Battery connected up incorrectly

[eddie111S]

I thought about naming the title 'what an idiot'. Not me, customer of a friend, has accidently wired up the battery the wrong way round on his 1998 Esprt GT3. Now it doesn't start. Any idea on what might have stopped working, what needs replacing, where to start.

[lotus4s]

I'd certainly check all the fuses first, particularly the ignition and ECM fuses in the rear and hope he got lucky. If not that, it probably fried the ECM.

[Vulcan Grey]

I've seen that done to a Porsche (1993 RS America)... the result was a fire and fried wiring!

Like Jim says above check all the fuses, and hope the ECU wasn't fried.

[eddie111S]

Thanks guys. Will get all this checked. Nice car. GT3 in a V8 body kit. I'd post some pictures if I could work out how I do that.

[ramjet]

Here you go Eddie.

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/32256-help-i-cant-post-an-image-or-video-to-the-forum/#entry295018

[Trevsked]

I have base ECU's if he gets stuck.

Trevor.

[internets]

It not a silver GT3 by any chance is it?

[red vtec]

Check the relays and large fuses I had this on a Honda, the large fuse blew first saving the ECU. I had to get an auto electrician to check it out. took him about 5 minutes.

[eddie111S]

Hi thanks everyone. Will keep the ECU spares in mind, and yes it is a Silver GT3, in V8 body kit. With twin x2 tail pipes. 1998 car with latest dash cluster. Is the car familiar to anyone? I tried the download, to post images, but it failed.

Cheers

Okay done the photobucket way. See here the cars. SE Turbo, the ex-Bibs machine, and the sad not going GT3 in V8 kit. From what my mate saw as he is a professional body repair/sprayer, this GT3 was built with V8 body kit from day 1.

http://s1144.photobucket.com/albums/o495/eddieboote/

[eddie111S]

Trevor,

Seen my mate tonight. Starter motor turns, He can smell fuel. He's had a quick check of relays and fuses, although not sure if he's really been thorough enough. He's saying it's the ECU that's gone. I must admit it can be easy just to say that. I've checked it wasn't a silly like forgot to link up the imobilizer key to the slot near where the key goes. Starter wouldn't turn anyway, and it does. I'll try and spend an afternoon when I have time and see with him. Just to know though, what are we talking for a replacement ECU? Would it need complete programming to suit GT3, and this very car, re imobilizer? Might be barking up the wrong tree, but could we just take out the ECU from either of the SE Turbos (Bibs old motor) or my mates, plonk in the GT3, and see? Don't want to see something else buggered up. Just a thought though.

I have base ECU's if he gets stuck.

Trevor.

[Trevsked]

I would have thought that you could take the ecu from Bibs old car and swap the chip out of the GT3 into it. Try that first. If it goes then yup know it's the ecu for sure.

Trevor.

[internets]

... Would it need complete programming to suit GT3, and this very car, re imobilizer? Might be barking up the wrong tree, but could we just take out the ECU from either of the SE Turbos (Bibs old motor) or my mates, plonk in the GT3, and see? ...

The ECU's are the same, when you remove the ECU you will see a flap which houses the memcal. This is the part you need to swap over as this is model dependant. I would hope the memcal is OK. If you try the GT3 ECU in your SE and visa versa.

I remember seeing your friends GT3 in the Lotus service department at Hethel back in 2006.

Memcal

Memcal in ECU

Edited August 7, 2012 by internets

[eddie111S]

Hi, been away. Good news. It was just a fuse that needed changing. Very very lucky guy. Car is all sorted now I've been told.