A&Q about Lotus
Q:
While driving spirited today my battery decided it didn't like where it was...
It flew back, busted the rear clam (ripping through the fiberglass and knocking my taillight out), then rolled over damaging the engine lid (won't close properly now), before coming to a rest in an inverted position damaging the right side of the clam. There are bits of fiberglass/plastic/carpet/acid everywhere in the trunk.
I heard a few clunks but just dismissed it as typical Lotus noises. Once I got to my destination I turned the car off and noticed it has ZERO electrical power. It was running on the alternator after my little mishap. I'll admit I was driving the car like it was meant to be driven. The car is bone stock and I only have the touring pack and star shield so it was on AD07 tires on asphalt!!!
What do you think my chances are that Lotus will honor this under warranty?
I'm so bummed right now I haven't even had the car for a full week
A:
wow, sorry to hear it. Sounds like a freak accident. I'm sure Lotus will take care of it. good luck!
A:
Was this the stock battery or an aftermarket unit?
Sorry to hear about your misfortune =(
A:
Did the hold down loosen, break, was it not there to begin with, or battery lip break.
A:
Originally Posted by Bane
While driving spirited today my battery decided it didn't like where it was...
What do you think my chances are that Lotus will honor this under warranty?
Zero
sorry to hear about it greg. stuff needs to be checked thoroughly before doing spirited driving. I imaging you were driving the hell out of it..........
if it was purchased brand new , maybe, but not on something bought used, who knows who was doing what to the battery clamp last time it was worked on.
Sorry again greg, these cars can run up a bill fast.
A:
What brand battery was it?
A:
WOW! Sorry to hear about this. I have been running around with an Odyssey PC625 battery and using the stock bracket to hold it. Even though it weighs considerably less, it could still swing around pretty good back there if it came loose. It has been good to date with a fair amount of spirited driving and a number of autocross runs, but now you have me thinking I better use some sort of strapping or bracket that secures all sides.
Hope you get your car back together quickly.
A:
Wouldnt the battery cables have held the battery somewhat?
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Originally Posted by Baysailor
......but now you have me thinking I better use some sort of strapping or bracket that secures all sides.
Yes, you had better. The stock bracket does not hold it well enough. Steel strapping attached to the two stock bracket bolts will hold it. It might take you 20 minutes.
Originally Posted by hatchy
Wouldnt the battery cables have held the battery somewhat?
Nope! Every Elise I've seen that has hit the left rear has the battery dangling about a foot below the trunk floor. Lots of slack. The accountants must have beat the weight savings engineers on that one.
A:
First post edited with pictures... and here are some more:
Random bits of Elise floating around the trunk
More engine lid damage
I was able to recover the light... it's scratched up though and the wires to it were severed.
The worst of the damage...
The paint is spider-webbed in more then one area. The clam has a slight portion "pushed out" on the driver's side where the corner of the battery hit it along with some cracked paint. I tried to take pictures of this damage but it didn't come out.
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Sorry dude... I guess I better go take a look at my own...
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Yes... everyone check your battery tie-downs... mine was loose and I never checked it as the only people that ever touched the car was Lotus of Atlanta
I have a bad feeling about this being covered under warranty... The car is an early model chassis (#499) and I bought her pre-owned.
A:
How many miles/services are on the car? As long as its been serviced through a Lotus dealer and is bone stock I would press good and hard to have it covered.
A:
Originally Posted by Bane
First post edited with pictures... and here are some more:
Do you have a better pic of the battery. That doesn't look like the stock battery. What happened to the battery cover?
A:
Originally Posted by Bruce
Do you have a better pic of the battery. That doesn't look like the stock battery. What happened to the battery cover?
It's not the stock battery in these pictures... stock battery lost a lot of "juice" during the ordeal so I got a ride back home and put the battery in from my truck so I could slowly drive it back to my garage.
Battery cover is in my closet. It wasn't installed when I got the car so I just took it out and threw it in my parts closet. Maybe that should have been my first clue to check the torque on the hold down bolts
A:
Originally Posted by Shaggy
How many miles/services are on the car? As long as its been serviced through a Lotus dealer and is bone stock I would press good and hard to have it covered.
It has just over 3700 miles on it now. It had it's 1000 mile service done at LOA, then it was serviced at 3500 by them (7500 check up?) before coming to me last weekend.
A:
Originally Posted by Bane
What do you think my chances are that Lotus will honor this under warranty?
Sorry to hear of your mishap.
Warranty may not cover it, but your auto insurance may cover the damage assuming the cost of repairs (and any applicable deductible) justifies filing a claim.
A:
You mentioned it was pre-owned, did you purchase it directly from the previous owner or was it through a dealership? If it was a dealer, particularly a Lotus dealer, perhaps they may be willing or even obligated to do something.
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I bought it from a private seller
I thought about the insurance deal as well. The problem is that I carry a high deductible in an attempt to lower my monthly payment (because of my age).
Chances are I'll have to re-glass it myself, consider the scratches "character adders", chalk up another one in the lessons learned category, and then shell out more $ for a Sector 111 battery with tie-down
I just figured I'd call Lotus anyway to see what they'll say. If they stick with the Lotus reputation of warranty honoring then I already know the answer (NO). It can't hurt to try though... I may get lucky.
A:
i see no way they will do it on warranty. good luck though