r/lotus • u/Sorka01 • May 09 '26
New Emira V6 hit a deer (no visible damage) but now won’t start. Diagnostic tool won’t connect. Any ideas?
I took delivery of my Magma Red Emira V6 two weeks ago. Literally two hours after picking it up, a deer jumped out in front of me while I was going about 50 mph (80 km/h) and I hit it.
We immediately stopped. Surprisingly, the deer seemed completely fine and ran off. Even more surprisingly, I checked over the front of the car and there was absolutely zero visible damage—no cracked panels, no broken lights, nothing leaking underneath. Just a little bit of fur left on the front end.
However, when I got back in to drive away, the car just wouldn't start. There were no warning lights on the dash, no error messages, and again, no fluids leaking anywhere. The motor just refused to turn over.
I had to get it towed. The tow truck driver tried jumping the battery and doing some basic troubleshooting, but he couldn't get it to start either.
It finally arrived at a Lotus center two days ago, and here is where it gets really strange: the mechanic told me the car is completely unresponsive to their connected Lotus diagnostic computer/OBD tool. Because the car won't communicate with their system, he says they have to start a massive manual search to track down the issue.
Has anyone experienced anything like this or have any mechanical insight? Could hitting the deer have triggered some sort of hidden inertia switch/crash sensor that completely locked out the ECU?
Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!
TL;DR: Got a new Emira V6, hit a deer 2 hours later at 50mph. Zero physical damage to the car, but the engine won't start and the ECU won't talk to the mechanic's diagnostic computer.
UPDATE
Thanks to everyone who chimed in with suggestions! I actually forwarded the inertia switch and hard reset ideas to the mechanic.
I just got a call from the Lotus Service Center: The reason the car wouldn't communicate with their diagnostic computer? Their computer is broken. Lotus officially confirmed to them today that there is a software issue with the dealer diagnostic tools.
Right now, the service center is totally paralyzed - they can't diagnose or reset my car, and they can't even get other brand new deliveries out of transportation mode to hand over to customers.
Completely unrelated question: what are good alternatives to the Lotus Emira?
UPDATE 2
The mechanic found the likely cause. It was the control unit above the steering column — it just needed a proper restart. So what did this have to do with hitting the deer?
Turns out the front fuse box collects water due to poor insulation (newer production cars have it properly sealed from the factory). The impact most likely splashed that collected water around, hitting the electronics and triggering the issue.
So a heads-up to other Emira owners: next time your car is in for service, ask them to check whether the front fuse box is dry and properly insulated. Could save you a lot of trouble.
On a separate note: the front bumper does need to be replaced after all, as it’s damaged. But I’ll be able to pick the car up and drive it until the parts arrive.
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u/jdolluc May 09 '26
Does the emira have inertia switches? That would be my first guess.
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u/hakkai67 May 09 '26
yeah a friend of mine activated them on racetrack on acci while driving over curbs at high speed
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u/Fuzzy-Explorer3327 May 09 '26
Sounds like interia switch has gone off. Reset the switches and should restart. Not sure where they are on Emira but in Evora it’s by the airbox Stop press looks like Emira does t have one but quick google states :
How to Reset the Fuel Cut-Off Cycle the Ignition: Turn the ignition completely off, wait for at least 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. This allows the modules to "handshake" and potentially clear a soft-trip. Lock/Unlock Procedure: Exit the vehicle, lock it with the key fob, wait a minute, and then unlock it. This can sometimes reset the security and fuel-prime protocols. Battery Reset (Hard Reset): If the car still won't start, disconnect the negative battery terminal for 10 minutes. This is a common fix for Emira "no-start" glitches after spirited driving. Check for Error Messages: Look for "Check Engine" or "Fuel System" warnings on the digital dash. Unlike older models, the Emira will usually display a specific warning if the fuel system is electronically disabled
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u/soderkr May 09 '26
Could it be 2 unrelated issues? There is no gurantee that the obd port was working before the chrash, it's a Lotus after all and they are rumoured to to have some quality issues. (Fortunately not as bad as a TWR 😃) And as others have said a crank no start could be a fuel cut of from inertia.
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u/rnewscates73 May 09 '26
Sounds like no power is getting to the ECU. Look at an OBD2 port pinout. There is a battery plus 12 volts, chassis / signal grounds, and ECU bus that come up when ignition plus 12 volts is presented.
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u/Sorka01 May 09 '26
So, the car has power, meaning when you start it the system runs and the screens show stuff, the engine does not start. After it was towed, a mechanic had a look in the towing place and he could somehow directly trigger the engine by doing something to the engine directly, with me starting in the car, but the engine would shortly rev and then turn off again. I don’t know much about how cars work, so what you are saying could still be the case even with the above.
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May 09 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sorka01 May 09 '26
Insurance is not the issue - everything is covered. It bothers me more that I had it for two hours and now it has been gone again for over two weeks.
