Evora S IPS shift paddles random(?) failure

[casewolf]

Hi all,

after selling my Esprit S4 i treated myself with a 2012 Evora S IPS last year. So far I'm very happy and all minor issues were either "features" or quickly solved. 

But - there is one issue that starts bothering me, as it occurred already 3-4 times, and I currently can't reproduce it, as it happens rather randomly. When in Sport mode and using the paddles, the car sometimes suddenly ignores any paddle input from one second to the other. Only a restart (turning off and on the engine - or better said: software reset...?) can solve it (until it happens again, which may not even be on the same day...). Shifting in "Auto"-mode is unaffected and works either in "sport" or "normal" mode as intended and flawless, even if the paddles are dysfunctional.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Should I check for any errors inside the ECU? 

Cheers & thanks!

d

[21gg]

Not heard of it before, a dodgy paddle switch? Presumably it's not showing the warning triangle on the dash when it doesn't shift?

Gav 

[casewolf]

No - it's just completely ignoring any input from the paddles from then on - without the usual warning triangle or any other dashboard lights...

Edited January 4, 2018 by casewolf
typo

[21gg]

I would suspect a faulty switch but hard to prove while intermittent.

Gav 

[ramjet]

While I have little knowledge of the systems involved or what should show up on the dash, I was going to suggest a paddle switch as well.

Is it always the same paddle that 'misses' a shift or both? (same paddle, switch possibly. both paddles, software possibly or the solenoid on the gearbox itself?)

[casewolf]

Its both paddles failing instantly - I would bet on the software, as I get it to work perfectly after a re-start of the car...

[ramjet]

If it is the software, surely the error will be logged somewhere via the ECU?

I'd note the date and time it happens in the future to be giving to a repairer or Lotus themselves.

[21gg]

If its both then I would think either a loose earth/neutral (try the other buttons on the steering wheel for cruise control) or software/tcu.

Gav

[casewolf]

Funnily I don't have cruise control on the steering wheel! As I wanted to update that, I'll have to let it check (the earth) - thanks for your ideas. Also noting the time when it happens is a good idea!

[blueg33]

My 2014 IPS had a sticky paddle, that was fixed under warranty.  It wasn't ignoring paddle input but just wasn't operating smoothly, so I guess its not the same problem as yours.

I would start by getting a dealer to re-flash the gearbox ecu to see if that helps.

[casewolf]

Hi guys, sorry to bring this topic up after so many years, but I still got this problem. Since it hasn't got worse and my dealer (Komotec, btw.) hasn't found a solution I'm still living with that issue. At one point I thought it was gone (changed the battery), but the success was short-lived (or not there at all, hard to say). I can't reproduce the error, so it may come up right at the beginning of a drive or not at all. Therefore it's very hard to diagnose. The OBD says there is an issue with the paddles, but the presumably faulty one has been changed with no success. Has anybody any ideas to track the error down?

[21gg]

If its not the paddle itself then could it be the connection between the steering wheel and the car?

[casewolf]

Thanks for your reply, I will ask the workshop to check for that. In earlier days I would wrench by myself, but I got tired of that recently. My car is in for scheduled service in May, I will create a checklist for them.

[Spanky3]

The paddles are just a simple switch on a two pin plug with a couple of resistors between the terminals, possibly to check the switch is present. Holding both paddles together engages neutral, so if one switch sticks on, the other will appear unresponsive. When they fail try holding one on for 10 seconds and then the other and if you get neutral you know that's the issue. If not, then I'd suspect a onnection issue with the steering wheel or weird software or ECU problem Given the resistors must be there for something I'd expect the car to know if it couldn't see the paddles though 

[casewolf]

Hello Spanky, thanks for your reply. The paddles - when the error occurs - both fail instantly and there is an error code put into the TCU. The switches will then be de-activated entirely (by TCU) and "put out of order" (that is the programmed behavior of the TCU, at least, that's what the workshop told me) until the car is re-started. So there is no way I can check it the way you described. I may be wrong though (and will definitely give it a try, every hint is much appreciated!). The car will in the meantime be "stuck" in Manual mode, so if this happens while in an overtaking-attempt, it can be very dangerous (no manual upshifting, possible danger of running into limiter!). You can override it by pressing the "D" button on the center console (I got quick in doing this 😁 as I can sense the error quickly enough) and the car then falls back into full-automatic (but still sport-) mode.

Mind: If I re-start the car instantly, the paddles are still shut-off. I have to wait a few seconds, close the car by key (while sitting inside), opening up (key-button), then re-start (there will be a wrench displayed in cockpit). After that, there is no guarantee that it's "cured", sometimes it will work for the rest of the day, sometimes not and the procedure has to be re-applied again. It's driving me crazy (no pun intended).