what. The buttons near the gear lever are/should be:
The one on the front facing the dash is a rocker switch and locks and unlocks the central locking.
The second one should switch the traction control on and off - keep it held down for a few seconds.
The one near the dash allows you to reset the odometer and I think it has another function but not 100% sure. May be something to do with the brightness of the instrument lights.
The one on the front facing the dash is a rocker switch and locks and unlocks the central locking.
The second one should switch the traction control on and off - keep it held down for a few seconds.
The one near the dash allows you to reset the odometer and I think it has another function but not 100% sure. May be something to do with the brightness of the instrument lights.
zasker said:
I've never heard about being able to remove the key with the engine running, sounds like there is something wrong but not sure what. The buttons near the gear lever are/should be:
The one on the front facing the dash is a rocker switch and locks and unlocks the central locking.
The second one should switch the traction control on and off - keep it held down for a few seconds.
The one near the dash allows you to reset the odometer and I think it has another function but not 100% sure. May be something to do with the brightness of the instrument lights.
What he said, I thought at first you were taking the p*ss with the light switch turning off the engine!!The one on the front facing the dash is a rocker switch and locks and unlocks the central locking.
The second one should switch the traction control on and off - keep it held down for a few seconds.
The one near the dash allows you to reset the odometer and I think it has another function but not 100% sure. May be something to do with the brightness of the instrument lights.
Regarding the engine, its actually a serious, true if slighlty unbelievable phenomonem. To explain, I got to the ferry terminal, went to get my passport out of the boot so obviously needed to stop the car. Turned off the key but the engine kept running, much to my surprise. Took the key out of the ignition and still running. At this point I panicked a little bit.
Tried various things to stop the engine without success. I was imagining a 'worse case scenario' of getting on the ferry and not being able to stop the car, when I by chance chose to turn off the headlights. Surprise surprise, turning off the headlights, once the key is in the stop position, cuts off the engine.
Replies indicate this is not normal. Anyway, got someone looking at the car tomorrow so we'll see. Perhaps it will also explain the indicator problem. I'm already thinking its part of the alarm system thats not connected or working properly but Im no mechanic.
Tried various things to stop the engine without success. I was imagining a 'worse case scenario' of getting on the ferry and not being able to stop the car, when I by chance chose to turn off the headlights. Surprise surprise, turning off the headlights, once the key is in the stop position, cuts off the engine. Replies indicate this is not normal. Anyway, got someone looking at the car tomorrow so we'll see. Perhaps it will also explain the indicator problem. I'm already thinking its part of the alarm system thats not connected or working properly but Im no mechanic.Were HID lights recently fitted to your car? I recently fitted some HID lights to my S1, causing a number of electrical nightmares with the dash. Whilst getting it sorted at Plans Motorsport they described the issues you have with turning the engine off, that happened to another car they had fitted HIDs to (only turning the lights off switched off the engine). I think they sorted it out, but with a lot of rewiring. Hopefully not an omen, or the same car!
You might want to give them a call to get some views... (not an advert, buy they sorted mine out along with some other issues).
Your running temperature should normally be mid-80s, but low 90s is fine and typical in traffic when air is passing through the radiator.
You might want to give them a call to get some views... (not an advert, buy they sorted mine out along with some other issues).
Your running temperature should normally be mid-80s, but low 90s is fine and typical in traffic when air is passing through the radiator.
Lighting and indicator still an issue. The socket was indeed wired incorrectly, but no impact on the indicator staying on. Seems to be an earthing problem. The rear lights have been checked. Just leaves the front end to look at. Possibly the indicator relay. Annoying problem and one that doesnt seem easy to resolve without lots of hours of checking. A quick resume of the problem
Turn on the ignition. Start car. Move off. Indicate left and then all the left hand side lamps light up but remain lighted, no flashing. The indicator warning light on the instrument panel remains lit. Sometimes turning off the engine takes me back to zero, othertimes when I switch on again, the indicators come straight back on. The sidelamps also come on at this point. At this point, to switch the engine off I have to use the light switch.
Turn on the ignition. Start car. Move off. Indicate left and then all the left hand side lamps light up but remain lighted, no flashing. The indicator warning light on the instrument panel remains lit. Sometimes turning off the engine takes me back to zero, othertimes when I switch on again, the indicators come straight back on. The sidelamps also come on at this point. At this point, to switch the engine off I have to use the light switch.
Love the fact you are asking if a car still running once ignition key removed is normal! Regarding the temps, not sure if yours is a k-series car, but one of the best bits of elise ownership advice I had was to watch as it gets up to about high 80s, then falls a couple of degrees as the thermostat opens, then builds to a steady temperature. Only then should you give it the beans, if you do it as the temperature falls, this is apparently not something that helps avoid head gasket failure.
I would look very carefully for bad earth connection.
Had similar problem,couldn't stop engine with key once engine got to radiator fan turn on temperatures. Indicators on solid and side lights too IIRC.
Traced to bad earth from battery to chassis in front (S1 elise).
Stack went dead too. Fine once engine temp had fallen again.
Go carefully accidentally set LUCAS MEMS alarm while tracing fault.
Had similar problem,couldn't stop engine with key once engine got to radiator fan turn on temperatures. Indicators on solid and side lights too IIRC.
Traced to bad earth from battery to chassis in front (S1 elise).
Stack went dead too. Fine once engine temp had fallen again.
Go carefully accidentally set LUCAS MEMS alarm while tracing fault.
Car still in the garage. Its an earthing problem. They cant find the source. In some ways I find it ridiculous. Electrician complains of the poor quality of certain fixings in the electric circuit which are not in keeping with the standard of the car. Hopefully not a sign of things to come, but no doubt typical of Lotus ownership. 
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