Scottish Elises

I have found the odd time sitting at traffic lights in my new elise (111s with VVC engine) the light for the CAT flashes and then when you get going again it disappears. Twice though it stayed on and when I drove away it had like no power at all. Pull over switch it off for two seconds then back on and its fine. The light is the bottom right with yellow light has to lines horizontally and a couple of lines at the top. My friend said it was the CAT. Is it getting clogged up sitting idle? Will De-CAtting it solve it?

Isn't that the cat overheat light, I didn't think that was conected to anything but Jap cars.

I am sure someone more knowledgable will come along soon though

Ahhh could be mate, I am thinking might just get rid of it if its causing problems! Hope someone will clear it up!

As Nizzy says its not supposed to be connected in the UK??
It shouldn't make any difference unless its been wired into somethign else?!?!
VVC's reputedly don't like being de-catted.

Loss of power needs investigating....

If it's the S1 then that'll be the VVC misfire problem. The light was hijacked as an engine misfire indicator IIRC; also there should be a misfire detection/prevention addon fitted (I don't think it was done as a recall - instead it was fit on fail IIRC - in any case it's a fix that was produced for the 111S to cure the misfire). The problem, as I remember it, is that the loom is susceptible to electrical noise and this can confuse the ECU. It's very bad for your engine when this happens, so get it sorted sooner rather than later.

Ali @ SLS is bound to have fitted one of the 111S "misfire kits" and perhaps will be able to advise on how to determine whether or not you have one fitted; if you don't have one fitted, it sounds like you need it; if you do then there may be other gremlins in there.

Read this for another take on the whole 111S misfire episode (note the bit about vehicle catching fire!):

vvc misfire

Cheers,
Robin

BTW, the internet perceived wisdom is that if you have the misfire kit fitted then the chances are that the fault lies in the HT system somewhere - coil pack, leads, spark plugs.

Cheers,
Robin

Earthed braided sleeves around the HT leads ?

?????? Explain "Earthed braided sleeves around the HT leads" in simple terms haha I am all new to this! Why would it happen just on idle really when stoped. Its as if something is overheating or clogging up.

robin wrote:If it's the S1 then that'll be the VVC misfire problem. The light was hijacked as an engine misfire indicator IIRC; also there should be a misfire detection/prevention addon fitted (I don't think it was done as a recall - instead it was fit on fail IIRC - in any case it's a fix that was produced for the 111S to cure the misfire). The problem, as I remember it, is that the loom is susceptible to electrical noise and this can confuse the ECU. It's very bad for your engine when this happens, so get it sorted sooner rather than later.

Ali @ SLS is bound to have fitted one of the 111S "misfire kits" and perhaps will be able to advise on how to determine whether or not you have one fitted; if you don't have one fitted, it sounds like you need it; if you do then there may be other gremlins in there.

Read this for another take on the whole 111S misfire episode (note the bit about vehicle catching fire!):

vvc misfire

Cheers,
Robin

Thanks Robin do you have Ali's number?

Phoned Ali there and seems to be water in my spark plugs or HT leads, he said take them out a dry them off and I should be all good! Do I need a key to take out the spark plugs? Yep I am a true novice at this!

16mm (5/8) plug key or deep socket and some long nose pliers to lift them out. Do one at a time so that you know what lead goes where. Also be careful when putting the plugs back in that you don't over tighten them (they don't need to be mega tight).

And so the journey of elise ownership and maintainence begins..............

You find this site interesting http://www.carbibles.com/

Yeah mate as expected, Im not too worried its only wee problem it still runs. Look on the bright side for every problem there is you guys to help me with it! All part and parcel of the ownership of a lotus is expect some problems! When you get in about it and fix it though you learn about the engine and all parts and in a funny way its interesting and fun IMO.

Top tip:

If you use a bit of rubber hose pushed onto the spark plug to wind them in you don't have to worry about cross threading.
Its probablty not easy to cross thread them anyway given the depth of the plug holes, but at least this way you can be sure.

Sometimes the spark plug wells fill with water - make sure you get this water out of the well before removing the plug, otherwise it'll run into the cylinder.

Mike.

Dicey wrote:Sometimes the spark plug wells fill with water - make sure you get this water out of the well before removing the plug, otherwise it'll run into the cylinder.

Mike.

I think thats exactly what has happened I guess I just blow it out with an air hose then remove the spark plugs dry them out along with the HT leads