2005 LOTUS ELISE service interval

As a precaution, every week when the engine is completely
COLD, and without disturbing the filler cap, check that the level of coolant in the translucent tank is between the ‘FULL’
and ‘LOW’ marks moulded on the front of the tank. If topping
up is required, wait until the coolant has fully cooled before
turning the cap a quarter turn counterclockwise and allowing any remaining pressure to escape. Only then may the cap be
completely unscrewed. In order to maintain protection from freezing damage and
metal corrosion, use only an approved coolant mixture (see below) to top up the tank to the ‘FULL’ mark. Refit the cap, and
turn clockwise until the leg on the cap locates in the slot at the
front of the tank.
NOTICE: If the cap is removed when the engine is warm, the coolant may boil and a small coolant loss may occur. The com
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pletely cold header tank level should be checked at the first subsequent opportunity.
Cooling Fans
: Two cooling fans are fitted below the radiator in
the air intake duct. The fans are energised at high coolant tem
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peratures, or when the air conditioning (if fitted) is selected. The
fans will also run if certain types of engine fault are detected, and
may operate during a 20 minute period following ignition switch off to prevent ‘hot soak’ boiling. An electric coolant circulation pump may also be heard running during this period.
WARNING: Keep hands, tools and clothing away from the radiator
cooling fan area, as personal injury could result from the
fans starting up without warning.
At service intervals, the air duct and matrices of the engine
cooling radiator, a.c. condenser and oil coolers, should be
checked externally for clogging by insects, leaves or other debris,
and if necessary, a water jet used to clear the finning. Take care not to damage or distort the delicate finning of the radiator or
the cooling performance will be degraded.
Anti-Freeze/Corrosion Inhibitor It is most important that the correct coolant specification is
used in order to inhibit boiling and protect the engine and heat
Servicing & Maintenance
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Brake Pipes & HosesAt the recommended service intervals, the brake pipes and
flexible hoses should be carefully examined for signs of dam
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age, corrosion or perishing, especially in territories where salt is used on the road surface in the winter months.
Servicing & Maintenance
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RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS
EngineIn order to enhance the longevity and reliability of the car, it
is most important that only the specified lubricants are used. It
is an entirely false economy to try to save money by using lower quality oils, which may break down before the next change in
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terval and provide inadequate protection before the end of the
term. High oil consumption may also result.
For topping up purposes during the running-in period prior to
the First After Sales Service, a top quality mineral or semi-syn
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thetic 5W/40 oil should be used. At the First After Sales Service and completion of the running-in period, a fully synthetic 5W/40
oil such as Texaco Havoline Synthetic should be used. This oil
has been tested in all climatic conditions likely to be encountered,
and offers advantages in ease of cranking, smooth cold running
and fuel economy at low temperatures, in combination with good
wear protection at elevated temperatures and at high engine speeds. If Texaco/Havoline products are not available, an oil meeting the following specification should be used.
NOTICE: Note that Lotus does not recommend the use of any oil additives and use of such additives may invalidate the terms
of your car’s warranty.
Viscosity: 5W/40
Quality Standard: API SJEC; ILSAC; ACEA A3
Capacity - refill inc. filter 4.4 litre
(Cars fitted with front mounted oil coolers contain an additional
3.5 litres, but this oil is not drained during routine servicing) Difference between high & low dipstick marks
1.5 litre
Oil change interval Refer to Maintenance Schedule
‘Severe Service’ Conditions Certain operating conditions can cause rapid degradation of
the oil quality, either by the accumulation of dirt particles, or by
the absorption of water from condensation. If any of the ‘severe
service’ conditions described below apply, it is recommended
that the oil and filter be changed twice as frequently as is listed in the Maintenance Schedule.
Recommended Lubricants
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extent of such noises, including brake squeal, engine and
exhaust noise, gear whine, knocks, rattles and wind noise
will differ from car to car, with the level of acceptability being
determined by the Company.
n) Lotus cars are upholstered with premium quality leather specifically tanned and dyed for automotive use. As a natural
material, leather ages in various ways and may, over time,
exhibit signs of cracking, scuffing, shrinking, etc. Such wear is the natural maturing of the leather and is not covered under
warranty.
o) Salvage title or total loss; the warranty does not cover any
car which can no longer by used on the road because it only
has salvage value or has been declared as an insurance write
off due to an accident or damage.
6. OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS. ALL WARRANTIES ARE
VOID IF OWNERS FAIL TO PROPERLY USE AND MAIN
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TAIN THE CAR.
The Company has no obligation under this warranty in
the following circumstances:
• If the car has not been driven in accordance with the ‘Break-in’
instructions detailed in the Owner‘s Handbook;
• if the maintenance services and maintenance instructions specified in this Handbook are not performed and followed
at the prescribed intervals. Car owners must keep up to date
and accurate records of car service and maintenance in order
for any warranty claim to be considered;
• if the motor car is used for commercial service, or for racing or reliability trials, or in a competitive manner, including timed
runs or laps;
• if the motor car is registered or used outside the Continental United States, Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Guam
and the United States Virgin Islands;
• if failure or malfunction of the motor car or of any warranted part, component or assembly results from an accident; or,
• if failure or malfunction is caused by misuse, abuse or neg
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ligence in use of the motor car, including, but not limited to,
where the car is not driven on road surfaces which have been
maintained to a standard to allow regular vehicle traffic, or
Limited Warranty
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Required MaintenanceThe operations in the Maintenance Schedule (included
in the Owner’s Handbook package) must be undertaken at the mileages or time intervals specified to ensure the
continued proper functioning of the emission control system, and to provide optimum car per formance and
reliability. More frequent maintenance may be needed for
cars operating in dusty areas, on short trip driving, or in
other severe conditions. Inspection and service should also be performed any
time a malfunction is suspected.
