Now here's a list for the techs!

[Aussie kid]

Hi all

I was going to Post this thread in the more appropriate section but then realized the questions and problems were so many and varied that I would just drop it in here.

I guess put simply, am I the only one experiencing the problems listed and has anyone resolved any of these satisfactorily.

My purchase a new Evora has had quite a few problems so I thought I would list them in order with comments on what's resolved and what's open.

Perhaps the technicians or the handyman enthusiast might come up with some solutions.

This is pretty much in order and I'll number each one to perhaps make it easier to respond. I will list the resolved problems also - out of interest and by way of conversation starters.

Day one.

1. Both A pillar covers were broken and were replaced 6 weeks later. No reason given by Service agent.

2. The reverse camera does not come on unless the gear lever is forced back beyond it's normal position. Still unresolved

3. The airbag lid lifted and was repaired. But lifted again still unresolved.

4. The dash leather bubbled and was replaced. Appears ok now.

5. The passenger side door will not open by key and the internal handle does not open it. You must physically lift the door pin. Looked at twice by Service agent still unresolved.

6. The door mechanisms were replaced by a recall. The right side door failed to open later from the inside resulting in climbing over and out the passenger door. Now resolved.

7. The cruise control drops out intermittently. Requires reset but drops out - turns off. Two attempts by Service agent has not fixed it. Still unresolved.

8. The airconditioner was blowing out warm air on cold. Service agent checked. Air conditioner not working at all. Still unresolved.

9. The GPS unit fails to work. Service agent replaced the head unit. Now does not load phone.

10. The radio reception has gone from perfect on AM and FM to poor reception and signal. Service agent suggested Lotus has poor radio reception and I may need a new aerial upgrade. Worked perfectly before.

Still unresolved.

11. Emergency brake - hand brake - does not hold. Service agent adjusted. Still unresolved.

Thats the main list. Many other problems that I see owners on site have been resolved for me.

But the main ones above are where I would like to see owners jump on and comment on.

Items 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 are my main concerns.

Obviously air conditioning is an issue as is cruise control as they both have a direct impact on my taking the Lotus out or just using my company vehicle.

Thanks for any input or ideas.

If you feel an email to me is more appropriate or preferred then

kni-time@bigpond.com.au

Thanks again in anticipation.

Edited February 6, 2015 by Aussie kid

[DJW]

Only had 3) in my ownership of 8 months which was fixed as was ok after 5 months, before selling the car.

[Ryanmt]

1) Common fault with them, replacing them is the only fix or fit carbon fiber versions..

2) I would check if the reverse lights are effected by the same issue, the reversing camera is triggered by the reverse light feed into the headunit. The reversing camera is prone to getting damanged due to water ingress but it doesnt really sound like thats your issue. If the reversing lights are effected aswell I would look at either the switch in the gearbox or adjusting the gear linkages

5) I would remove the doorcard and inspect the locking motor. Possible linkages are refitted back to front after 6.

8) Probably no gas due to a leak, get it leak tested and see how it goes after refilling. If not probably the compressor at fault. Lotus is very expensive but you can fit an OEM toyota one for much less.

9) Which headunit? Is it alpine, if so scrap it and fit a pioneer or other reccomended headunit off here, they are much much better.

10) Plastic car = crap reception, i fitted a DAB headunit and antenna. Best modification I have done so far.

[Kalli]

I've had 1, 7 and 10. 

 

1 is very common apparently. Poorly designed, and no alternatives that dont break outside of carbonfibre currently.

 

7. Issue with cruise control dropping out is where it's set too sensitive. EG the slightest pebble on the road will make it think you're having a dangerous scenario and knocks it off.

 

10. Equally my radio is awful. I can get bbc 2 and thats about it. And even then, never good enough to distinguish between Terry Wogan and the other chap.

[DJW]

Ah forgot that yes I also had 10. Gave up with the radio.

