julian

Thanks for the reply. Good to know nothing has dropped off.

Can someone tell me if there is supposed to be an engine shield or cover underneath the engine: possibly held on with four fasteners? I saw my Gallardo on the ramp for the first time last week and thought it looked as though there was a shield or cover missing - there looked to be four attachment points ... but I could be wrong. Many thanks.

Thanks all. Turned out to be the battery - one or two cells had gone bad which did not show up on the battery charger which was showing fully charged.

I have a 2005 Gallardo I have had since new. When I went to start it after a month the engine sensor light (6-10) was on and it was only firing on one bank of cylinders. When I restarted the car she ran properly on all 10 cylinders but the code had not cleared. I then turned her on and off to try and clear the code. She would not restart or even turn over and the electrics went mad. The headlamp washers started running constantly (including after I removed the key) and the sat nav screen started flashing the doors locked and then would not open. I think the battery is good. She is kept on a trickle charger and I recharged the battery after this happened on a proper charger. I have also disconnected and reconnected the battery and earthed her against another car in case her earth strap was bad but as soon as I turn the key in the ignition the electrics start up their craziness again. Does any one have any ideas before I tow her to Lamborghini London? Many thanks.

St Jean Cap Ferrat

I have a 2005 Gallardo with triple layer paint which I have owned since new and which now has almost 30,000 miles on the clock. I have never bothered with a clear bra and the car has original paint and no chips on the nose. In my experience the triple layer paint is so much more chip resistant than other paints that I would not bother with a bra. A few years ago when the F430 came out I drove from London to the South of France and back in my Gallardo with my brother-in-law in his new F430. By the time we got back the F430 (in the standard red) was covered in chips but the Gallardo was unmarked. The problem with bras is however good they are you can still see the join line and a hint of orange peel. My advice is don't bother!

I have had a Phantom Drophead for the last couple of years. Its UK registered but it mostly lives in France. The problem is not really its length but the combination of its width and the suicide doors. With the suicide doors you need to open them far further than with a traditional door to get out (or in). That means carparks are ruled out unless you can get an end slot - otherwise you are stuck (and have to commit suicide).

Typically, original designs last better than facelifts. Original designs reflect the car as the designer intended. Facelifts tend to be mid-life 'refreshes', often not by the original designer, to stimulate showroom appeal. They are more 'faddish' and tend not to last as well. The biggest mistake in my book is the glass engine cover which the car was not originally designed to have and which to my eyes looks like an afterthought. I understand this was introduced simply in response to customer pressure.

I had exactly this problem on my Gallardo when brand new back in 2005. It was fixed under warranty and I was told by Lamborghini London that they replaced the entire lift sytem.

Its shoddy that the speedo is so inaccurate. My wife's Maserati Grantourismo has a speedo which is pretty dead on accurate at 100mph: ditto my brother in law's F430. I have a small collection of classics and they all have speedos which are pretty dead on from A '51 XK120 onwards. The only other car I have with a significantly overreading speedo is a '99 aston vantage supercharged 550. Interesting - how fast do all of you who boast about having had your Gallardo's at 200mph or whatever really think you were going??