hello @ll,
Whats the story if the revs are limited at 5500rpm but not all the time, sometimes the limiter is set correctly at 7800rpm sometimes not I can hear misfire sometimes - then the limiter is at 5500rpm, when I turn the engine and ignition off for a few seconds it might work or not - can’t find the problem cables, plugs…?
spark plugs are dry (and new, 3000km or so), cables and plugs look ok. Where would you start serching for the solution?
Thanks
Yup - well know “feature” of the S1 Exige with the standard ECU.
Basically the ECU detects a misfire, panics that it will set the car on fire and then limits you to 5500 until you restart.
Possible causes
Hope that helps - you can also search for 5500 rpm on here and read all about it.
Usually its the speed sensor connection - good luck !
This one drove me nuts! Some trackdays it’d be fine others crop up again and again. A switch off and back on always fixed it for a few laps.
I gave up looking for my (same) issue after about two years and fitted an Emerald. That way I got something extra for the fix, it’s nicer to drive now. Also, if there is a problem that becomes obvious, the Emerald will help me ascertain it.
Good luck!
Ian
Yup - well know “feature” of the S1 Exige with the standard ECU.
Basically the ECU detects a misfire, panics that it will set the car on fire and then limits you to 5500 until you restart.
Possible causes
- You really do have a misfire - so plugs, leads, coils etc
- The Drivers side wheel speed sensor connection is corroded and getting made / unmade with vibrations - Solution is to clean the connections very well and make sure connection is well made.
- You have a wire in the loom that is making / breaking maybe in the connector through the bulkhead
Hope that helps - you can also search for 5500 rpm on here and read all about it.
Usually its the speed sensor connection - good luck !
thanks for your input
Mechanic says it really is a misfire - I didn’t realise it maybe because I’m so used to all tha rattles and bangs the car makes all the time
wheel speed sensor might be a good idea to look after!
wire - hope not, might be hard to find I guess?
As it’s a Lotus Garage I hope they find the solution - problem might be that there are so few Exige MKI around here and they don’t know all the features…
This one drove me nuts! Some trackdays it’d be fine others crop up again and again. A switch off and back on always fixed it for a few laps.
I gave up looking for my (same) issue after about two years and fitted an Emerald. That way I got something extra for the fix, it’s nicer to drive now. Also, if there is a problem that becomes obvious, the Emerald will help me ascertain it.
Good luck!
Ian
I didn’t mention that it’s a 190 upgrade kit the previous owner built in… But I hope I don’t have to swap to an emerald - might be a good idea but not cheap to buy and do a good mapping
wanted to spend the money rather for a new exhaust
Thanks anyway for your input!
All the above advice is spot on from my experience, and mine was a very bad experience indeed when it came to solving this problem.
My comment would be that if you don’t find your solution early on then after the various sensors, magnecour leads etc etc etc which will undoubtedly end up costing quite a bit anyway, the Emerald actualy becomes quite a cost effective option + the overall improvement to the car is for me cheap at twice the price as they say.
I unfortunately had a moment earlier in the year which cost me my car , but as soon as I bought my new one the first thing that I did was to have the Emerald fitted, for me the single most effective upgrade you can make to a K, but that is just my opinion.
The very best of luck with solving your problem. May it be a simple cure
Disclaimer
I have no financial interests in the company that supplies and fits Emeralds in any way
seems they found it seems it was some rubber hose T-piece that is responsible for some vacuum Didn’t understand it but my mechanic will explain it as soon as I pick up the car
Thanks to you all for your interesting and helpful replies!
I was just going to post about vacuum hose, as thats what the problem with mine turned out to be.
But it looks like you have it sorted now
I think I’ll start a list with the most common hidden ‘features’ this car provides
hello peeps i was hoping for some help on htis 1 aswell
i have a metro gti running the lotus vvc 160 my limiter is kicking in at 5500 its driving me crazy is there any sensors on the engine that would make it do this?? ive had the loom and ecu in a few metros and since fitting it into my new gti its doin the problem above when i fist fitted it it wouldnt start up it turned out to be 2 bent pins on the big plug for the inlet manifold so i fixed that and now it runs ok apart from the limiter problem would the 2 bent pins of caused the ecu to go into limp mode?? and is there any way of reseting the ecu any help would be great
thanks in advance jon
great site by the way hope im welcome even tho i dont own a lotus
ECU “thinks” it is detecting a misfire (which it may be!). More likely because you have not got a “wheel motion sensor” (note, not speedo sensor). Exiges/340Rs had such a sensor on right hand rear hub. If the sensors electrical connecters get mucky etc, they cause the 5500rpm limit.
If you can get hold of an Elise workshop manual, there are supplementary sections for the Exige/340R which will show the sensor & wiring.
Good luck.
PS Just glanced through this thread - see AndyD’s post above!
PPS It is probably worth fitting an Emerald ECU in any event - you’ll then be able to get your engine properly mapped.
thanks for the advice mate the thing i dont get is ive had this loom in other metros for over 2yrs now i found 2 wires broke on the tps plug today thought bingo theres my prob but no its still the same also found its got an air leak in the inlet somewhere im hopin thats my prob as its tickin over at 1.5k to 2k on hte rev counter
is there any where i can go to have my ecu tested as i dont have a diagnostic plug on the metro (yet) and i dont have the money for an emerald any help appreaciated im running out of ideas
Where do you live? so people might be able to suggest somewhere local for you
oooooops supose it would help live in birmingham j2 of the m2 my pals said theres a nick whales lotus dealer in reditch might pop into there hell prob laugh me out the sheop when i say its in a metro
If you read the issues on the Exige you can see that air leaks have caused the famous 5500 misfire.
There is a possibility that an ex plans guy located in Dudley may be able to help you. I guess you mean J2 of the M5 right cos Nick whale is long way from Kent …
If you need contact information then PM me
oooooops supose it would help live in birmingham j2 of the m2 my pals said theres a nick whales lotus dealer in reditch might pop into there hell prob laugh me out the sheop when i say its in a metro
Nick Whale ceased being a Lotus dealer around 5 months ago …
But:
just around the corner is Paul Matty Sportscars… A timeserved “independant” Lotus specialist. I think they could possibly help.
JK
Paul Matty 01527 835656 (no connection)
oooooops supose it would help live in birmingham j2 of the m2 my pals said theres a nick whales lotus dealer in reditch might pop into there hell prob laugh me out the sheop when i say its in a metro
Nick Whale ceased being a Lotus dealer around 5 months ago …
But:
just around the corner is Paul Matty Sportscars… A timeserved “independant” Lotus specialist. I think they could possibly help.
JKPaul Matty 01527 835656 (no connection)
But Nick Whale still service Lotus and supply Lotus parts (I was there last Friday picking some bits up)
Personally I’d go there before Matty’s.
right hres the story so far
found 2 broken wires on the tps plug i thought that was my problem got another plug from work wired it up and hey presto ITS WORSE now ticks over @ 2k and the revs bounce up and down real fast its jurks like hell when slowin down in gear im at the end of my wits with this its reallly startin to do my head in
so far ive changed
every sensor there is on the engine
throttle body
map sensor
stepper motar
both inlet gaskets
thnajs for your advice so far
jon
hi all me again lol right i went and bought the ecu but ive still got pobs now it feels like its strugglin at 60000 rpm upto 7 the ecu numbers are identicle aprt from 1 letter my ecu starts with
c117m0039f
the ecu i brought i brought is
b117m0039f
im having trouble identifiying what model lotus tha nec is of can any body help me thanks in advance jon