Lotus Elan Central

by **andyhaworth** » Mon 03.12.2007, 21:00

Got my Everest chip through this morning and planning on tackling installation tomorrow, weather permitting.

Had a quick flick through the install guide, and noticed the bit about disconnecting the battery. This is a bit tricky in terms of noise abatement with the security system thats on the Elan - is it a must do or should do?

Cheers
Andy

by **ailwyn** » Mon 03.12.2007, 21:21

Basically, don't come crying if you don't disconnect the battery and you fry your ECU or anything else :lol:

My advice would be, unless you are prepared to take the risk, disconnect the battery first.

A.

by **Monty** » Mon 03.12.2007, 22:04

I`ve doen it with out disconecting the battery :roll:

but i do remeber JimP blowing a fuse. Since the ECM has it`s own fuse would think if you remove the fuse 1st it maybe ok

by **ailwyn** » Mon 03.12.2007, 22:51

ESM was doing them at Donny without disconnecting the battery, but his advice to me when I asked this very question was as above.

by **John_W** » Mon 03.12.2007, 23:18

ailwyn wrote:ESM was doing them at Donny without disconnecting the battery, but his advice to me when I asked this very question was as above.

However, ESM has a large supply of chips, a lot of experience in fitting them, and a spare ECU just in case ...

Risk, consequence and mitigation. Or, putting it another way "Do ya feel lucky?"

John :wink:

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 03.12.2007, 23:47

The sensible advice is to disconnect the battery (there is 12V in the ECU, although not on the MEMCAL, even with the ignition off) and make sure you're earthed at all times (to avoid electrostatic discharge damage).

Just like I do.....

by **andyhaworth** » Tue 04.12.2007, 09:35

Problem I have is the alarm and locking system will go a bit mental if I unhook the battery

Suppose the logical thing to do would be disable the siren, keep the passenger door open and hope it makes sense of it when the battery is hooked up again

Any tips for quick installation, assuming the weather isnt great and I've got the top down?

by **andyhaworth** » Tue 04.12.2007, 13:34

Oh my..!

Thats just silly! nice work ESM

For info, battery disconnected, alarm siren taken off, total install time was an hour, with a cig and coffee break to try and work out how to get the blue section though into the back of the unit, probably the only real fiddly bit

by **ESM** » Tue 04.12.2007, 15:10

I've done it hundreds of times without disconnecting the battery but, as mentioned above I have backups if it goes wrong.

I know of one case where a problem was encountered during a chip installation and that resulted in a blown ECU fuse rather than chip or ECU failure. The odds are good but you'd have felt pretty bad if you had been unlucky and the ECU had got killed.

by **andyhaworth** » Tue 04.12.2007, 15:34

ESM wrote:I've done it hundreds of times without disconnecting the battery but, as mentioned above I have backups if it goes wrong.

I know of one case where a problem was encountered during a chip installation and that resulted in a blown ECU fuse rather than chip or ECU failure. The odds are good but you'd have felt pretty bad if you had been unlucky and the ECU had got killed.

Nevermind that, the "testing" of said upgrade cost me £15 in fuel

Very happy customer

by **Specky** » Tue 04.12.2007, 16:47

andyhaworth wrote:
ESM wrote:I've done it hundreds of times without disconnecting the battery but, as mentioned above I have backups if it goes wrong.

I know of one case where a problem was encountered during a chip installation and that resulted in a blown ECU fuse rather than chip or ECU failure. The odds are good but you'd have felt pretty bad if you had been unlucky and the ECU had got killed.

Nevermind that, the "testing" of said upgrade cost me £15 in fuel

Didn't take her far then.. :lol: