Ok. Where to start? How about the airbag covers? I have a 2012 S with over 90k miles on it. No warping. The windshield has a very light tint which I'm sure helps block UV. To protect the cover(s), periodically condition the leather on the dash and use a sunshade whenever it’s parked out in the sun for more than just a short time. For the airbag light, a Foxwell NT630 Plus code reader cost just over $100 on Amazon (right now it's $118), not $500. It resets the airbag light just fine using the Daewoo id you mentioned (There's a good explanation of how to do it on LotusTalk). I’ve done it twice. The trunk release may just need adjustment to the latch. Also, if you just use one hand on the spoiler to apply a slight upward pressure while you push the button twice, it will probably open the first try.. A common issue with the MT cars is clutch fluid overheating. Specially on early cars. The slave cylinder is right up against the exhaust manifold, and in the first couple of years it didn’t have insulation on the pipes. Add insulation, upgrade the clutch master cylinder and use high temp racing fluid like Motul 600. Again, if the fluid boils you’re stranded until it cools down. Another common issue is the ECU's programming that causes it to cutout the A/C compressor is it detects a specific amount of difference between engine RPM and compressor RPM. This can happen when you have the A/C turned on and rapidly push the accelerator to the floor. It's happened to me twice (I try to remember to turn the A/C off if I'm expecting to be that aggressive). The wrench light comes on (until it gets cleared, that light will come on for about 30 seconds every time you start the car) and the A/C stops working. This one is really easy to fix with almost any OBD2 scanner. Just scan for codes, but don't expect it to find any. That's ok. Do the code reset anyway. Trust me, it will work. The wrench light will be gone and the A/C will be working again. One other thing is you can’t see shit in the rearview mirror. A very cheap and very helpful solution is to get a fresnel lens (8x10 on Amazon was $7.99). Cut about a 1” x 10” strip out of the middle of it and put it at the very top center of the bulkhead window. That gives you a wide angle view at the top and you’ll be amazed.
Blue ball is $150 or less replacement, I've done it. My dealer was going to do a whole shifter assembly replacement ($3k) if it wasn't for the guys on lotus talk intervening
@@ruggedbadgerracing The only things I had were: stuck pulley and as a result a cracked belt plus a broken seal on the transmission connector causing strange kind of dashlight combinations and tilts on the cars power unit. The only issues in 11 years.
@@ruggedbadgerracing Mine is a 2012 S with 91k miles. I've had it 3 years. The only problems you mention that mine has had are the airbag light, the control arm and the quirky trunk release. A Fowell NT630 Plus scanner is just $118 on Amazon and does the trick. The trunk release worked perfectly before a clam off job was done (Shortly after I bought the car there was a clunk when starting out in first gear. It was that upper control arm you brought up). At the same time, I had one of the supercharger pulleys freeze up and cause some A/C damage. I took it to an independent shop with a lot of Lotus experience and decided to have them take the clam off and go over everything, so I would be more confident in my purchase not stranding me. It's my daily. Anyway, replaced all of the pulleys, the A/C compressor, belt, etc, and installed a new upgraded clutch, along with replacing that control arm. When the clam went back on they did the best they could to get everything aligned, but I now have a quirky trunk release. I just have to use one hand to apply a little upward pressure on the spoiler while I click the button. That does it every time. All that cost me a couple bucks, but afterward I knew everything was in order.
Ok. Where to start? How about the airbag covers? I have a 2012 S with over 90k miles on it. No warping. The windshield has a very light tint which I'm sure helps block UV. To protect the cover(s), periodically condition the leather on the dash and use a sunshade whenever it’s parked out in the sun for more than just a short time.
For the airbag light, a Foxwell NT630 Plus code reader cost just over $100 on Amazon (right now it's $118), not $500. It resets the airbag light just fine using the Daewoo id you mentioned (There's a good explanation of how to do it on LotusTalk). I’ve done it twice.