[series_one]

1. Both A pillar covers were broken and were replaced 6 weeks later. No reason given by Service agent.

Common. New ones are bonded on better

 

2. The reverse camera does not come on unless the gear lever is forced back beyond it's normal position. Still unresolved
Sounds like the sensor on the gearlever needs adjustment.

 

3. The airbag lid lifted and was repaired. But lifted again still unresolved.
Common. Dealers dislike doing it because its basically dash out to do. The plastic pin is not pushed down hard enough to lock into place.

4. The dash leather bubbled and was replaced. Appears ok now.

5. The passenger side door will not open by key and the internal handle does not open it. You must physically lift the door pin. Looked at twice by Service agent still unresolved.

Pre MY12 door locks need fettling. It's easy to get the door card and weather cheater off to get to the mechanism. Try to keep the inside door handle connected to the cable while working on the lock as its a bother to adjust it back otherwise. Lean the card on a box or something with the cable still attached.

6. The door mechanisms were replaced by a recall. The right side door failed to open later from the inside resulting in climbing over and out the passenger door. Now resolved.

As above, when refitting the cable to inner handle it was done badly and popped of. 

7. The cruise control drops out intermittently. Requires reset but drops out - turns off. Two attempts by Service agent has not fixed it. Still unresolved.

I *think* there was an update for this in the last software update

8. The airconditioner was blowing out warm air on cold. Service agent checked. Air conditioner not working at all. Still unresolved.

Front right wheelarch liner, behind the rear part, regassing point. Regas and see. 

 

9. The GPS unit fails to work. Service agent replaced the head unit. Now does not load phone.
The Alpine is for playing your ipod and the reverse camera. All other functions are for chuckling purposes only

 

10. The radio reception has gone from perfect on AM and FM to poor reception and signal. Service agent suggested Lotus has poor radio reception and I may need a new aerial upgrade. Worked perfectly before.
Still unresolved.
Incredible it worked perfectly before. See number 9 above

 

11. Emergency brake - hand brake - does not hold. Service agent adjusted. Still unresolved.

It only works on the very last click. Weirdly the clicking noise (don't worry you will notice it one day) disappears as milage mounts and the shoes wear down.

 

I'll dig up some photos of the door mech for you.

 

In a few months the frustration will reduce as you enjoy more miles driving it. Common issues and all very 'Lotus'. The driving experience more than makes up for these.

[series_one]

Better not to post up photos of the lock mech I think, so emailing you them.

 

Airbag clips - 

 

[21gg]

No 7, if you look in the foot well there is a white u shaped piece of plastic connected between either the brake or clutch pedal and a sensor for the cruise control. If you put something of a suitable size to temporarily force open the ends of the u shaped piece of plastic it may help. Often the pedal can bounce a little over bumps, trip the sensor and knock the cruise off. I jammed a bolt in and left it over night, once removed my cruise control was a lot better.

 

Gav

[Aussie kid]

Thanks so much guys for your responses.

I certainly have a few great suggestions for the Service agent.

I'll try the footwell fix also for the Cruise control.

In particular the Cruise control and the Air Conditioning. The use of a Toyota rather than Lotus replacement parts is very relevant and appreciated.

I did have the car booked into the Alpine dealer to look at the radio etc. Mmm maybe a Pioneer is the go.

Thanks again.

Edited February 7, 2015 by Aussie kid

[Aussie kid]

The evora is two years old.

It has travelled just under 15,000

The Service has been reasonable but I need to take it back to them again and again.

I just checked and I have been back 7 times.

(1) First A pillars (2) then dash (3) then dash again and airbag lid.

(4) Then a recall on door mechanisms and radio

(5) Then cruise control.

(6) Service and loose sway bar and loose caliper bolts. Had the service done same time.

(7) The door locked and had to climb in and out through passenger door. Mechanism fell apart inside cavity of door door

Now air conditioning.!!!! And airbag lid lifting again.

