Dashboard will not light on RHD SE Turbo

[nissias]

Hi Guys,
I have tried to start up my SE 91 Turbo this morning and the dashboard lights will not turn on nor the car will ignite once the switch is fully turned. I have recently charged the 12 volt battery with a Noco Genius 10 in repair mode and I might have fried a circuit or a fuse as I have just read that high voltage is sent through this mode and I should have disconnected the battery from the car beforehand. Does someone know from where I should start with my checks and also advise where the fuse box is so I can check if a fuse has fried?

Please be advised that the headlights will turn on and pop up. Same does the radio, boost controller and turbo timer. Windscreen wipers do not work as they seem to be getting their power via the ignition key or auxiliary electrical setup next to the ignition key entry. Battery is brand new.

Cheers

[Fredjohn]

Fuses are under the metal cover on top of dashboard and also in fuse box by passenger's left leg (RHD). And also above driver's knees (RHD). Unfortunately they are scattered everywhere!

Suggest you down load the electrical manual from this site, which will help locate all fuses if you have LHD. Available in Manuals tab when logged in.

Sorry can't help further.

[nissias]

I will get a car electrician to check this.
Thanks!

Is there a way to get the steering wheel unlocked now that I can't get the car started?

[TorqueHorse]

Is there a way to get the steering wheel unlocked...?

Try putting the key in and turning it all the way on, just before "ignition" and rotate the steering wheel back and forth. That should unlock it.

[nissias]

Is there a way to get the steering wheel unlocked...?

Try putting the key in and turning it all the way on, just before "ignition" and rotate the steering wheel back and forth. That should unlock it.

All good! It worked. Cheers

[lotusflasherman]

Fuses are under the metal cover on top of dashboard ....

Metal??? All of my Elans, 4 to date, have had plastic covers.. Lotus don't "'do metal" when plastic/grp/abs will do the job.

[dapinky]

Fuses are under the metal cover on top of dashboard ....

Metal??? All of my Elans, 4 to date, have had plastic covers.. Lotus don't "'do metal" when plastic/grp/abs will do the job.

Phil, you're right, but in Johns' defence, it is an odd item!

When I have removed the panels in the past I have often thought it to be aluminium - usually because of the corrosion which forms on the screws which hold it to the dash.... it always looks like the whole thing is aluminium, and demonstrating electrolytic corrosion.....

.... however, when I actually got round to cleaning and painting the one on my car 8 years ago, I was surprised to find it was actually painted GRP!

I can't comment on what is fitted to every Elan out there, but mine is GRP which looks like aluminium!!!

[lotusflasherman]

Hi Guys,
I have recently charged the 12 volt battery with a Noco Genius 10 in repair mode and I might have fried a circuit or a fuse as I have just read that high voltage is sent through this mode and I should have disconnected the battery from the car beforehand.

Battery is brand new.

What voltage does it say ? Alternator output is regulated to 15V for charging battery and running the car but unregulated can be 17.5V so car electronics can usually take that without damage.

However, some of these battery reconditioning options can produce a pulsed voltage higher than that, design to create battery gassing to remove battery sulfation - on old batteries, not much good on new ones.

I used a CTEK on Reconditioning on an old battery standing on my garage floor, as I had a spare to put in for use, luckily. The battery on Reconditioning exploded spraying acid and sharp plastic everywhere. Fortunately I was facing the other way but my clothes were full of holes down the back from acid. Lucky it wasn't in the car! See photo.

battery bang.jpg

I then adopted the procedure of putting the battery into a plastic storage box with a lid before using the Reconditioning program ... after a few years, I was thinking I was being too cautious when, blow me down, I had another battery explode - you wouldn't believe how high that lid went! .. but all the bits and acid were still in the box so dead easy to transport the whole box to the local council dump that disposes of car batteries.

[lotusflasherman]

- usually because of the corrosion which forms on the screws which hold it to the dash....

You have screws? Mine is virtually interference fit with velcro in couple of places. I picked up an ignition switched 12V supply for Satnav from below that hatch, modified with a few strokes of a Rat Tail file for cable clearance, and when I park somewhere with hood down and likely 'magpies' that might remove the Satnav, I pop it under that hatch out of sight.

[Tuga2112]

- usually because of the corrosion which forms on the screws which hold it to the dash....

You have screws? Mine is virtually interference fit with velcro in couple of places. I picked up an ignition switched 12V supply for Satnav from below that hatch, modified with a few strokes of a Rat Tail file for cable clearance, and when I park somewhere with hood down and likely 'magpies' that might remove the Satnav, I pop it under that hatch out of sight.

they are mean to have 2 screws which fit in... for lack of knowledge of the correct term.. "self tapping spring clips"... im refering to something similar to the 2 "nut clips" that hold the front screws of the wheelarch liners... these being for self tappers and the wheel arch liners being m6 threaded

4/4 cars i checked had them. im confident thats the norm

[texas2201]

have you tried "wiggling" the relay under the dash?

[Saltire]

they are mean to have 2 screws which fit in... for lack of knowledge of the correct term.. "self tapping spring clips"... im refering to something similar to the 2 "nut clips" that hold the front screws of the wheelarch liners..

I’ve always heard them referred to as “spire nuts” - I bought a box off Amazon with spire nuts and self tappers included.

[lotusflasherman]

You have screws?

they are mean to have 2 screws which fit in...

Yeah, I know that.. I leave mine out to 'add lightness' .. I've had 4 SE's since 1995, still got 3 and each one is strangely different.
One does not have a lockable glovebox, the catch has no keyhole, so certain things get put under that top cover when parked with top down.