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OWNER MAINTENANCERemember that fuel consumption and wear and tear of the
car are affected considerably by the way the car is driven and maintained. Be sure to carry out the simple maintenance checks detailed below, and to have your car serviced regularly by your
Lotus dealer, in order to ensure maximum safety, reliability,
longevity and pleasure of ownership.
NOTICE: Failure to follow and comply with the Maintenance
Schedule may invalidate the terms of the warranty.
The Lotus Elise has been designed as a road going sports
car. It is recognised that owners may wish to use the car occa
-
sionally on closed circuit tracks to experience the car’s full range of dynamic capabilities. However, use of the car in a competitive
manner, including timed runs or laps, is not endorsed by Lotus.
Using the car on the track may cause a greater degree of wear and tear on parts and such wear and tear on parts and compo
-
nents will not be covered by your Limited Warranty.
WARNING: Any type of timed, competitive car use will invalidate
warranty and require appropriate levels of expert car prepa
-
ration and servicing.
WARNING:
• Attempts at car servicing with inadequate knowledge, tools or equipment, could result in car damage as well as
endangering you, your passenger and other road users.
Consult your Lotus dealer in all cases of doubt.
• Beware of hot surfaces in the engine bay. You could be seriously burned if you touch a hot engine part.
• Take great care not to drop flammable liquids or objects onto a hot engine and start a fire.
• Ensure that only Lotus dealers or suitably qualified tech
-
nicians work on the airbag system.
• Beware of rotating engine components; to avoid injury,
guard against entrapment of tools, body parts and loose
clothing.
• The front mounted electric fans can start up and cause injury even when the engine is not running. Keep tools,
hands and clothing well away.
Servicing & Maintenance
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ACCESSORIES
Accessories and ModificationsModifying your car, or installing some non-Lotus accessories,
can make your car unsafe. Before you make any modifications or add any accessories, be sure to read the following information
and confer with your dealer:
Accessories:
Your dealer has genuine Lotus accessories that allow you to
personalise your car. These accessories have been designed
and approved for your car, and are covered by warranty.
Non-Lotus accessories may be designed for universal ap
-
plication, and although they may fit on your car, they may not
meet factory specifications, and could adversely affect your
car’s handling and stability.
WARNING: Improper accessories or modifications can affect your
car’s handling, stability and per formance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt or killed. Follow all instruc
-
tions in this owner’s manual regarding accessories and modifications.
When properly installed, cellular phones, alarms, two-way
radios, and low powered audio systems should not interfere with
your car’s computer-controlled systems, such as the airbag and anti-lock brake system.
However, if such or similar electronic accessories are im
-
properly installed, or exceed your car’s electrical system ca
-
pacity, they can interfere with the operation of your car, cause the airbags to deploy, or damage the car.
Before installing any accessory:
• Ensure the accessory does not obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper car operation or performance.
• Ensure electronic accessories do not overload electrical
circuits.
• Have the installer contact your Lotus dealer for assistance
before installing any electronic accessory.
• If possible, have your Lotus dealer inspect the final instal-
lation.
Accessories
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Important Safety Information About ModificationsDo not remove any original equipment or modify your car
in any way that would alter its design or operation. This could
make your car unsafe or illegal to drive. For example, do not install wheels and tires with a differ
-
ent overall diameter. Such modifications can adversely affect handling, and interfere with the operation of the car’s anti-lock
brakes and other systems. In addition, any modifications that decrease ground clearance
beyond Lotus approval, increase the chance of undercarriage
parts striking a kerb, speed bump, or other raised object, which
could cause your airbags to deploy as well as damaging the
chassis and body underside. Do not modify your steering wheel or any other part of your air
-
bag system. Modifications could make the system ineffective.
WARNING: Do not attach or place objects on the airbag covers.
Any object attached to or placed on the covers marked
‘AIRBAG’, in the centre of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard, could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.
Accessories
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INDEX
Access Panels, front service ................................................. 78
Accessories & Modifications, warnings .............................. 150
Air Cleaner Element ............................................................. 113
Air Conditioning ...................................................................... 61
Airbag Safety System ............................................................. 21
Alarm, car security ................................................................ 30
Alternator Belt ...................................................................... 114
Anti-freeze/Corrosion Inhibitor ............................................. 107
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .............................................. 67
Audio Equipment ................................................................... 60
Auxiliary Power Socket .......................................................... 57
Battery ................................................................................. 129
Bodycare ............................................................................... 93
Brake Fluid Reservoir .......................................................... 110
Brake Pads ........................................................................... 111
Break-In, running-in .............................................................. 73
Bulb Replacement ............................................................... 142
Central Door Locking ............................................................. 37
Child Restraints ..................................................................... 26
Cleaning, bodycare ............................................................... 93
Coolant Temperature Display ................................................ 53
Cooling System ................................................................... 106
Dipswitch ............................................................................... 58
Doors, keys ............................................................................ 37
Engine Cover/Trunk Lid ........................................................ 79
Environment, care of ............................................................. 14
Fuel Level Display ................................................................. 52
Fuel Filling ............................................................................. 76
Fuel Requirement .................................................................. 75
Fuses ................................................................................... 135
Gear Lever ............................................................................. 71
Hazard Warning Lamps Switch ............................................ 55
Headlamp Alignment ........................................................... 139
Index
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