2005 LOTUS ELISE warning light

Seat Belt Tell Tale
The red seat belt tell tale is provided as a reminder that both
driver and passenger should always wear the seat belts, no
matter how short the journey. The lamp will flash until the driv
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er’s seat belt is fastened, accompanied for the first 8 seconds by a buzzer.
Brake Tell Tale
This tell tale will glow red with the ignition switched on
whenever the parking brake is applied. Driving the car with the brake not fully released will cause overheat damage to the rear
brakes. Each time the parking brake is released, check that the
tell tale is extinguished. With the parking brake released, if the tell tale should light
at any time after the six second check period, stop the car im
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mediately, as the circuit has detected a dangerously low level of brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir, possibly caused
by a hydraulic leak in one of the separate front or rear brake
circuits. In the event of a leak there is a danger that air may enter the hydraulic system and cause spongy operation and
extended pedal travel. The divided brake circuit should ensure
that emergency braking remains, but the car should not be driven until the fault has been identified and rectified.
WARNING: If the tell tale remains lit when the parking brake has been
released, the footbrake may not be working properly. Stop
the car immediately it is safe to do so, and do not continue until the fault has been rectified. Continuing to drive could cause a crash and result in death or serious injury.
Oil Pressure Tell Tale
This red tell tale warns of low engine oil pressure. The lamp
will be lit whenever the ignition is on and the engine is stopped, but should go out as soon as the engine is started. If the lamp
fails to go out after engine start up, or comes on when the engine is running, stop the engine immediately and do not restart until
the cause has been investigated and rectified.
Instruments & Switches
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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
Instruments & Switches
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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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Auxiliary Power SocketAn auxiliary power socket is fitted in the centre trim shroud
below the oddments pocket on the rear bulkhead. The socket is
operative at all times, and is provided with a protective hinged
flap. The format of the socket allows a standard cigarette lighter
element to be used, or other electrical accessories requiring
this type of fitting. Maximum current draw should not exceed
15 amps.
WARNING: Do not leave small children unattended in the car since
careless inter ference with the power socket could be
dangerous and result in burn injuries or the initiation of a car fire.
Instruments & Switches
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AUXILIARY POWER SOCKET

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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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REMOVING ACCESS PANEL
Front Service Access PanelsThe front body has two removable access panels to allow
servicing of the brake/clutch fluid reservoir and main fusebox.
To remove an access panel:
Use the hexagonal key supplied
in the car tool kit (in the battery cover rear pocket), to release
the single threaded fastener securing the outboard corner of
the panel, and withdraw the panel from the two locating holes in the front body spine. Guard against the lightweight panel being blown away and
damaged by a strong wind.
To refit a panel: Hook the extended lip on the front edge of the panel beneath the rear edge of the louvre panel before engaging
the two locating pegs on the inboard side of the access panel
with the holes in the front body spine. Fit the single screw at
the outboard corner of the panel into the captive nut in the body,
taking care not to cross-thread or overtighten the screw. Re-stow
the hexagonal key in the tool kit.
WARNING: Ensure the access panels are refitted and properly se
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cured before driving.
External Operations
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standard: Example; Tread-
wear 60 Traction A A Temperature A. See page 120
Other tire markings are self explanatory.
Tire Inflator Aerosol (if fitted) In order fully to exploit the benefits of light weight, and
to maximise stowage space, the Elise has no provision for spare wheel carriage or lifting jack. A temporary puncture
repair facility is provided in the form of a tire inflator aerosol
which is mounted in spring clips at the extreme right hand front corner of the rear luggage compartment. If possible avoid driving on a deflated tire, or irreparable damage to
the tire may be caused. When the aerosol is connected to the tire valve, and the
button pressed, a mixture of liquid latex and propellant is
injected into the tire, such that the solidifying latex is forced
into the puncture site at the same time as the tire is inflated, effecting a temporary repair and enabling the car to be driven at low speed to the nearest tire repair facility.
WARNING:
• Use of the aerosol does not constitute a permanent repair, but is designed to allow the car to be driven
to the nearest tire repair facility. At the earliest op
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portunity, the tire should be either professionally repaired or replaced dependent on the severity of
the damage.
• Until the tire is repaired or replaced, the car should be driven in a moderate manner, not exceeding 30
mph (45 km/h).
• Do not use the aerosol for large holes or repairs, or when the tire sidewall has been damaged, or if the
tire has been displaced from the rim.
• For safety reasons, the aerosol should at all times be carried only in the designated secure stowage
position. Never carry loose in the passenger com
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partment.
Tires & Wheels
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If the battery is to be disconnected, the following precautions
should be taken: i) Ensure that all electrical loads (e.g. lights) are switched off. If
the car is fitted with security coded audio equipment, check
that the code is available for entering after battery reconnec
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tion.
ii) Wait for at least ten seconds after switching off the ig-
nition to allow the engine management system to adjust the

setting of some components ready for re-starting.
iii) Ensure the alarm is disarmed. If the battery is disconnected
when armed, the alarm will be triggered.
iv) Disconnect the
negative (earth; black; ‘-’) battery cable first,
and re-connect last.
WARNING:
If the battery positive terminal is inadvertently earthed
(e.g. when using a spanner) whilst the negative terminal
is still connected, the resultant short circuit with heavy sparking and current flow could cause serious burns.
To remove the battery, pull off the breather pipe (if applicable),
release the single screw securing the clamp bracket at the
base of the battery, and manoeuvre the battery from the base
retaining shoe.
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Batter y clamp
Electrical
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