M A I NTENA NCE , REPL ACEMENT OR REPA I R OF THE
EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES AND SYSTEMS MAY BE
PERFORMED BY ANY AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR ESTABLISH
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MENT OR INDIVIDUAL USING ANY CERTIFIED PART.
No emission performance warranty claim will be denied
on the basis of the use of a properly certified part in the maintenance or repair of a car.
In no case will Lotus deny an emission performance
warranty claim on the basis of:
i) warranty work or pre-delivery service performed by any Lotus
Dealer or
ii) work performed in an emergency situation to rectify an unsafe condition, including an unsafe driveability condition attrib
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utable to Lotus provided the car owner has taken steps to put
the car back in a conforming condition in a timely manner or
iii) the use of any uncertified part or non compliance with the maintenance schedule or instruction for use (Owner’s Hand
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book) which is not relevant to the reason that the car failed
to comply with applicable emission standards or
iv) any cause attributable to Lotus.
Federal Emission Warranty
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What Is Not CoveredLotus may deny an emission per formance warranty
claim on the basis of an uncertified replacement part used in the maintenance or repair of a car if Lotus presents evidence that the uncertified replacement part is either
defective in materials or workmanship, or not equivalent
from an emission standpoint to the original equipment part, and the owner is unable to rebut the evidence. A part not required to be replaced at a definite service
interval (see Maintenance Schedule) shall be warranted for
the applicable warranty period. Instructions to replace a
component only if checked and found to be operating below specification shall have no bearing on warranty coverage
unless the owner did not follow such an instruction prior to
the short test failure and non compliance with that instruc
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tion caused the failure of another car component relevant
to the non- conformity.
This warranty does not cover failures caused by abuse,
neglect, collision, accidents, improper maintenance, un
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authorised modification; nor does it cover loss of time, inconvenience, loss of use of the car or incidental or con
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sequential damages.
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, APPLICABLE
TO A Car OR PART IS LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN THIS WARRANTY. LOTUS SHALL
NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE BREACH OF ANY WAR
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RANTY. S O M E S TAT E S D O N OT A L LO W L I M I TAT I O N S O N
HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARR ANT Y L ASTS, OR THE
EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSE
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QUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Federal Emission Warranty
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Improper Maintenance and Usea) An emission performance warranty claim may be denied on the basis of non-compliance by a car owner with the Service
Schedule or Owner’s Handbook instructions for proper use.
b) When determining whether an owner has complied with the written instructions for proper maintenance and use, Lotus may require an owner to submit evidence of compliance with
those written maintenance instructions for which Lotus has an objective reason for believing:
1. were not performed; and
2. if not performed could be the cause of the particular car’s
exceeding applicable emission standards.
c) Evidence of compliance with a maintenance instruction may
consist of:
1. a maintenance log book which has been validated at the appropriate time or mileage intervals specified for service by
someone who regularly engages in the business of servicing automobiles for the relevant maintenance instruction(s);or
2. a showing that the car has been submitted for scheduled maintenance servicing at the approximate time or mileage
intervals specified for service to someone who regularly en
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gages in the business of servicing automobiles for the purpose
of performing the relevant maintenance; or
3. a statement by the car owner that he or she performed the maintenance at the appropriate time or mileage interval specified, including a showing i) that the owner purchased and used proper parts, and
ii) upon request by Lotus, that the owner is able to perform
the maintenance properly.
d) The time/mileage interval for scheduled maintenance serv
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ices shall be the service interval specified for that part in the Maintenance Schedule or Owner’s Handbook.
e) For certified parts having a maintenance or replacement inter
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val different from that specified in the written instructions for proper maintenance and use, the time/mileage interval shall
be the service interval for which the part was certified.
Federal Emission Warranty
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WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE CALIFORNIA EMISSION
WARRANTIES
The warranty does not cover:
• Malfunctions in any part caused by any of the following:
misuse, abuse, neglect, improper modification or alteration,
tampering, disconnection, improper or inadequate mainte
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nance, or use of leaded gasoline.
• Damage resulting from accident, acts of nature or other events
beyond the control of Lotus.
• The repair or replacement of warranted parts which are
scheduled for replacement prior to 50,000 miles (such as
spark plugs, filters) once these parts have been replaced at
the first recommended replacement interval as part of required
maintenance services.
• Incidental and consequential damages, such as loss of time,
inconvenience, loss of use of the car, or commercial loss.
• Any car on which odometer mileage has been changed so
that mileage cannot be readily determined.
ANY IMPLIED WARR ANT Y OF MERCHANTABILIT Y OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICUL AR PURPOSE APPLICABLE
TO A Car OR PART IS LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN THIS WARRANTY. THE COMPANY
SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSE
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QUENTIAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE BREACH OF
ANY WARRANTY.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, OR THE EXCLU
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SION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN
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TIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLU
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SIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Califo rnia Emission Warranty
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