2005 LOTUS ELISE engine

Auxiliary Drive BeltA single, multi-rib type auxiliary belt is used to transmit drive
from the crankshaft to the alternator, water pump, and (if fitted)
air conditioning compressor. The belt is automatically tensioned,
and requires no periodic maintenance other than a visual check of its condition. If the belt exhibits any evidence of physical dam
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age, cracking, fraying, perishing, abrasion or contamination, it
should be renewed. In the case of contamination, the cause
must be identified and rectified, and each of the pulleys must be thoroughly degreased before the new belt is fitted. It is recommended that auxiliary belt replacement be en
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trusted to your Lotus dealer.
Sparking Plugs The Elise uses a direct ignition system with an individual
high tension coil mounted atop each of the four spark plugs and protected by a plastic cover, screw fixed to the engine.
WARNING: The voltages produced with this ignition system can
cause serious and potentially fatal injur y. Never touch
any ignition components when the engine is running or being cranked.
The spark plugs should be renewed in accordance with the
Maintenance Schedule, with the gaps set to 0.043 in. (1.1 mm).
This operation should be entrusted to your Lotus dealer.
Servicing & Maintenance
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TIRES AND WHEELS
TiresGlossary of Terms:Recommended inflation pressure: The cold tire inflation pressure which is recommended for this car and is speci
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fied in the ‘Technical Data’ section of this handbook.
Cold tire inflation pressure: All tires must be cold, meaning
that the car has been stationary for a minimum of 3 hours, or has been driven less than 1 mile. Adjust pressures only
in ambient conditions.
Maximum inflation pressure: The maximum inflation pres
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sure to which the tire should be subjected. For the Elise,
use only the recommended inflation pressure.
Lotus engineers have worked with tire manufacturers
to produce tire specifications for the Elise which optimise performance on both road and track. To ensure that any
replacement tires are to the correct Lotus specification,
always refer to your Lotus dealer, who will have the latest recommendations.
WARNING: In order to achieve the optimum handling char
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acteristics, the wheel and tire sizes on the Elise are different front and rear. This means that interchanging
of wheels and tires between axles is not permissible.
Failure to adhere to this requirement will adversely affect the handling of the car and may result in an
accident in which you or others could be killed or seriously injured,
The tires should be regularly inspected for signs of cuts,
abrasions or other damage, and for any uneven tread
wear patterns. Uneven treadwear may indicate that the suspension geometry or dampers require attention from
your dealer.
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
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WARNING:When lifting the battery out of, or into the car, be aware
of the considerable weight and take all appropriate precau
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tions to safeguard personal health. Injury can result from improperly lifting the battery.
Keep the battery upright, and protect from sharp knocks
and shocks.
Reconnecting the Battery
WARNING: Failure to follow the correct battery re- connection pro
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cedure detailed above could result in serious burns.
Refit the battery, with its terminals outboard, by reversing the
above procedure. Remember to push on the breather pipe (if
applicable), and reconnect the battery cables as detailed below.
Refit the battery cover.
i) Check again that all electrical loads are switched off.
ii) Connect the positive battery cable first, followed by the neg
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ative (earth) cable.
iii) After reconnection, a change in the engine performance
characteristics may be noted for a period whilst the computer
controlled engine management system ‘re-learns’ some of its
settings.
iv) If necessary, enter the security code into audio equipment.
Battery Charging Under conditions of normal daily use, it should not be nec
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essary to use external battery charging equipment. In a low usage regime, however, it is important to maintain the charge
state of the battery using a trickle charger, or an automatic bat
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tery management conditioner such as that available through Lotus Dealers. Starting difficulties may be encountered after an
unattended period of 3 weeks. A battery conditioner is able to continuously monitor battery charge state and switch on and off automatically in order to maintain the battery in a fully charged
state without danger of damage through overcharging.
If the battery becomes discharged to the extent that the
car cannot be started, the recommended course of action is
to fit a substitute battery whilst the original battery is trickle
Electrical
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‘Jump’ StartingIf the battery becomes discharged to the extent that the en
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gine cannot be started, proprietary good quality ‘jumper cables’ may be used to connect with the battery of a second car in order
to provide the energy necessary for starting.
WARNING: It is most important that the correct procedure is fol
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lowed in order to avoid damage to either car’s electrical system, and most importantly, to minimise the danger of a
spark induced battery explosion. Check that the slave car
also has a NEGATIVE EARTH electrical system.
i) With the engine of the slave car running at a fast idle, use one jumper cable (red) to connect the positive (+) terminal of
one battery to the positive terminal of the other battery. Take
care during this process to avoid inadvertently earthing a free end of this cable to the metal body or chassis of either car.
ii) Connect one end of the other jumper cable (black) to the negative (-) terminal of the discharged battery.
iii) A spark will occur when the other end of this cable (the final connection) is connected to an earth on the slave car. This
connection should therefore be made to a point away from
the battery, and away from any fuel vapour area or moving
parts. An engine hanger bracket is often ideal.
iv) Start the car in the usual way, and run at a fast idle.
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JUMP STARTING
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v) A spark will occur at the first disconnection of a jumper cable, so it is essential that the first disconnection is made from the
slave car earth. Both batteries (especially the
discharged one) will be ‘gassing’ heavily at this time, and if the first disconnection is made at a battery terminal, there is
a danger that the hydrogen gas may be ignited by the spark
with a resultant explosion.
vi) Have the cause of the flat battery investigated and rectified,
and trickle charge the battery as detailed above.
WARNING:
• Risk of damage and serious personal injury due to

