A&Q about Lotus
Q:
I have not driven my Elise in several weeks. Yesterday, I took it out of the garage, and drove it 35 miles to my office. It felt fine. When I left my office in the afternoon, first the car would not accept ANY input from the gas pedal at idle. Tap the gas and it was ready to stall. I shut it down, and restarted, I let it idle for about 20 seconds and it was fine. The as I pulled out of the parking lot, it felt as if I had some sort of rear wheel stearing. I don't think I can describe it any other way. It was at times related to throttle position, and other times it wasn't. As I got on the highway, I cruised at about 65 and thought maybe I have a low tire. It felt like I had a low tire anyway. I reached over to the passenger mirror, aimed it down to the rear wheel, no low tire. Same with drivers side. The entire ride the rear end just did NOT feel right at all. I pulled off the highway and into a parking lot. I looked under and checked to ensure my tire rod linkages were secure, which they were. I grabbed both rear wheels and gave them a good jiggle... nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I don't know what it is, but something was definately amiss. I brought the car home, parked it in the garage and I haven't moved it since.
Any thoughts or ideas?
A:
Can a tire develop a flat spot if it sets for several weeks?
I think these cars just instill irrational fear sometimes. With all the posts about things breaking, falling off, etc., I get paranoid when I hear or feel something.
For instance, could the rear steering have been caused by road surface or wind?
A:
Have you checked air pressure? A slow leak could leave a tire low on pressure, yet not be that noticeable. It would affect the "feel" of the car however...
A:
The gas input problem is probably due to the car not being warmed up. My car is parked in the cold and it has been taking longer to warm up and until it's warm even a blip on the gas will not be smoothe.
I also had a similar problem with the strange feeling of having rear stearing. I drove on the highway and every time I would take give it gas or come off the gas it would feel like the car was moving by the rear wheels. Ended up being a slow leak in my tire.
Some could call it being paranoid but I think it is VERY easy to tell if something is wrong in this car.
A:
Sounds like a low tire. You should get your alignment checked anyway because as delivered specs are all over the map. The start up issue sounds like an 06 dbw car but since it is an 05 it must be rough warm up. There is a reflash that helps idle and warm up depending on your build date. My car was cantankerous when cold until I adjusted the throttle cable.
A:
Tires go flat in the Elise VERY EASILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(That's why I got a Sears Craftsman Air Compressor three months ago)
A:
Okay here it is, and I feel like a complete jack@$$. Thanks to all your tips, I found right rear tire at 12lbs. and left rear tire at 20lbs. Funny thing is they don't look low on air, which threw me off.
thanks for all your help!!!!!
A:
Originally Posted by Scott
Okay here it is, and I feel like a complete jack@$$. Thanks to all your tips, I found right rear tire at 12lbs. and left rear tire at 20lbs. Funny thing is they don't look low on air, which threw me off.
thanks for all your help!!!!!
I had 9 lbs in my right rear and could barely see the difference though I exprienced the same sensation as you. Our tires are basically rim guards. Turned out to be a nail. Glad you solved your problem.
A:
Originally Posted by Scott
Okay here it is, and I feel like a complete jack@$$. Thanks to all your tips, I found right rear tire at 12lbs. and left rear tire at 20lbs.
accu-pressure valve caps.
I have a long history of other cars with leaky tires and have gotten a bit paranoid about it. With these, a quick glance at the wheels (and all of the caps are showing green) lets me confirm that the tires are not underinflated.
A:
Originally Posted by dododge
accu-pressure valve caps.
I have a long history of other cars with leaky tires and have gotten a bit paranoid about it. With these, a quick glance at the wheels (and all of the caps are showing green) lets me confirm that the tires are not underinflated.
Hmm I am interested - How accurate are they? Have you checked pressure with a guage and found they work consistently?
A:
Originally Posted by GaryD
Hmm I am interested - How accurate are they? Have you checked pressure with a guage and found they work consistently?
I haven't done any real measured testing but they do seem to work. I had a track day a few weeks ago where I bled my hot tires over the course of the day. The next morning the tires had cooled to 3-4 psi underinflated and at least one of them was now showing some yellow.
A:
How much to they weight? Just kidding.