Car shows "limp mode" or "reduced acceleration" warnings (possible ECU issue)

[GetawayDriving]

This was happening to the car I drove on track at Hethel when I did the Driving Academy back in August.

Which car? One of the cars went into limp when I was there too (September). The DV car I think. Those were pre-prod cars so I didn’t pay much mind to it at the time.

 

[silent cilantro]

@GetawayDriving I drove the Shadow Grey "Safety Car" because it was the only LHD car they had there.

Different spec. Emira Safety Car for BGT at Silverstone this weekend

Great to see a different spec. of Emira fulfilling the Safety Car role for the British GT Championship at Silverstone this weekend. Not road registered and fresh from the factory. V6 FE, LHD, Manual, Sports, PS Cup 2, Shadow Grey, Black Pack, Diamond Cut, Red Callipers, Tan Leather,. And the...

www.emiraforum.com

 

[GetawayDriving]

Lol - lucky! It was RHD-only for me, which led to my murder of a couple of traffic cones in the brake and avoid. I got to keep one as a souvenir, though.

 

[silent cilantro]

At one point they put me in a RHD car, they said they needed to "save the brakes" on the safety car because it was going to an event the week after (as if they didn't have a factory full of brake pads within walking distance lol). So needless to say I also killed a few cones. That's cool you got to keep one!

They brought the car back for the next session when someone complained about how far they came and how much they paid to not be able to drive a LHD car.

 

[SlowSTi]

My Emira had the same issue after only 1900km of driving （1 month）. Lotus Shanghai sent us a service vehicle to diagnose the problem and possibly found the faulty ECU. The vehicle was towed back to the Lotus flagship dealer to be further diagnosed. I would update this post once I hear more information from the service team. The vehicle could not start nor detected the keys a few days before the reduced engine power output warning message.

 

[Guest142]

My Emira had the same issue after only 1500km of driving. Lotus Shanghai sent us a service vehicle to diagnose the problem and possibly found the faulty ECU. The vehicle was towed back to the Lotus flagship dealer to be further diagnosed. I would update this post once I hear more information from the service team. The vehicle could not start nor detected the keys a few days before the reduced engine power output warning message.

Speechless. Just wow.

Can someone help me with some perspective here? I don't know what to make of this. Is this one of those things you understand as an inherent part of early adapting? Or is this a "oh sh*t" moment and cause for concern? Honestly I'm highly concerned now.

 

[TomE]

It's to be expected that there will be issues with early cars. Yes there will have been lots of testing, but often most of that's on pre-production cars.

What's puzzling with the Emira is some of the issues seem to be in areas you'd have expected to be tested quite extensively. An issue that only affects 1-2 cars and is cosmetic and related to final production-spec parts is less likely to be picked up in testing - like some boot hatches retaining water inside due to a manufacturing fault. But the wipers issue and ECU limp mode appearing on several cars after only a few miles is surprising.

Bear in mind too that there is reporting bias, as most people who have no issues with their cars are out enjoying them rather than posting on forums about it.

 

[silent cilantro]

The car I drove at the performance academy back in Aug 22 had the same limp mode issue.

You’d think Lotus would have looked into it by now.

 

[Guest142]

It's to be expected that there will be issues with early cars. Yes there will have been lots of testing, but often most of that's on pre-production cars.

What's puzzling with the Emira is some of the issues seem to be in areas you'd have expected to be tested quite extensively. An issue that only affects 1-2 cars and is cosmetic and related to final production-spec parts is less likely to be picked up in testing - like some boot hatches retaining water inside due to a manufacturing fault. But the wipers issue and ECU limp mode appearing on several cars after only a few miles is surprising.

Bear in mind too that there is reporting bias, as most people who have no issues with their cars are out enjoying them rather than posting on forums about it.

Thanks Tom. Definitely thought along those same lines. I can continue to be patient while Lotus sorts these issues out. No problem there. But really concerned that they occurred in the first place. Obviously not what anyone wants. With some communication and a roadmap forward this would have been a non-issue for me.

 

[Kimmax]

With some communication and a roadmap forward this would have been a non-issue for me.

This! That's what bothers me, especially the wiper issue being a safety problem. The absolute silence from Lotus is concerning me.

If it's a software problem, why isn't it addressed?

If they f**ked up and they can't update the ECUs, s**t happens. Fix the damn problem and send out replacement ECUs for the bricked cars.

I'm in love with the car, but it stayed in the garage today for what would have been a nice trip out, because I didn't want to deal with expected heavy rain on the Autobahn. Not a place you want to pull over again and again to get wipers working..