shortcircuit.
• Use only jumper cables of adequate cross-section, fitted
with completely insulated alligator clamps. The cables must be long enough to allow that neither cars nor cables
touch each other.
• Follow all warnings and instructions of the jumper cable
manufacturer.
• When connnecting the jumper cables, keep them away
from engine moving parts.
• The two cars must not contact each other, or current could flow as soon as the positive terminals are connected.
• When the first clamp on each cable is connected, the other clamp on that cable must be held carefully to make sure it does not come into contact with either another cable
clamp or either car.
• Ensure that tools or metal watches or jewellery do not contact the battery terminals or live car parts.
NOTICE:

• Improper jumper cable connection can damage the alternator
and other electrical components.
• Do not attempt to push or tow start the car, as damage to the
catalytic converter or other parts could be caused.
Electrical Accessories Owners should note that the only approved extras and modi
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fications are those which are specified by Lotus and carried out by Lotus or by an authorised dealer. Neither Lotus Cars Ltd. or
Lotus Cars Inc. accept any liability whatsoever for defects which arise from extras or modifications which are not approved by
Lotus Cars Ltd.
Electrical
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WARNING:Inexper t modifications or additions to the electrical
system could jeopardise safety.
Inertia Switch The safety inertia switch is designed to operate on impact,
typified by car collision, to switch off the fuel pump, and thus
minimise any fire hazard. The central door locking will also be
triggered to unlock the doors. The inertia switch is mounted at the left hand bottom of the
engine bay, on the inboard face of the rear subframe, and is ac
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cessible from between the coolant header tank and windscreen
washer reservoir. The switch is reset by pressing the rubber
diaphragm button on the top of the unit.
Fuses The main fusebox is located in the front services compartment,
on the passenger side, and is protected by a plastic cover. For
access, remove the passenger side front body access panel,
and unclip the fusebox lid. Twenty two slots are provided for ‘Littel’ type fuses which are
numbered, and coloured according to their amperage rating, and
may be pulled out from their slots using the fuse extractor tool provided on the fusebox lid.

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INERTIA SWITCH
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Engine Compartment FusesFuses associated with the engine management system are
contained in two 4-position fuse holders located at the front of
the engine bay on the cabin bulkhead, adjacent to the engine ECM. To access the fuses, unclip rear edge of the cover.
Fuse Rating CircuitR1 20A Fuel pump
R2 3A Immobiliser
R3 5A Alternator sense
R4 5A ECU battery feed
R5 5A O2 heaters
R6 7.5A VSV's V VT, V VL, IAC
R7 10A Injectors, ignition coils
R8 5A Re-circ. pump
WARNING:
• To avoid injury, beware of rotating engine components and guard against entrapment of body parts, tools and
loose clothing.
• Stop engine before servicing fuses.
• 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.
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ENGINE BAY FUSES
4
3
2
1
8
7
6
5
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