Mmmmm

Edited February 7, 2015 by Aussie kid

[series_one]

^  No more sympathy 

 

 

 

Lovely collection 

[Aussie kid]

Ok..

[series_one]

Email sent with the lock details 

[Stuno1]

Epic garage!

[Al]

There are a couple of threads on the Air Con as well.  There is a clutch between the compressor and drive pulley that can seize. It disengages the compressor for lighter load starting even if Air-Con is selected as on.   Also the compressors can seize as well as noted above and very expensive but your car is under warranty so it is up to dealer to resolve.  I have had both in my case.  On one car it was a on start up you hear a squeaking noise as I slipped the clutch to gentle move the car forward and into the garage up a slight hill.  As soon as I said that dealer knew the issue.

 

Everything else you mention has been covered elsewhere and relatively common and I've had all bar 2, 3 & 11 some more than once in the last 5+ years.  The ICE could have a book written about it (&more or less has in this Forum) and it seems where I live it doesn't matter what head unit is fitted the reception is crap although Pioneer less crap than Alpine, yet every other car owned or driven by family has perfect reception.  What do you expect basically in a composite car on an alloy chassis that doesn't act like a lovely Faraday cage (or whatever the phenomenon is called) for the radio signals I was told by an ICE specialist!

 

I have been considering upgrading to DAB I must admit but finding the time and the correct expert is my concern.

[Bibs]

The main problem is that the aerial is a pissy bit of wire inside the n/s a-pillar. It's got no ground plane.

[Al]

I thought that was only on the early cars and the later cars after about 2011 or something have it in behind the dash somewhere below the removable hatch?  Maybe I picked that up wrong, or that was what was done to one of mine as a trial fix or something.  Even if it did have a good attachment to the chassis it is alloy and not a good thing......

 

I have wondered about one of those BMW type small stubbie aerodynamic things.  I guess if driving what we are, nothing will be good.  I am really hoping it is one area the facelift will have dramatically improved on.  I will probably never drive  a lap of the N'ring but I do listen to music every time in the car, and this sort of car isn't just a w'end toy.

[Stuno1]

Is the radio reception an issue in all current evora models of all model years?

[Frimley111R]

Only had 6

[100th_Idiot]

Is the radio reception an issue in all current evora models of all model years?

No. My reception is fine. Never an issue. This is with the later Alpine head unit (the one after the Pioneer not before).

 

Those with issues could try replacing the antenna with an active antenna.  I had a cheap dash top DAB with window stick on active antenna which had good reception.

 

BTW. You don't want a farady cage. That blocks out radio signals. Carbon fibre is especially good for this.

[auRouge]

The evora is two years old.

It has travelled just under 15,000

The Service has been reasonable but I need to take it back to them again and again.

I just checked and I have been back 7 times.

(1) First A pillars (2) then dash (3) then dash again and airbag lid.

(4) Then a recall on door mechanisms and radio

(5) Then cruise control.

(6) Service and loose sway bar and loose caliper bolts. Had the service done same time.

(7) The door locked and had to climb in and out through passenger door. Mechanism fell apart inside cavity of door door

Now air conditioning.!!!! And airbag lid lifting again.

Mmmmmimage.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

I had the CC issue, it was the swatch switch under the clutch peddle on mine. Your symptoms sound similar to mine. Lotus Warranty

My radio reception is crap and the NAV doesn't work. Lotus politely asked me to call Alpine direct for help.

[Aussie kid]

Thanks, yes I have resolved the cruise control. I found the black nylon fork and openned it. Will see how it goes in the next day or so.

The air con will,start with a belt check then clutch etc etc.

[blundey]

My admit mine has the my14 alpine unit too and reception is not an issue...maybe that the way forward.

[Aussie kid]

Well found the fight guy in service this week.

The handbrake was adjusted.

The airconditioner was re gassed after being checked.

The cruise control pins were tightened

Whoaaa all ok now.

[Stuno1]

Is there no fix for earlier radio reception issues?

Stu