2005 LOTUS ELISE key

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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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Engine Cover/Trunk LidThe engine cover/trunk lid provides access to the engine and
rear luggage compartment.
To open the lid: Insert the key into the lock and turn clockwise. When released, a spring plunger will lift the lid sufficiently to allow it to be raised fully by hand. Support the lid by engaging
the prop provided on the trunk bulkhead, in the slotted plate adjacent to the latch mechanism.
WARNING:
• When using the rear luggage compartment, beware of any hot surfaces exposed in the engine bay. Touching hot

surfaces could cause serious burns.
• Before closing the lid, ensure that no persons or objects
will be trapped.
• If necessary, protect and/or secure heavy objects as required.
To close: Stow the support prop in its bulkhead clip, and, keeping
fingers well clear of entrapment, and ensuring that no obstruction is present, lower the lid. Fully engage the latch mechanism by pressing down on the lid just forward of the key lock, NOT at
the extreme rear end of the panel.
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REAR LID RELEASE
External Operations
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FITTING ROOF STAYS
Soft Top Roof - Fitting
WARNING:Do not attempt to fit the soft top roof whilst the car is in
motion. This could cause a crash in which you or others
could be killed or seriously injured.
1. From its stowage bag in the rear luggage compartment, with-
draw the roof assembly and support stays. Lower both door
windows, or open both doors.
2. Insert the two, identical, roof support stays, with the arrows pointing forwards, into the slots above the rear window, and
in the windscreen header rail. Note that the slots are keyed
to allow fitment of the stays in only the correct orientation.
3. Lay the soft top roof across the centre of the roof space with
the arrows on the side rails pointing forwards.
External Operations
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Arrows
point for ward
Rear end keyway

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pressing firmly to ensure that the handle is fully seated. With-
draw the dipstick again to inspect the oil level, which should lie between the two dimples on the end of the stick. The oil level
should be maintained at the upper of these two marks in order
to provide optimum engine protection.
Topping Up
: If topping up is necessary, unscrew the oil filler cap
from the left hand end of the cam cover. Add a suitable quantity of the recommended engine oil (see ‘Recommended Lubricants’)
taking care not to spill any oil onto engine or electrical compo
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nents; use a funnel if necessary. The difference between high and low dipstick marks is equiv
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alent to 1.6 U.S. quarts (1.5 litre). Allow several minutes for the oil to drain through to the sump before re-checking the oil level.
Do NOT over fill, or lubrication will be degraded and consump
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tion increased as the oil becomes aerated. Refit the filler cap,
turning clockwise until secure.
Engine Oil Change The use of high quality oil, renewed at the specified intervals,
is the key to engine longevity and sustained performance. Ad
-
here strictly to the engine oil and filter change intervals specified
in the Maintenance Schedule.
For access to the engine sump and filter, the engine bay
undertray must first be removed. This is most easily achieved
with the car raised on a garage hydraulic lift, or alternatively, parked over an inspection pit.
The drain plug is located at the rear of the sump, and should
be removed to drain the sump immediately after a run when
the oil is warm and the impurities are still held in suspension.
On cars fitted with front mounted oil coolers, it is not necessary routinely to attempt to drain the cooler circuit. Servicing & Maintenance
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WheelsEnsure that only original equipment, or Lotus approved wheel
and tire combinations are fitted. After the car has been used
on track, or in competition conditions, the wheels should be removed and thoroughly inspected for damage.
WARNING: After striking a pothole or kerb, the wheels should be
removed and the wheel and tire thoroughly inspected for
damage. Renew the wheel and /or tire if necessary. Safety
considerations should always be paramount and new parts
fitted in any cases of doubt.
Wheel Bolts The wheel bolts used on the Elise are of a special design to
suit the small diameter fixing tunnels in the wheel centres. The bolts have a 10 spline socket head, for which a special extension
tool is supplied with the car. A 17mm a/f deep socket and 1/2
inch square drive wrench should be applied to the extension tool,
with a tightening torque of 77 lbf.ft (105 Nm) required. To protect against wheel theft, one of the four bolts securing
each wheel is key coded, and requires a corresponding coded
socket wrench and 1/2 inch square drive extension. Rotate the coded socket until full engagement with the bolt head is ensured and take care to maintain the extension tool perpendicular to
the wheel face before applying release torque.
NOTICE: It is not recommended to use hammer action air tools on the coded bolts - use only manual tools.
Both the standard extension and coded socket tools are
stowed in the car tool kit, and should remain with the car at all
times to ensure that servicing may be performed. The key code
included in the tool kit should be recorded and kept safely with
the car documents, in case a replacement socket tool needs
to be ordered.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance The wheels on your car were aligned and balanced carefully
during the manufacture of your car to give you the longest tire
life and best overall performance.
Tires & Wheels
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Footwell Sited Fuses Four fuses are secured to the main wiring harness just
ahead of the scuttle beam and accessible from the passenger
footwell.
Fuse Rating CircuitC1 20A Interior fan
C2 15A Wiper motor
C3 7.5A Audio key-in
C4 7.5A A.C. compressor
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Front
Viewed
from
beneath Fusebox ‘C’Electrical
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3. If adjustment is required, the clear cover and mask must be removed from the body. From within the wheelarch, remove
the access panel from the wheelarch liner to expose the
headlamp cover retaining screws. Use the hexagonal key provided in the toolkit (in the rear pocket on the batter y
cover) to release the three socket head retaining screws and washers, and withdraw the cover assembly complete
with rubber edge seal from the body. When refitting, do not overtighten the fixings.
4. To adjust the low beam laterally, adjust the dome headed screw at the upper inboard side of the low beam (uppermost)
lamp, accessed from the front of the lamp. Turn clockwise to
adjust the beam to the right. Optimum setting is 0%. To adjust
the vertical aim of the low beam, adjust the dome headed screw at the lower outboard side of the lamp, accessed
from the front of the lamp. Turn clockwise to raise the beam.
Optimum setting is -1.5%.
5. Repeat for the RH lamp. 6. Centralise the machine on the LH high beam (lowermost) lamp, and switch on the high beams. Check the high beam
alignment which should be centralised with the marker dot on
the machine screen or slightly below the horizontal. Optimum
setting is 0%.
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HEADLAMP COVER UNIT SOCKET BOLTS
Electrical
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BULB REPLACEMENT
Headlamp BulbMounted in the front body are the two headlamp units, each
of which houses a halogen projector type low beam lamp
(upper), and a halogen high beam lamp (lower) including the sidelamp bulb. For access to the headlamp bulbs, first remove the clear cover
and mask from the body (see previous pages).
WARNING:
• Allow bulbs to cool before attempting removal, or your fingers could be burnt.
• Halogen bulbs have pressurised gas inside and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or others could be
injured.
• Be sure to read and follow instructions on the bulb

packaging.
NOTICE: Do not touch a halogen bulb glass envelope with the
fingers, as the greasy deposit left behind will greatly reduce bulb life. Use a paper tissue to handle the bulb.
Low beam bulb: Disconnect the single cable, release the spring wire clip, and withdraw the 55W H1 bulb. On refitting, note that the bulb is keyed to allow only one orientation.
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Low beam lamp
High beam lamp
Parking lamp bulb
Electrical
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