A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Sorry but not sure where to post - just ran out of gas and put in a gallon but the engine will still not start. Is there some restart procedure? I've had other cars with a primer button etc. Thanks!!!
A:
Originally Posted by GVD
Sorry but not sure where to post - just ran out of gas and put in a gallon but the engine will still not start. Is there some restart procedure? I've had other cars with a primer button etc. Thanks!!!
It doesn't really make sense, but I wonder if the inertia switch needs to be reset when one runs out of fuel. It would be easy enough to check. I assume you've already made sure it's not just the immobilizer?
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Thanks for the reply. I just pressed the immobilizer and still won't start. The starter works perfectly just won't pick up any fuel.
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I've had this happen with other cars (no, the inertia switch shouldn't have anything to do with it if you actually ran out of gas - it only trips with an impact like a large pot hole). The fuel pickup is on the left side of the fuel tank. If the car is parked on a road with enough crown, it slopes to the right. A gallon may not be enough to get to the pickup on the left side. I suspect that this is the problem.
Also, I'd turn on the key, and let the fuel pump run for a few seconds. That's probably all it will run on most cars, so turn it off and repeat it a few times to get the fuel lines primed prior to hitting the starter. With the engine cranking, the over all voltage drops, and there may not be enough "juice" to get the electric fuel pump up to speed. Note: this doesn't apply to older cars with mechanical fuel pumps...
I'd also try to put in a couple more gallons of gas (or push it to the other side of the road) if it's parked tilted to the right.
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Why don't you let it roll down hill till it's flat and try it. It will eliminate any chance of the fuel sprout in the tank starving for fuel.
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Thanks for the reply. I'm actually parked in a perfectly flat driveway area...Do you think I should put in more than one gallon?
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I've had the car be tough to start when low on gas. I'd add another gallon and try again. Is it pointing nose down? That's odd because it seems to measure lower tail down. However, if it was low and now it's nose down, you may have gotten water in the line if it was really low, the darn gas will float on the water.
When you add the other gallon, drop some dry gas into the tank first, then the gas. That may solve the problem. But you'll have to try starting several times to clear the water if that's the case.
Good luck!
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Next you might try adding another gallon.
Edit: man I'm slow.
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I'd put more gas in. We used to run race cars near empty and ended up running outa time or two. We'd often put a few gallons in and it wouldn't start. We put 10 gallons in, tried pumping it and starting a few times and it finally started up.
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Thanks Tim - I'll go get another couple gallons. I appreciate you guys helping me out.
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Well let us know how you do.
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Tim is absolutely correct about the effect of a crowned road when the tank is near empty. Some time ago I parked in a safe spot with only one meter between two driveways to run in to my doctor's office, planning to stop at a lower-priced gas station on the way back to work. Came out and the Elise would not start. Walked 6 blocks, got 3 gallons of gas to be safe, added it, and it started up immediately. So, if the car is tilted to the right at much of an angle, it probably will take more than a gallon to feed the pump. Lesson learned.
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Latest update - Put in two more gallons for a total of three and the Elise still won't start. Engine cranks over so battery and starter are fine but engine just won't start. The check engine light and traction light (I think that's what it is) blink while the starter is depressed but stop blinking after start button is released. The car is on perfectly level ground.
After the last two gallons were added I did the priming procedure suggested by Tim where I turned key in the ignition to the start position, waited 15 seconds then turned off the key and repeated this 5 times. Still nothing.
Just a little more background for posterity as this looks like it will turn in to a technical thread:
My Elise has about 1400 miles on it and has behaved perfectly until this incident. Had the 1000 tune up which was routine and consisted of the standard oil change and chassis inspection. The ECU had a recall and was reflashed.
As of today I had not driven the Elise for 6 days then started it up this evening to go out for dinner. The engine started perfectly. I let it warm up for several minutes while I took off the top and stowed it in the boot. I then drove two blocks to drop something off at a family member's house, where I pulled down into the steep driveway off the street. I pulled all the way down to flat level ground where I let the car idle for 2-3 minutes while I put the package by the front door a few feet away. Idle was normal.
I then hopped back into the car and depressed the clutch in anticipation of shifting the car into reverse. It suddenly started losing rpms and died. I then tried to restart and the engine turned on for 10 seconds then died. Subsequent tries resulted in no luck getting the engine started.
I then added a gallon of gas with no luck. I then added two more gallons and no luck either.
Unless anyone has any more suggestions I'm going to have it towed to Boardwalk for service.
Thanks again for all your suggestions this evening - I greatly appreciate the help.
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Fill it up all the way, give it a few more tries. May work, and will probably be cheaper than towing...
luke
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I forgot to mention that the tank was reading one and a quarter bars as I left the house and after adding the three gallons was up at four and a quarter. I assumed the most likely scenario was a fuel insufficiency but it's looking like it may be more involved.
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Ah...so you WEREN'T out of gas then. Your problem is much more serious, it sounds like. Good luck, and let us know the problem!
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This kind of sounds like the throttle body (I think) that Exigent had his car that time at the mall.
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So I just put in another couple gallons (Rite Aid only had single gallon containers for a total of 5 gallons added. That brought up the fuel indicator to a solid 5 bars. I figure I must have had a couple gallons left in the tank at 1.5 bars?
Anyway, no luck. I'll keep everyone posted. Maybe this thread should be moved to a more appropriate home now that the easy stuff was ruled out.
Thanks again for all your input.
-G.V.
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By the way Matt - were you at Stanford a couple hours ago? I took another car to dinner and ended up behind a blue Elise - and just noticed your ET avatar. Was dusk so I didn't get too much of a look. That would be too much of a coincidence...
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Do you have an OBDII/CAN scan tool? Can you plug it in and see if there are any codes?