 

[Hell4Leather]

It’s been radio silence here in NA about delivery, not that I’m in line for an FE, but I wonder if they aren’t taking a moment to address these concerns before cranking out a bunch of LHD for us Yanks.

 

[shaank]

Ok - here we go - big text update.

After several 'software' sort of issues between Christmas and New Year on the Emira, limp mode kicking in, the battery needing disconnected several times, EML warning light randomly on and off, the car not starting a few times - it got recovered to Lotus on 9th January. Yes, I was provided with a courtesy car (thanks Scott and Abi if you are reading this!), and comms were really good going through the diagnostics and eventual repair by Glasgow Lotus (thanks Ross and team).

So yesterday afternoon I picked up the car, left the courtesy car at the dealership, good chat with the guys at Glasgow Lotus.

The ECU has been replaced along with some fuses - so obviously some kind of shorting issue that damaged the previous ECU, making these weird glitches appear. Sure it took longer than I'd like, but it's all new to diagnose and work out the problems. I can see several other members saying they've had the same issues I've noted above, so I'd suspect an ECU replacement is on the cards, and a software update is imminent also.

I should note that the wiper issue software is not yet available, so not applied to my Emira. It's still on the to be sorted list.

Later today, I'm meeting a very well known car 'YouTuber' / journalist for what I hope is a good review of the Emira.

So all good right?




Perhaps not.

Cleaned the car up, decided to take it for a drive....

ESC Service Required warning appeared.
Red triangle warning light (I assume for the above)
Stability / Traction control light randomly flashing
Brakepad warning light on

Sighs.
Turned car off, and on. errors came back.
Battery disconnect, errors cleared and haven't as yet come back.

Any bets they appear later today during videoing for a YouTube video 100k plus people will see? I really, really hope not, for Lotus' sake and my own pride in this car. I can't do anything with Lotus now as the technicians in the dealerships aren't open until Monday, neither is Customer Care at Lotus HQ.... so I'm stuck, either not use it, cancel my plans, or go ahead and hope for the best.

To be continued.......

 

[shaank]

Hi guys, my car has had this exact issue, and had the ECU replaced as it was shorted out. Details here:

📓 Journals - Diaries of the first Lotus Emira picked up from Hethel - V6 FE - yellow / ice / silver / sport

The calipers match the lotus badge, a 'lemon yellow' shall we say, rather than the warmer more mustard tone of the Hethel Yellow paintwork. They definitely do NOT match the paint work at all, they look cool, but I'm tempted to have them painted. This is a real problem, look what can go wrong...

www.emiraforum.com

 

[silent cilantro]

I don't know.. I have a feeling Lotus are grasping at straws with these ECU replacements. I don't think they REALLY know what the root cause is. Feels like a "let's throw a new one in and see if it happens again" sort of approach.

The fact your car is throwing new codes after ECU replacement is a good indication of that. I am sorry you have to go through this. It sucks.

 

[Lotustoronto]

I don't know.. I have a feeling Lotus are grasping at straws with these ECU replacements. I don't think they REALLY know what the root cause is. Feels like a "let's throw a new one in and see if it happens again" sort of approach.

The fact your car is throwing new codes after ECU replacement is a good indication of that. I am sorry you have to go through this. It sucks.

I agree, my take is Emira was barely ready to go into production. Nowhere near enough testing on final validation units and rushed to start bringing in cash flow. This severely looks like a company where financial survival is becoming an issue.

 

[Hell4Leather]

I agree, my take is Emira was barely ready to go into production. Nowhere near enough testing on final validation units and rushed to start bringing in cash flow. This severely looks like a company where financial survival is becoming an issue.

Financial Survival? That’s been Lotus for a very long time. I think I said on another thread, I suspect they got crap electronics from China, but can’t say that. Geely makes decent enough autos and NA is a big market for them. They will get this sorted. It may seem slower than cold molasses but it’ll happen.

 

[Eagle7]

Ok - here we go - big text update.

After several 'software' sort of issues between Christmas and New Year on the Emira, limp mode kicking in, the battery needing disconnected several times, EML warning light randomly on and off, the car not starting a few times - it got recovered to Lotus on 9th January. Yes, I was provided with a courtesy car (thanks Scott and Abi if you are reading this!), and comms were really good going through the diagnostics and eventual repair by Glasgow Lotus (thanks Ross and team).

So yesterday afternoon I picked up the car, left the courtesy car at the dealership, good chat with the guys at Glasgow Lotus.

