Reduced Acceleration

[ALI5T4IR]

Have a 74 plate Emira i4. 5000 miles on the clock. A couple of months ago I had a reduced acceleration issue and the car went into limp mode, managed to get the car into a lay-by and shut it off. After a restart it was ok until about 2 weeks later when it happened again and this time the engine management light came on and a message stating recovery was needed. The car was revving up and down whilst idling. Again, a restart made it driveable but the CEL stayed on. I got the car home and it was recovered and taken to Lotus. Got the car back last week, supposedly was a battery issue and the car is now fine. Except after a few days of use it happened again but in the outside lane of the motor in rush hour. Scary isn’t the word. Trying to cross 3 lanes of busy traffic when the car won’t accelerate or do anything at all aside for steer is not a nice feeling. Car recovered again. Lotus saying they can’t see an issue and no fault code has been stored. I’m at the point where I don’t want the car anymore. 10 months in a critical issues like this along with other niggles. It’s been to lotus 4 times since I got it. I simply don’t trust the car anymore because even if they claim they’ve fixed it how can I know?
Has anybody experienced the same issue?
Is it possible to hand the car back to lotus at this point?
TIA

 

[Tracked Emira]

Is the car in limp mode today?
The car is most likely over heating. Lotus improved the cooling for the cars being ordered now. If you search over heating and limp mode you may find some answers that relate to your situation.
Where do you live and what was the temperature outside when you were in rush hour? Until you figure things out put heaters on high and have hot air direction pointed to go out of the car. Surprised it hasn't happened until now unless you have a CT carbon diffuser, or another after market diffuser, which doesn't have a duct opening to cool down the valve controller like the stock diffuser has. This happened to me because I have this diffuser and when the valve controller got too hot the car would go into limp mode. Once it cools down the car goes back to normal. Have them check your fault codes because the valve controller may be damaged if it doesn't come out of limp mode like mine did. Mach 5 performance & Boomgear use a wrapped stainless steel exhaust with a valve controller relocation kit if you are looking to upgrade your exhaust. TA titanium exhaust will make matters worse so anyone in a hot climate should not get one.
Do you have an after market diffuser, exhaust or a Milltek valve controller?

 

[ALI5T4IR]

No the car was fine after a restart but it’s gone back to Lotus 2 days ago. They claim no fault codes. I live in the U.K. and it was a coldish day, wasn’t in much traffic and the car was at a normal temp. I’ve got nothing aftermarket fitted to the car.

 

[MiamiBlue]

The OP is from the North of England in October and driving in traffic. No way it's an overheating issue unless there's a serious fault causing that which should be evident.

I would check you have the latest software updates and try another Lotus dealer (I'm guessing it's Leeds? They have a mixed reputation online if you search).

 

[ALI5T4IR]

Yeh it went in a week ago for repair of this issue and they applied all latest updates. It’s Bradford Lotus and they’re as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Next closest is Stockport which is a decent trek away.

 

[geoffbland]

Yeh it went in a week ago for repair of this issue and they applied all latest updates. It’s Bradford Lotus and they’re as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Next closest is Stockport which is a decent trek away.

You could try Jon Seal Sports Cars - they have a good reputation with Lotus owners and are in Yorkshire.

 

[ALI5T4IR]

Yeh it went in a week ago for repair of this issue and they applied all latest updates. It’s Bradford Lotus and they’re as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Next closest is Stockport which is a decent trek

You could try Jon Seal Sports Cars - they have a good reputation with Lotus owners and are in Yorkshire.

Thing is I don’t want to have to pay because it’s only 10 months old. I don’t feel I should have to just because they’ve produced a car that’s not fit for purpose.

 

[my_lotus]

One of many problems…

I recently took the car down to the dealer and they calming i it might be related to exhaust mod and 3rd cat delete. refusing warranty.

At the price point i never thought a car would have be this bad with many glitches…

Since I bought the car last year in November car had beed at the dealer for warranty repair probably close to 3 months, its my daily and they don't give loaners vehicles big drawback.

I live in california and as much as i love driving the car im seriously considering lemon with it.

 

[Mal-lotus]

What exhaust mod?

Remind them of the MV Act.

 

[my_lotus]

car has GRP titanium exhaust, milltek valve and GRP 3rd cat delete

 

[jp129]

Check your miltek valve controller. Lately been seeing a trend in those failing. Especially with track use.

 

[my_lotus]

I almost never close it but when I do it seems to be working fine, changes sound and I can hear an actuator

 

[Mal-lotus]

I've seen titanium extra hot exhaust system temps cause issues in these cars. Melting valve actuators etc.

 

[jp129]

I almost never close it but when I do it seems to be working fine, changes sound and I can hear an actuator

Not that the MVC doesn't work, but the way it reports the position back to the ECU. Best way to check is to unplug the MVC and back to stock. I've already had 2 failed modules and atleast a handful of other folks reporting the same. Just part of your troubleshooting.

 

[my_lotus]

hat symptoms did you experience when this issue occurred?

Regarding the Milltek valve system is it actually communicating with the car’s ECU? From what I understand, it seems to operate independently, and there’s no module providing feedback to the ECU about whether the valve is open or closed.
I would see how removing this will make sense for trouble shooting if there is that type of conversation back to the ECU, however I find no evidence online that the case.

In my case, the car usually runs fine, but occasionally it goes into a kind of “limbo” state where the engine abruptly stalls. This typically happens in first gear when I’m just starting to move off releasing the clutch with a bit of throttle or sometimes while already moving, when I can feel and hear the RPMs suddenly drop. When that happens, pressing the clutch doesn’t help; the engine speed continues to fall until it stalls completely, and the throttle becomes unresponsive.

The dealer claims that my catalytic converters are now damaged due to this modification, but I strongly disagree. The third-cat delete and exhaust modifications should only reduce backpressure not cause catalytic failure. In my opinion, the failing cats are more likely the result of an overly rich mixture rather than the exhaust modification itself.