Cold start stalling

[Sentinel]

This issue is battery voltage related. If the battery voltage drops below about 12.5V, it will start happening. Put your car on a trickle charger and you’ll see the issue goes away.

I think the ECM that controls the fuel pump is sensitive to voltage and is not priming when the battery voltage is low.

 

[danmessy]

While ECU / software is the underlying problem I am now pretty sure that the type of fuel used does make a difference. I have generally used Good quality E5 Fuel (Shell / similar) and had cold starting issues but having switched to lower octane E10 is has started fine every time (once the higher octane stuff was fully cleared through).

Wait, if someone could chime in and confirm as our fuel ratings read different in Australia to UK:

E5 = 98?

E10 = 95 ?

And if so, you are stating that the lower octane E10 (i.e. 95) has reduced your cold start issue? I thought 98 was recommended minimum?

This issue is battery voltage related. If the battery voltage drops below about 12.5V, it will start happening. Put your car on a trickle charger and you’ll see the issue goes away.

I think the ECM that controls the fuel pump is sensitive to voltage and is not priming when the battery voltage is low.

What are you using to check battery voltage? I let my Scorpion Tracker subscription lapse after the free period, that was the only way I was reading my battery really.

For visibility, as I have previously posted, my cold start issue entirely resolved several months ago (i think post-summer for my location), and I attributed it to changing to CALTEX/AMPOL 98 only. The issue has now came back and is 100% cold start on first attempt every new day at the moment, which is really frustrating. Second start is perfect.

Recently I emailed the dealer to when for a fix and the dealer stated in an email (quote): "the issue appears to be related to atmospheric conditions. As the warmer weather has started the issues seems to get worse. I am being told lotus is still working on the issue". I'll follow up in the new year.

Cheers all, stay safe over the Christmas / New years!