The ECU has been replaced along with some fuses - so obviously some kind of shorting issue that damaged the previous ECU, making these weird glitches appear. Sure it took longer than I'd like, but it's all new to diagnose and work out the problems. I can see several other members saying they've had the same issues I've noted above, so I'd suspect an ECU replacement is on the cards, and a software update is imminent also.

I should note that the wiper issue software is not yet available, so not applied to my Emira. It's still on the to be sorted list.

Later today, I'm meeting a very well known car 'YouTuber' / journalist for what I hope is a good review of the Emira.

So all good right?




Perhaps not.

Cleaned the car up, decided to take it for a drive....

ESC Service Required warning appeared.
Red triangle warning light (I assume for the above)
Stability / Traction control light randomly flashing
Brakepad warning light on

Sighs.
Turned car off, and on. errors came back.
Battery disconnect, errors cleared and haven't as yet come back.

Any bets they appear later today during videoing for a YouTube video 100k plus people will see? I really, really hope not, for Lotus' sake and my own pride in this car. I can't do anything with Lotus now as the technicians in the dealerships aren't open until Monday, neither is Customer Care at Lotus HQ.... so I'm stuck, either not use it, cancel my plans, or go ahead and hope for the best.

To be continued.......

I used to troubleshoot and repair electronics (including computers) for a living. If I was looking at this, the first thing I would do is check the battery; make sure it's grounded properly. Check to see if it's putting out the correct voltage and amperage under load (while in use). If it is, then move on to the next area.

Blown fuses are a warning that the line/circuit it's connected to, is getting power it's not supposed to or shorting to ground. I would trace from the fuse along the wiring/circuit to see if something has chaffed or melted through the line, causing it to come into contact with either another line or grounding on metal somewhere. Modern cars use sealed connector plugs, so most likely there's a spot where a line wasn't properly secured and is moving under vibration, or something is rubbing against it that's gotten through the protective covering. Sometimes this can be near a heat source that's able to melt through the line.

Since the ESC, brakes, and stability warning lights are coming on, look for a wire/connector in and around the brakes on all 4 wheels that's showing signs of either scorch marks, burnt/melted plastic, or worn through because it's rubbing against something. If it's not directly around the wheels, follow those lines (especially on the rear wheels in and around the engine/exhaust system) to see if there's contact against something that shouldn't be.

This isn't something you should have to do, but perhaps you could pass these tips on to the techs at the dealership.

 

[DerTheDer]

Lol none of you guys would have made it back in the 60's. Owning a British sports car back then guaranteed two things: Lucas electrics were voodoo, and even if nothing was wrong with the car on Tuesday, you always planned on working on it on Sundays because by Sunday, something would need looking at. You carried a tool kit in the trunk, which, if you had Stromberg carburetors, your kit included a balancing tool to resynchronize the carburetors which liked to get out of sync at the most fun times.

This was any British sports car, not just a Lotus.

EVERY manufacturer has those few cars that come off the assembly line, that for whatever reason, have problems that just don't want to be sorted out. Cars are so complex today, that we're really not driving cars as they used to be. We drive computers now with wheels attached to them. It's frustrating that some of the new Emiras are having these teething problems, but they'll get it sorted out.

We're not likely to get the first cars here in the U.S. for at least another 4-6 months, so if you've waited this long, hang in there a few more to see how it goes unless you've just lost interest and want out. Geely was able to get Volvo sorted out, they'll get this sorted out too.

This isn't the 60s. Its 2023 and we have the internet.

 

[Eagle7]

This isn't the 60s. Its 2023 and we have the internet.

Waaay back before the internet, people had to get together physically lol. Just having a British sports car made you part of an instant community of people who would get together to discuss their cars, cuss Lucas electrics, admire and/or give advice for others, especially new owners, etc. Today they call that cars & coffee, but back then it tended to revolve around the country your car came from.

Those little local communities were the best way to find out who was good at things like balancing and tuning wire wheels, rebuilding leaf springs, and so on. Most things you learned to do yourself, so those little communities were great for people helping people. I spent many an hour at fellow British car owner's houses helping them sort out the issues on their cars.

All in all, those were some good times.

 

[Toomanyloti]

I ran a 1500 Midget for years when I was a 'lad'.
I did everything myself, basically rebuilt it over time then started again. thats how it was.
It died in a tiny village 50 miles from home. I carried a multitude of spares and tools but was stumped.
Knocked on a door. Retired chap went to get his mate (older guy) who diagnosed a cracked rotor arm. He had a similar one but not the same. He disappeared with the old one and came back in 15mins with a working hybrid he had created with a soldering iron and a file.
Good old days indeed when the common sense and ingenuity of WWII veterans was still among our communities