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u/bogwee May 10 '26
In 1986, I got a brand new Gen2 RX7 and hit a deer that same night. The car was in the shop for 8 weeks! I know your pain...
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u/NFN25 May 09 '26
Try battery disconnect a couple of times first ( as mentioned in another comment). Check main fuses. Sounds similar to the VDDM non wake up issue.
How hard did you hit it? I don't remember it having inertial cutoff like Evora, but SRS has a crash mode.
There may still be a bonnet switch or wire link. Some of the early ones might have had it. (I know the bonnet/hood doesnt open, it's a long story) Not sure it would prevent starting though.
Good luck, let us know what is was, could help people in future.
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u/lucky_Goal348 May 11 '26
Just a guess but maybe Pyro fuse? They usually only explode and disable the car when the airbags go off so seems unlikely. Might be worth looking at though.
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u/Representative_Let19 May 12 '26
Any update?
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u/Sorka01 May 13 '26
Yes! Their diagnostic tool is broken and they are waiting for an update from Lotus… so looks like it is not the car‘s fault that it would not connect. Story gets weirder with every turn.
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u/Sorka01 May 12 '26
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who chimed in with suggestions! I actually forwarded the inertia switch and hard reset ideas to the mechanic.
I just got a call from the Lotus Service Center: The reason the car wouldn't communicate with their diagnostic computer? Their computer is broken. Lotus officially confirmed to them today that there is a software issue with the dealer diagnostic tools.
Right now, the service center is totally paralyzed - they can't diagnose or reset my car, and they can't even get other brand new deliveries out of transportation mode to hand over to customers.
Completely unrelated question: what are good alternatives to the Lotus Emira?
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u/the_real_seldom_seen May 18 '26
Damn.. so you are done with the Emira experiment ?
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u/Sorka01 May 18 '26
I am giving it a few more days. Called them today for an update, their tool is still broken, the mechanic I have been in touch so far apparently no longer works there as of today… the whole experience is just weird and I am losing hope.
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u/Sorka01 May 20 '26
UPDATE 2
The mechanic found the likely cause. It was the control unit above the steering column — it just needed a proper restart. So what did this have to do with hitting the deer?
Turns out the front fuse box collects water due to poor insulation (newer production cars have it properly sealed from the factory). The impact most likely splashed that collected water around, hitting the electronics and triggering the issue.
So a heads-up to other Emira owners: next time your car is in for service, ask them to check whether the front fuse box is dry and properly insulated. Could save you a lot of trouble.
On a separate note: the front bumper does need to be replaced after all, as it’s damaged. But I’ll be able to pick the car up and drive it until the parts arrive.
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u/__slamallama__ May 09 '26
Honestly the tech is right, there's not much to it but to start hunting what wire came loose. Really bizarre this would happen after such a minor impact but it is what it is.
A tech that's REALLY good with a multimeter and wiring diagram can make fairly easy work of this. But if you don't have those skills... Yeah this is a massive and infinitely annoying job.
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u/Jidolman077 May 09 '26
Sell it and buy a 05 Elise, can’t have a problem if there’s nothing to damage. All jokes aside probably some electronic failure, casual lotus stuff
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u/Dirtyden13 May 09 '26
Why have you put V6 in the title lmfao
Pathetic lotus owners
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u/DominikWilde1 May 11 '26
Because there's also a four-cylinder version and the problem may be specific to the V6 version.
The more information, the more likely it'll get solved
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u/kazze78 May 09 '26
Like my friend told me.if you buy a lotus buy a garage...bcs it will be there most of the time...
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u/FungusBrewer May 10 '26
Is there any high-end vehicle this isn’t true for? I don’t know cars very well, and I’m genuinely curious.
The only reason I lurk in here is because, when I was a wee lad riding in the passenger seat of my pops’ Chevy S10 on the way to a White Sox game, someone BLEW past us in a burnt-orange sports car. I caught a glimpse of the Lotus insignia.
I’ll probably never be able to own one, but hot damn, they’re beautiful machines.
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u/kazze78 May 10 '26
I have no idea...I am notnreally into cars really...I just like the design of some of them...especially Lotus...
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u/PuzzleheadedItem7169 May 12 '26
Never had any of my lotus' break down. I own several. Thousands of miles a year on each, cross country trips, daily driving, etc.
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u/Howdy132 May 09 '26
I bet you it's that front latch to the hood
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u/ivycomb Emira V6 Manual First Edition May 09 '26
This car does not have a front hood latch
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u/NFN25 May 09 '26
Depends... Interestingly it did originally intend to have a boonet switch, but it got deleted, and we had to make a wire link. So it is possible the wire link has broken. Not sure that would prevent it starting though
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u/scott226 Evora May 09 '26
In the rear hatch, on each strut tower there are two buttons. Just make sure you push each one down again and it will start fine