2005 LOTUS ELISE steering wheel

• 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
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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
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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
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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

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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
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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
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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

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belt, even with airbags. Sit as far back from the steering
wheel as is comfortable, whilst ensuring that full control can be maintained.
• Airbags plus lap-shoulder seat belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young children and

infants. Neither the car ’s seat belt system nor its

airbag system is designed for them. Young children and

infants need the protection that a child restraint system can

provide. See later section on ‘Child Restraints’.
• If an object is between a person and an airbag, the bag
might not inflate properly or it might force the object into
that person causing death or serious injury. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Don’t put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and don’t attach or
put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any
passenger dashboard air bag covering.
• Do not lean against the inside of the doors; always hold the steering wheel by the outer rim; never rest your hands
on the airbag panel.
• Never transport heavy objects on or in front of the pas
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senger seat.
• Give your passenger all of the information in this sec
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tion.
• Do not attempt to de-activate the airbags, or make any other changes to the wiring or components of the airbag
system. Do not undertake any wiring for electrical ac
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cessory equipment in the vicinity of the airbag wiring harnesses. Doing so may disable the airbag system, or
cause its unintended deployment.
• Adjust the driver’s seat to ensure that your chest is at
least 10 inches (250mm) from the steering wheel.
• If the airbag trim cover on the passenger side of the dash
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board is accidently knocked off, the passenger airbag will
not operate correctly. Improper protection could result
in death or serious injury to a passenger in a crash. Do
not attempt to refit or repair the trim cover, but have the
fault rectified immediately by your dealer.
Airbag Tell Tale There is an airbag warning light (‘tell tale’) on the instrument
panel which shows the airbag symbol. The system checks the
following airbag electrical circuits for malfunction:
Seating & Safety Restraints
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oh33e
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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COLUMN SWITCHES & HORNHeadlamp High /Low Beam /Flasher/Turn Indicators The steering column lef t hand lever switch controls the
headlamps high and low beams, headlamp flasher and turn
indicators.
Headlamp High/Low Beam:
To switch on the headlamps, press
the headlamp switch in the dashboard outboard of the steering column. The left hand lever switch is then used to select high or
low beam. High beam is obtained with the lever furthest forward,
away from the steering wheel, and low beam with the lever moved back towards the wheel. The high beam tell tale lamp in
the instrument panel lights when high beam is operating.
Note that when high beam is selected, the low beam lamps
remain lit.
NOTICE:
The headlamps used on the Elise provide a beam pat-
tern which differs from regular USA headlamps. Take a moment
to familiarise yourself with the spread of light.
Headlamp Flasher:
The headlamp flasher is operative at all times.
The high beam lamps will light for as long as the lever switch is pulled towards the steering wheel against spring pressure.
Instruments & Switches
58
ohs32Flash
Right turn
Left turn
High beam
Low beam

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Turn Indicators: The turn indicators operate only with the ignition
switched on. Move the lever down to indicate a left hand turn, and up for a right hand turn. The switch will be cancelled when
the steering wheel is returned to the straight ahead position. For convenience, when signalling a lane change, lightly
pressing the switch up or down will allow its return under spring
action.
Windscreen Wiper/ Washer The steering column right hand lever switch controls the
windscreen wiper and washer, and is operative only with the ignition switched on.
NOTICE:
• Never use the wiper on a dry screen. This may overload the
mechanism and/or scratch the screen.
• Ensure th at snow is cleared from the windscreen before
operating the wiper.
Windscreen Wiper:
The wiper is controlled by the up/down
position of the lever switch, which operates as follows:
Moved fully down, the wiper is switched off.
Move up to the first position for intermittent wipe.
The wiper will make one sweep about every five seconds.
Select the next position for normal wiper operation.
Move fully upwards for quick wipe, to be used only in heavy
rain.
Instruments & Switches
59
ohs33Washer Wiper

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Windscreen Washer: Two windscreen washer jets are provided,
one each side of the wiper spindle. Pulling the control lever to
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wards the steering wheel will operate both the washer pump and the wiper. When the switch is released, the wiper will continue
for a further four sweeps.
Horn The windtone horn, which functions at all times, is operated
by a button, embossed with a bugle symbol, in each of the
horizontal steering wheel spokes.
AUDIO EQUIPMENT Operating instructions for the unit fitted are contained in a
separate booklet supplied by the equipment manufacturer.

The audio set will operate for convenience without the ignition key, so in order to avoid draining the battery, take care to switch
off the set when leaving the car.
Aerial:
An analogue di-pole type radio aerial is routed inside the
front body for optimum performance, and to avoid the vandalism and accidental damage which may occur to external aerials.
Speakers:
Two rear speakers, with 90W peak, 30W RMS, are
mounted at each side of the cabin rear bulkhead trim panel.
Front speakers, fitted beneath each side of the dashboard top
panel are rated at 105W peak, 35W RMS.
Security:
Some audio sets feature a removable front panel, and
others a programmable security card. For details, refer to the
manufacturer’s literature.
Instruments & Switches
60
ohs150
HORN BUTTONS

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