2005 LOTUS ELISE high

ENTRY & COMFORT
WARNING:
• In very hot/cold territories, or under conditions of extreme solar heating, be aware of exposed metal surfaces in the
cabin. Take suitable precautions to guard against burn
injuries from hot or cold metal.
• Unlocked doors can be dangerous. Young children who get into unlocked cars may be unable to get out.

Always lock your car whenever you leave it.
Central Door Locking (CDL) The central door locking (CDL) operates on the driver’s and
passenger’s doors in conjunction with the security alarm system.
For full details of the alarm system, see page 30.
To unlock from outside: To unlock the doors from outside, press once, for a full second,
the larger button on the transmitter fob. The alarm will be dis
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armed and both doors unlocked. Press the exterior lock button and pull open the door using the fingergrip below the button. If
the door is swung fully open, a spring detent mechanism on the hinge will aid restraint of the door for convenience whilst entering or exiting the car, but the door should be manually held in windy
conditions, or if the car is parked on a slope.
From inside the car, pull the door firmly shut using the recess
provided at the top of the door trim panel.
WARNING: Before closing a door take care to ensure that no persons
or objects will be trapped to avoid injury or damage.
To lock from inside: If it is desired to lock the doors from inside the car, for example
to deter highjack attempts, press the right hand side of the CDL
rocker switch on the front of the gear lever shroud to lock both
doors with or without the ignition switched on. Alternatively, the
doors can be locked individually by depressing the button at the rear end of each door sill.
WARNING: Whether locked using the rocker switch or sill buttons,
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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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Note that the tell tale also functions as a high engine speed
(rpm) warning - see ‘Tachometer’.
NOTICE: The car is not fitted with a low pressure tell tale. You should check the tire condition and pressure regularly. See
section in the handbook on tires which specifies tire care and pressures.
Instruments & Switches
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INSTRUMENTS
Speedometer This instrument displays road speed in MPH, with a second
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ary scale in km/h.
Tachometer The t achometer indic ates engine speed in revolutions
p e r m i nu te. T h e e n g i n e m a n a g e m e nt sy s te m li m i t s t h e
m a x i m u m c o n t i n u o u s e n g i n e s p e e d t o 8 0 0 0 r p m o n c e

normal running temperature has been reached. Ver y shor t bursts up to 8500 rpm are allowed during maximum acceleration
through the lower gears. A 6000 rpm limit is imposed on a cold engine in order to
reduce possible damage from a harsh driving style.
NOTICE:
• The use of wide throttle openings and/or high rpm before
normal running temperature has been reached will result in
premature wear and should be avoided.
• Do not run the engine continuously at its maximum speed,
or allow overspeeding to occur on the overrun by downshift
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ing prematurely, as the high engine loads imposed could

result in catastrophic failure.
A red tell tale lamp in the top of the tachometer face lights at
high rpm (dependent on gear engaged) to warn that maximum
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TachometerSecurity/ RPM tell taleSpeedometer

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When only a single segment remains, representing approxi-
mately 1.3 U.S. gall. (5 litres), the amber low fuel tell tale will
flash. Refuel at the next opportunity.
NOTICE: Do not allow the tank to run completely dry, as this may damage the catalytic converter and fuel pump. This may
affect the terms of your warranty.
Coolant Temperature Display The engine coolant temperature will be displayed at the bot
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tom right hand corner of the panel as soon as the temperature reaches 162°F. The running temperature will fluctuate a cer
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tain amount as the operating conditions change, and during periods of idling or in heavy traffic, the temperature may rise to
over 212°F, with the cooling fans switching on at half speed at
approximately 208°F and at full speed at approximately 217°F.
The temperature display will flash at temperatures over 226°F to prompt closer monitoring by the driver of high temperatures.
The pressurised cooling system has a boiling point of over 248°F.

If the temperature approaches this level then the driver should be concerned. If this should occur, allow the engine to idle for a
few minutes whilst monitoring the temperature, and if it continues to rise, switch off and seek qualified assistance.
NOTICE: After a heavy snowfall, ensure that the radiator cooling
outlet grilles in the front body are cleared of snow before driving
the car, or overheating may occur.
Odometer An odometer (total distance recorder) reading is displayed at
the bottom left hand corner of the panel.
Trip Recorder A trip distance recorder is provided at the top left hand corner
of the panel. In order to zero the trip display, switch on the ignition, and
press for a moment (less than 1 second), the small button
on the steering column shroud ahead of the ignition switch.

This dual function button also controls the panel illumination
- see ‘Instrument & Switch Illumination’.
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Dashboard SwitchesLighting functions are controlled by two push button switches
mounted in the dashboard outboard of the steering column. Each
switch is pressed once to switch on, and pressed a second time
to switch off. A symbol is positioned alongside each switch to indicate its function, and is backlit orange when the lights are
switched on.
Parking Lamps Switch The upper switch functions with or without the ignition, and
switches on the front and rear parking lamps, side marker lamps and instrument/switch illumination. A tell tale in the switch button
lights up green to indicate when the circuit is active. Note that the headlamps must be off before the parking lamps
can be switched off.
Headlamp Switch The lower switch functions with or without ignition, and
switches on the headlamps together with the parking lamps, side marker lamps and instrument/switch illumination. A tell tale in
the switch button lights up green to indicate when the circuit is
active. The steering column lever switch (see later) is used to
select high or low beam. Pressing the switch a second time will switch off the head
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lamps, but leave on the parking lamps.
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Headlamp switchParking lamp switch

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‘Lights On’ Buzzer If the lights are on when the ignition is switched off, a ‘lights on’
reminder buzzer will sound when the driver’s door is opened.
Hazard Warning Lamps Switch The hazard warning switch is located in the trim shroud just
ahead of the gear lever, and has an icon in the switch button
which is back lit when the ignition is switched on. The switch is operative at all times, and when pressed, flashes in unison all
the turn indicator lamps, the turn lamps tell tale and the hazard switch icon. Press a second time to switch off. This switch should be used when the car has to be stopped
on the highway in an emergency, or in other situations where a
warning to other traffic needs to be relayed. Use of the hazard
warning lamps may be subject to local traffic laws, with which drivers should familiarise themselves.
WARNING: If stalled or stopped for emergency repairs, move the
car well off the road, switch on the hazard warning lamps
and mark the car with other warning devices as available
to reduce the risk of a collision.
Instruments & Switches
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Hazard warning switch

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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.
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ohs32Flash
Right turn
Left turn
High beam
Low beam

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