when new/happy Evora S IPS (2013 reg) owner meets gremlins for the first, 2nd and 3rd time

[kpoxa]

Greetings everyone! Finally, after many months of dreaming/reading/watching/searching , - I have become a custodian of a beautiful Evora S IPS (2013 reg) in midnight blue with only 28K miles clocked. No mods, supercharged V6 engine - 345BHP . Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy my pride and joy as my car had to return to the garage twice within 5 weeks of me buying it.

Upon purchasing, I changed head unit (for wireless CarPlay mostly), installed new DAB, reverse camera, new GPS areal,  replaced tyres, new wiper blade, got a new battery and did full service hoping this will get me going for a year or so. Soon after departing home I had ABS light on. Had to return to the garage who replaced the brake light switch, checked the resistance of all the ABS sensors - all ok, checked continuity of all plugs - no break in the wires.

Collected the car, drove for about 2 hours and then on the following day had transmission malfunction warning light appearing. The day after that - engine misfired. After googling found 2 ways to read Lotus codes natively at home ( https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/lotus-20-20-diagnostic-software.487149/ ) and https://shop.jmpe.co.uk/collections/lotus . Went with the latter option. James who runs JPME website was very helpful in assisting me with remote car diagnostics.  Sent report to the garage and was asked to bring the car back. The fault code was multiple cylinder misfire, so the garage changed the spark plugs, it started running fine, malfunction light off. Also, we decided to change all 4 ABS sensors and 4 new tyre pressure sensors as per the Lotus manual. Test drive - all good. 

Two weeks later, when driving on the motorway ( not exceeding 70mph) in Sports mode, all of a sudden, gear shifts from 6th to 5th and then I gets stuck in the 5th permanently . Could not downshift neither manually nor by changing speed in Drive mode, gear remained in 5th! I exited the motorway, stoped at the traffic light - still in 5th. Restarted the car, when stationary it went straight to 3rd. Also, car was making some noise remotely reminding me my "multiple cylinder misfire" experience from the few weeks before. Plugged James's magic device and got 0700, 0717 (Input / Turbine Speed Sensor "A" Circuit No Signal), 1613  (Forced Mechanical Limphome Position) and my Evora is going back to the garage this week. James reads 0717 as "It is another sensor but this one is on the gearbox"

when the car at the garage, what else would you recommend to check/change? Lotus Service notes suggests: "Depending upon the cause, frequency and duration of the tell tale illumination it may be necessary to renew the transmission fluid even if all monitored transmission components are operating correctly." What else?

it seems to me that I am building a new Lotus Evora here..  

[EGTE]

Did you buy it from a dealer, or privately? If the former, they should be fixing these issues free of charge for the first 6 months (Consumer Rights Act 2015). Assuming you're fixing the car because you bought privately, I'd get the car to a Lotus specialist. It honestly doesn't sound too bad to me; just a speed sensor on the way out on the gearbox, or something.

[DH2]

I'd say follow the diagnostic path that the codes are giving you.  You can replace some of the sensors / valves / tower unit by taking the sump off the gearbox, rather than having to remove and disassemble the box. If the TCU isn't getting an input speed, then it will go limp mode.

Not sure why you replaced the ABS sensors for misfire codes, the EMS doesn't know much about the ABS ECU.  Is it being looked at a Lotus specialist?  Has the EMS been reset?

Dave

[kpoxa]

I have purchased this car from a Lotus specialist who is helping me free of charge to fix problems. Annoying thing is that one issue after another. I understand that this is an old car and things are expected to go wrong. This is why i am checking what else I might replace now to avoid returning to the garage for the 4th time or in near future. We have changed all 4 ABS sensors because one of them was intermittent , and I asked to change all not only the suspect. I am not sure if EMS was reset. Will ask. 

[DarrylV8]

Obviously this may have nothing to do with your gearbox issue. When our 2015 S (IPS) changed down on its own and stayed in gear recall it being 3rd, Lotus dealer told us to disconnect battery earth cables for one minute, reconnect and let them know if all was ok; which it was 

[Bling]

Which garage did you but from ?

Sounds like they are looking after you and standing by the car.

[Bibs]

Just FYI, if the IPS gearbox detects an issue, it will select and stay in third gear which is the most usable one in most circumstances. 

[kpoxa]

Our gearbox stuck in 5th, then it tried to shift to 3rd ( saw screen flashing from 5th to 3rd to 5th ) but stayed on 5th.  I am happy with the service provided by barry ely sports cars who seems to be wiling going extra mile to get this sorted. Very knowledgeable mechanic. It is just me trying to research what may fail next so we can look at it while car is at the garage .

 

 

[kpoxa]

found an interesting comment on another forum. Anyone with Evora IPS pre 2013 can comment on that ? 

 

 

”The engine wiring harness is a "known issue" related to all Evora's produced before late 2013. The parts manufacturer was changed in late 2013 and any Evora's produced after that time should have the new wiring harness and therefore should not experience these types of issues. However, if they were built with the old engine wiring harness, then they are subject to this problem as well. Lotus is NOT doing a recall for this at this time.”
 

 

https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/transmission-issues-resolved-everyone-with-an-evora-should-read-this.301385/

 

[21gg]

Mines been in for other works and having this issue. The plug on the gearbox has corroded, this is reasonably priced and straight forward to replace. The socket on the other hand is part of the engine loom and that isn't cheap. They have to pull a few bits to get to it but it's obvious when they do. I'm struggling to find any other options at the moment.

Gav

[2011 Chrome Orange]

"The parts manufacturer was changed in late 2013 and any Evora's produced after that time should have the new wiring harness and therefore should not experience these types of issues."

That's interesting since there have been at least a few GTs ('20 and '21) that needed new harnesses.

https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/engine-wiring-harness-replacement-2020-2021.487518/

https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/understanding-the-evora-alarm.483516/#post-6095409

https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/evora-gt-wiring-harness.540723/

[21gg]

Well the GTE's were rebuilt from the end of 2014 onwards so they should be ok too, obviously not. Ive found out the Toyota TCU plugs in the gearbox directly and is bolted to it, lotus have it mounted in the car. It makes me wonder if its more an IP rating issue of the loom plug compared to the Toyota TCU. Heres the state of mine. I think a $hit load of dialectric grease is inorder for when it goes back together.

[kpoxa]

here is what our mechanic said .. seems like engine harness was not installed properly ... 

 

Quote

 

I have spoken with ******* , they have confirmed that a new engine harness was fitted in 2019 . I think I have found the problem. The part of the harness that goes to the gearbox was touching one of the driveshafts (not visible until the air filter box was removed) and had chaffed through the insulation causing an intermittent connection. This triggered the fault codes that tell the TCU to stay in 5th gear to reduce engine revs. I have done a permanent repair to the harness, rerouted it away from the driveshaft and secured it from moving. I have just driven the car home, no lights illuminated.”