Lotus Evora. Manual

Lotus Service Notes

Section VE

VE.14 - REAR WINDOW SURROUND

The rear window surround is secured by four spring clips. Pull the panel forwards to remove.

VE.15 - ROOF LINING

The roof lining is retained by the sun visor brackets, the 'B' post upper trims, and two screws at the rear

edge. To remove the roof lining panel:

Pull the rear window surround from its 4 spring clips and remove the two screws at the rear edge of the

roof lining.

Release the seat belt upper anchorage from the 'B' pillar, and remove the 'B' post upper trim.

Prise out the 'fir tree' button from the base of each windscreen pillar trim, and pull each trim panel from its

three spring clips.

Remove the three screws securing each of the sun visors and visor clips to the roof.

Lotus Service Notes

Section WF

AIRBAG SYSTEM

SECTION WF

Sub-Section Page

General Description WF.1 3

Airbag Tell Tale WF.2 3

Data Link Connector WF.3 4

Trouble Codes WF.4 4

Lotus TechCentre WF.5 4

Safety Precautions, Shipping, Storage & Disposal WF.6 5

Theory of Operation WF.7 7

Sensor & Diagnostic Module (SDM) WF.8 9

Driver Airbag Module WF.9 10

Rotary Connector WF.10 11

Passenger Airbag Module WF.11 12

Seat Belt Pre-tensioners WF.12 13

Lotus Service Notes

Section WF

WF.1 - GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Lotus Evora is equipped with dual stage airbags for both the driver and front seat passenger, in con-

junction with pyrotechnic seat belt pre-tensioners for both front seat occupants. The airbag Supplementary

Restraint System (SRS) is supplemental to the seat belts, and does not render the seat belts redundant. Seat

belts have proven to be the single most effective safety device, and should be worn at all times by both driver

and passenger, no matter how short the journey. Properly worn seat belts also ensure that the seat occupant

is in the best position for full effectiveness of the airbag.

WARNING: Airbags inflate with great force, in a fraction of a second, and if a vehicle occupant is too close

to the airbag (less than 250 mm) or incorrectly positioned, they could be killed or seriously injured.

The SRS is designed to operate when the vehicle is involved in a frontal, or near frontal collision, and the

impact (rate of deceleration) as detected by any one of three vehicle mounted sensors, is sufficient to warrant

airbag and seat belt tensioning protection to both front seat occupants. The 55 litre airbag for the driver is housed

in the centre of the steering wheel, with a 100 litre bag for the passenger housed within the fascia. Three 'G'

sensors are mounted in the vehicle to detect the rate of deceleration in a collision, and if the signal from any

one of these should exceed a threshold value, the first stage of airbag inflation will be initiated. This will cause

the airbags to inflate at a rate calculated to provide appropriate protection, whilst minimising the potential for

airbag induced injury, especially where an occupant is not positioned optimally at the triggering moment. If a

higher rate of deceleration is detected, indicating a more severe impact, the second stage inflator modules will

be triggered to more rapidly inflate the airbags. In either case, both bags inflate in a fraction of a second to

form a cushion for the driver's and passenger's upper bodies. The bags then deflate very rapidly to minimise

any obstruction to the driver. Note that in order to protect against the danger of an unprogrammed firing of the

second stage after a first stage airbag deployment, with the potential to cause injury to the vehicle occupant or

carer, any first stage firing is followed almost immediately by triggering of the second stage, too late to affect

the speed of airbag inflation, but ensuring that the airbag is then 'dead' and in a stable condition.

Initiated at the same time as the airbags is a pyrotechnic device on each front seat belt reel assembly,

which uses rapid gas generation and a train of balls in a track to apply a tightening force to the belt reel and

remove any slack from the belt. The force sustained by the belt and its user during the event, is then controlled

by a torsion bar within the belt reel to limit the deceleration force to which the occupant is subjected.

Note that the SRS will deploy only in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal collisions, and is not

designed to be triggered in rollover, rear or low speed frontal collisions, or in some types of side impacts.

The system incorporates a self-diagnostic facility, which continuously monitors the SRS electrical circuits

for faults, and if necessary, lights a tell tale lamp in the instrument cluster. Most components of the SRS will

require replacement after an airbag deployment.

Passenger Airbag Defeat (PAB) Switch

If a rearward facing child seat is to be used in the front passenger seat of the Evora, it is essential to switch

off the passenger airbag. If an accident should occur and trigger airbag inflation, the back of the seat could be

subjected to a force sufficient to seriously injure or kill the child.

A PAB switch is located at the end of the passenger fascia, and is operated using the mechanical ignition

key; insert the key and turn clockwise to the ‘OFF’ position, and withdraw the key. With the ignition switched

on, a tell tale lamp in the instrument panel will light up red as a reminder that the passenger airbag has been

disabled. To reinstate airbag operation, insert the key in the PAB switch and turn counterclockwise.

WF.2 - AIRBAG TELL TALE

The airbag safety system, including the pre-tensioning seat belts, has a self-diagnostic feature which

lights the red tell tale and sounds an audible alert if a fault is detected. As a circuit check, the tell tale will light

for about six seconds following ignition switch on, and then go out. If the lamp remains lit, or comes on at any

other time, a fault in the airbag system is indicated, which should be rectified without delay.

WARNING: If the airbag tell tale is lit, the airbags may not inflate correctly in a crash, or may inflate

without warning; or the pre-tensioning seat belts may not perform correctly. The SRS should be inter-

rogated using the Lotus TechCentre and diagnosed and rectified without delay.

Lotus Evora. Manual - part 89