Won't Start

[blueEmira]

So I go to turn on the car. Absolutely nothing, no power no starter. I hook it up to a running car, leave it plugged in for 30+ min. Come back, electronics fire up, starter gives it a click, then nothing.

Then I get this light show... Interior and exterior lights start firing off.

This car has been an absolute nightmare for reliability. I think I got a lemon..

If it wasn't for my patience and love of the car when it is running, I would have been hounding Lotus for lemon law. It's been constantly in the dealer. Limp mode, completely failing from alternator belt ripping off, limp mode from exhaust valve malfunctioning..

I was supposed to take it in tomorrow for a recalibration of the exhaust valve (latest limp mode issue), looks like I'll be towing it in now..

Anybody know what the hell is going on?

If I can't get it started, how do I get the parking brake disengaged to roll it on tower?

Thanks

 

[MAX FPS]

Man that sucks. I'd put it on a charger overnight to try and rule out low battery messing with the computer. Not just the maintainer, but a real charger until it says it's full and you're getting at least 12.8volts from it. Marginal batteries cause so much weirdness, and the maintainer Lotus includes says specifically in the manual it will only maintain current battery level, not charge up a low one.

When I received my Emira from the dealer, my Antigravity SC-10 charger said the battery was at about 50% and it took about 3 hours on its 10-Amp charger to fully charge it.

 

[Orchardbike]

As above, fully charge the battery first. If that doesn’t solve it, have you had the HVAC shroud fitted? Have you washed it or have you had heavy rain recently?

 

[Eagle7]

So I go to turn on the car. Absolutely nothing, no power no starter. I hook it up to a running car, leave it plugged in for 30+ min. Come back, electronics fire up, starter gives it a click, then nothing.

Then I get this light show... Interior and exterior lights start firing off.

This car has been an absolute nightmare for reliability. I think I got a lemon..

If it wasn't for my patience and love of the car when it is running, I would have been hounding Lotus for lemon law. It's been constantly in the dealer. Limp mode, completely failing from alternator belt ripping off, limp mode from exhaust valve malfunctioning..

I was supposed to take it in tomorrow for a recalibration of the exhaust valve (latest limp mode issue), looks like I'll be towing it in now..

Anybody know what the hell is going on?

If I can't get it started, how do I get the parking brake disengaged to roll it on tower?

Thanks
View attachment 65096

Push the bottom of the Parking Brake button towards the dash to disengage. My first suspect would be the battery. Even if it charges up, it may be bad internally and not working properly. Have the dealer check the battery. That's a warranty item.

 

[Eagle7]

Interestingly enough, Project Farm just did a test of battery testers a couple weeks ago.

 

[cwfg]

So I go to turn on the car. Absolutely nothing, no power no starter. I hook it up to a running car, leave it plugged in for 30+ min. Come back, electronics fire up, starter gives it a click, then nothing.

Then I get this light show... Interior and exterior lights start firing off.

This car has been an absolute nightmare for reliability. I think I got a lemon..

If it wasn't for my patience and love of the car when it is running, I would have been hounding Lotus for lemon law. It's been constantly in the dealer. Limp mode, completely failing from alternator belt ripping off, limp mode from exhaust valve malfunctioning..

I was supposed to take it in tomorrow for a recalibration of the exhaust valve (latest limp mode issue), looks like I'll be towing it in now..

Anybody know what the hell is going on?

If I can't get it started, how do I get the parking brake disengaged to roll it on tower?

Thanks
View attachment 65096

I recently had to get mine towed after a non-start. There is no way of disengaging the park break without power. I had to get the recovery guy to take the back wheels off and “hotwire” the park break motors to release them - they just need a bit of power in either direction to wind in or out. Simple job but a real faff. Lotus have a tool to do it but not helpful if it’s stuck somewhere else.

 

[Blackthought_]

Oh man that is terrible. Can you swap out the battery to eliminate that problem? And for the ebrake, car has to be in ignition mode so you have to press and hold the start button for 5 seconds (screen will alert you it’s in ignition mode) and then you can take off the ebrake

 

[Whitey]

Another successful visit to Rybrook Bristol today for software updates. I booked it in mainly for the well known non start issue and random engine management light on. Thought they may need it over night as I have heard some of these updates can be quite lengthy but it was done in under 4 hours. In total it had five different updates / upgrades, and that is since its Sept 24 service. I was told what the updates were but the service manager will provide me with a printout showing the details when it’s invoiced to Lotus.

There is a further update due soon for the parking brake / hill assist which I’ll get done at the next service mid Sept.

Also had a chat with the sales dept. No new or used Emiras in stock, all sold, but new base V6 expected soon. Priced to FE spec, over £100k. They do have a fully specced Jim Clark edition coming soon at £120k. Used Emiras on AT have gone from 90+ to 50 and the dealer expects an uplift in used prices due to the differential to new. Also will further improve when Autopia UK stock washes through.

They had 3 Emayas and 2 Eletras in the showroom, one base 600hp slightly used Eletra at £75k which seemed good value if that’s your bag.

I forgot to ask them not to wash it, but they did a superb job and no swirl marks so top result all round and very happy with this dealer.

 

[cwfg]

Oh man that is terrible. Can you swap out the battery to eliminate that problem? And for the ebrake, car has to be in ignition mode so you have to press and hold the start button for 5 seconds (screen will alert you it’s in ignition mode) and then you can take off the ebrake

I wish that had worked on mine but the key was not communicating with the car and so it would unlock, but would not perform any other functions. When I called lotus for help, they never even mentioned an “ignition mode” but I did try holding the button (along with every other combination I could think of) and it wouldn’t work for me. Odd that the lotus techs didn’t know about that mode though!

 

[docron]

How long has it been since you started the car? Has the battery been on trickle charger this whole time?
I4 or V6?

(I wish there was a way in our profile/stats to the left to indicate i4 or v6)

 

[Milk242]

When I got my car, accessory mode wouldn’t even work. I put on my Noco charger to charge and still didn’t work. I had to put it in repair mode for it to finally act like a regular car