The trunk release may just need adjustment to the latch. Also, if you just use one hand on the spoiler to apply a slight upward pressure while you push the button twice, it will probably open the first try..
A common issue with the MT cars is clutch fluid overheating. Specially on early cars. The slave cylinder is right up against the exhaust manifold, and in the first couple of years it didn’t have insulation on the pipes. Add insulation, upgrade the clutch master cylinder and use high temp racing fluid like Motul 600. Again, if the fluid boils you’re stranded until it cools down.
Another common issue is the ECU's programming that causes it to cutout the A/C compressor is it detects a specific amount of difference between engine RPM and compressor RPM. This can happen when you have the A/C turned on and rapidly push the accelerator to the floor. It's happened to me twice (I try to remember to turn the A/C off if I'm expecting to be that aggressive). The wrench light comes on (until it gets cleared, that light will come on for about 30 seconds every time you start the car) and the A/C stops working. This one is really easy to fix with almost any OBD2 scanner. Just scan for codes, but don't expect it to find any. That's ok. Do the code reset anyway. Trust me, it will work. The wrench light will be gone and the A/C will be working again.
One other thing is you can’t see shit in the rearview mirror. A very cheap and very helpful solution is to get a fresnel lens (8x10 on Amazon was $7.99). Cut about a 1” x 10” strip out of the middle of it and put it at the very top center of the bulkhead window. That gives you a wide angle view at the top and you’ll be amazed.
Blue ball is $150 or less replacement, I've done it. My dealer was going to do a whole shifter assembly replacement ($3k) if it wasn't for the guys on lotus talk intervening
Good to know!
I have mine since 2013, run over 100'000 Miles and had not one of your issues, but a fantastic driving machine and usable in daily.
Wow! That's a lot of miles, I am surprised you haven't had any of these issues yet.
@@ruggedbadgerracing The only things I had were: stuck pulley and as a result a cracked belt plus a broken seal on the transmission connector causing strange kind of dashlight combinations and tilts on the cars power unit. The only issues in 11 years.
@@ruggedbadgerracing Mine is a 2012 S with 91k miles. I've had it 3 years. The only problems you mention that mine has had are the airbag light, the control arm and the quirky trunk release. A Fowell NT630 Plus scanner is just $118 on Amazon and does the trick.
The trunk release worked perfectly before a clam off job was done (Shortly after I bought the car there was a clunk when starting out in first gear. It was that upper control arm you brought up). At the same time, I had one of the supercharger pulleys freeze up and cause some A/C damage. I took it to an independent shop with a lot of Lotus experience and decided to have them take the clam off and go over everything, so I would be more confident in my purchase not stranding me. It's my daily. Anyway, replaced all of the pulleys, the A/C compressor, belt, etc, and installed a new upgraded clutch, along with replacing that control arm. When the clam went back on they did the best they could to get everything aligned, but I now have a quirky trunk release. I just have to use one hand to apply a little upward pressure on the spoiler while I click the button. That does it every time. All that cost me a couple bucks, but afterward I knew everything was in order.
FOXWELL NT630 Plus OBD2 Scanner on Amazon is currently $130 and will clear those airbag lights using the Daewoo method mentioned
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!
I bought the same and it works. Won't tell you the code but fora low battery voltage, it works every time.
Right now it's $118.
Pretty neat info, don’t see a lot of these cars around. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, remember to like and subscribe!
that LED light ring would KILL ME!!
LOL, its helpful to remember its just a $40K car.
My sail panel cracked in the exact same spot. Lol.
A pillar too.
Crazy. Not sure if they ever fixed the design issue.
Mine had cracks on both sides. $300 from Lotus and DIY in about 10 minutes.
@@tweetdriver 300 is a pretty good deal. I think it was a bit more expensive when I checked
@@ruggedbadgerracing probably carries it through for all the cars to present
@@GoodmorningGoodnight Seems like it.